Simple Switch Installation in Toronto & the GTA

SimpleSwitch is a load-sharing device for homes with tight electrical capacity

SimpleSwitch is used when two selected high-demand loads should not run at the same time. In an EV charging project, that usually means the charger is allowed to operate only when another load is off, so the home avoids adding both loads to the service calculation at the same time.

This is useful in Toronto and GTA houses where a 100A service is already carrying electric cooking, electric dryer, air conditioning, a hot tub, or basement-suite loads. It can also help in garages or finished basements where the panel path is possible, but a full service upgrade is not the first choice.

Common planning use cases include an EV charger sharing with a dryer, range, or another suitable 240V load. The device is not a universal shortcut. The selected loads, wiring method, breaker sizes, location, and equipment ratings all have to make sense under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.

We treat SimpleSwitch as part of the EV charging design, not as an accessory added at the end. During the site visit, we check the panel, service size, breaker spaces, grounding, the existing 240V load, the proposed charger location, and whether the charger will be hardwired or receptacle-fed. If a different load-management approach is a better fit, we will say so before quoting.

For the charger side of the project, start with our EV charger installation service. If you are still choosing the charger, compare hardwired options on our EV charger product installation pages.

The electrical requirements depend on the load, charger setting, and exact SimpleSwitch model

The exact SimpleSwitch model must match voltage, amperage, enclosure location, and load type. That is the part homeowners should not guess from an online listing. A mismatch can create nuisance tripping, overheating, a failed inspection, or a charger that cannot be safely commissioned at the desired output.

For Level 2 EV charging, the electrician has to confirm:

• Service size and calculated load on the home
• Main panel condition and available breaker space
• Breaker rating for the EV circuit
• Charger maximum output and adjustable current setting
• Conductor size and cable type for the route
• Whether the charger is hardwired or connected by a receptacle
• Indoor, garage, or exterior mounting conditions
• The second load being shared, such as a dryer or range where suitable

Hardwired chargers are often cleaner for permanent installations because there is no plug-and-receptacle wear point, and many higher-output chargers are designed to be hardwired. Receptacle-fed installations may be appropriate for some chargers, but the receptacle, box, cover, GFCI requirements, conductor size, and mounting location all matter.

Panel capacity is the main reason this page exists. If the home has spare capacity, the simplest answer may be a normal EV circuit. If capacity is tight, a load-management device can often avoid a panel upgrade. If the service is too small, damaged, overloaded, or already due for modernization, a 200A panel upgrade may be the safer long-term answer.

SimpleSwitch is different from simply turning down the charger in an app. App settings can be changed by a user. A properly installed load-sharing device is part of the electrical installation and controls when the selected load can operate. That distinction matters for the load calculation and for inspection.

Installation includes ESA notification, mounting, wiring, testing, and inspection

ESA notification is required for new EV charging or load-management wiring. City Power Electrical Services is a Licensed Electrical Contractor, ECRA/ESA #7015314, and we file the notification where required, complete the work, and arrange inspection.

The installation starts with confirming the design. We identify the load being shared, confirm the panel and breaker ratings, select the appropriate SimpleSwitch unit, and decide where the enclosure can be mounted. The enclosure location has to be accessible, protected from damage, and suitable for the environment. A garage wall, utility room, or area near the panel may work, but the final location depends on the cable route and equipment rating.

A typical installation sequence is:

• Turn off and verify the affected circuits
• Mount the SimpleSwitch enclosure securely
• Install the EV charger circuit conductors and any required conduit or cable protection
• Connect the selected high-demand load through the load-sharing device as designed
• Terminate the EV charger circuit at the panel and charger
• Label the panel, device, and controlled loads clearly
• Test the device so the two selected loads do not operate together
• Set the charger output to the approved amperage
• Complete cleanup and prepare for ESA inspection

Testing is not just “does the charger turn on.” We verify that the control logic behaves properly when the shared load is called, that the charger responds as expected, and that the installation matches the breaker, conductor, and equipment ratings. We also look for practical issues: panel covers fitting properly, cable protection where vehicles or storage could hit it, weatherproofing outdoors, and labels that a future homeowner or electrician can understand.

If you are comparing load-management products, the DCC-9 installation page covers a different style of EV energy management equipment. We can explain which approach suits your panel during the site visit.

Cost, timeline, and when SimpleSwitch is the right choice versus alternatives

SimpleSwitch installation is quoted in writing after a site visit because the cost depends on the model, the existing load being shared, panel location, charger location, wall finishes, conduit needs, and ESA scope.

For context, a straightforward Level 2 EV charger installation in the GTA — panel nearby, capacity available — runs $800–$1,500 for labour, materials, and the ESA permit. For simple switch installation, pricing can climb when walls are finished or wiring routes are longer, reaching $1,500–$3,500 in more involved cases; specialty switch hardware may add $500–$1,200. Most switch installation projects for homeowners fall in the $1,500 to $3,000 range all-in. If electrical capacity is limited, load management can often prevent a panel upgrade; when it cannot, we can upgrade to 200A ($3,200–$4,500) during the same visit.

Timeline is also site-specific. Many EV charger and load-sharing installations can be completed after the site visit once the correct equipment is available and the ESA notification is filed. More time may be needed if the panel is full, the garage is finished, the cable route crosses a basement ceiling, or the utility must be involved for a service upgrade.

SimpleSwitch is usually worth considering when the existing service is otherwise in good condition, the load to be shared is suitable, and the homeowner wants reliable home charging without immediately upgrading the entire service. It is not the right answer if the panel is unsafe, if the selected load cannot be interrupted, if the available model does not match the amperage or enclosure requirements, or if future loads are likely to make the service upgrade unavoidable.

Alternatives include lowering the charger output, choosing a charger with built-in load-management features, installing a different EV energy management device, or upgrading the panel and service. If you already know you want a specific charger, we also install models such as ChargePoint Home Flex and FLO Home with the required circuit, settings, labels, and inspection.

City Power serves Toronto and the GTA from North York, including Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, and nearby communities. Call 416-837-4038 for a free written estimate.