DeWalt Level-2 Wall‑Mounted Electric Vehicle Charger

The bottom line up front

I installed the DeWalt charger in my garage to replace a 32 A unit I’d outgrown. After several weeks of daily use on two vehicles—one J1772 and one Tesla with an adapter—it’s proven fast, robust, and thoughtfully engineered. It isn’t perfect: the app still feels a bit utilitarian, there’s no native utility demand‑response integration, and installation is hardwired only. But as a dependable, outdoor‑capable 48 A Level‑2 with a long cable and a real three‑year warranty, it hits the fundamentals very well.

Build quality and design

DeWalt leans into its jobsite DNA here. The enclosure feels overbuilt in a good way: a NEMA 4X/IP66 housing with a protective bar “cage” front and center. I’m comfortable mounting it where it might see the occasional bump from a lawn tool or a bicycle handlebar. The face has a simple, easy‑read LCD that shows charging status at a glance without needing to open the app.

The 25 ft tethered cable is a highlight. It’s UL‑certified, thick without being unwieldy, and long enough to reach two parking spots without dragging across the floor in a straight line. I could park either nose‑in or back‑in and still reach the port. The J1772 handle has a sturdy latch and a textured, anti‑slip grip that’s easy to use with gloves. Tesla owners will need an adapter, which I attached at the handle when swapping between vehicles.

Physically, the unit occupies a noticeable footprint (about 17.2 x 11 x 7.4 inches, 17.6 lb), so plan your wall space. The included mounting bracket is stout and makes it a one‑person job to hang the body after you’ve set the anchors or lag bolts.

Installation notes

This is hardwired only and designed for a 60 A breaker to support the full 48 A continuous output (NEC requires 125% of continuous load for EVSE). If you won’t be pulling the full 48 A, you can set the charge current down in software (12–48 A), but I still recommend wiring and protecting the circuit appropriately.

A few practical tips from my install:
- If you’re placing it outdoors, follow the manual’s guidance: indoor or protected outdoor locations (a carport or under an eave). The enclosure is weather‑resistant, but you still want to keep it out of direct sun and driving rain where possible.
- Run it as close to the panel as is reasonable to keep conductor costs down; 6 AWG copper THHN/THWN is typical for a 60 A run, but confirm with your local code and electrician.
- An external emergency shutoff is a smart addition if the unit is not readily accessible; check local requirements.
- The cable holster and cord wrap work well; adding a secondary hook near the charge port location keeps daily cable management tidy.

Commissioning was straightforward. Power it up, pair over Bluetooth, move to Wi‑Fi, name the charger, and set the maximum current. Firmware updates installed cleanly on first launch.

Charging performance

On a typical modern EV with an 11 kW onboard charger, I consistently saw 47–48 A at 240 V with stable voltage and a predictable ramp. That translated to roughly 10–11 kW at the car, which, in practical terms, is about 30–46 miles of range per hour depending on the vehicle and conditions. My J1772 car accepted the full 48 A. The Tesla with an adapter matched its onboard charger limit as expected.

Thermal performance was excellent. Even during long sessions, the enclosure stayed warm but not hot, the connector never felt alarmingly warm, and there were no nuisance trips. The unit includes the usual safety protections—overvoltage, overcurrent, overheat, and surge protection—and the ground fault protection behaved as it should during a test. The LCD provides immediate visual feedback of status, current, and fault states; it’s simple but useful.

The adjustable current limit is genuinely helpful. I tested at 32 A on a smaller subpanel to respect load calculations, then bumped to 48 A when I moved it to a dedicated 60 A circuit. Being able to dial this in from the app makes the charger more adaptable to different homes and panels.

App and connectivity

The charger supports Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi via the DeWalt EV app. The essentials are here:
- Start/stop control
- Schedule setup (I used this for off‑peak TOU windows)
- Session summaries and lifetime kWh
- Adjustable max current
- Firmware updates

The app is reliable, not flashy. Scheduling worked as intended and kept the vehicle asleep until the target time. Energy monitoring was within a few percent of my vehicle telemetry, close enough for household tracking. One practical perk: you can remotely disable the charger when you don’t want passers‑by (or teenagers) topping off—handy for a shared driveway.

Two caveats:
- Sign‑in friction can be a thing. If you enable security features, you may find yourself authenticating more than you’d like. There is a “plug‑and‑charge” default that starts immediately when you connect, but if you lock the charger down you’ll need the app to authorize.
- I couldn’t find native utility demand‑response or managed charging integrations. If you’re chasing a specific utility rebate that requires a compatible charger, check the fine print before buying.

Connectivity itself was solid on 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi. Once set, it stayed online; I didn’t see random drop‑offs or ghost sessions.

Outdoor readiness

Between the IP66 and NEMA 4X ratings and the CSA certification, this is a serious enclosure. That said, the manual’s recommendation to use indoor or protected outdoor locations is wise. I mounted mine just inside the garage and occasionally charged a car in the driveway; rain, dust, and temperature swings were non‑issues. If you plan a fully exposed installation, I would still give it at least a small awning or protective placement.

The long cable makes outdoor charging much easier. It reaches through the door without pinching, and the sheath is supple enough that it coils neatly even when cool. In colder conditions, it stiffens a bit—as all EVSE cables do—but remained manageable.

Day‑to‑day usability

What I appreciate most is that it behaves like an appliance. Plug in, it charges; schedule, it obeys; stop, it stops. The LCD is readable from across the garage, the handle feels solid, and the protective bars keep the faceplate from taking dings. Little touches like a tactile latch on the connector and a generous cable length make it nicer to live with than spec sheets suggest.

I do wish the app offered more granular roles and permissions for households—view‑only access for kids or guests, for example. Also, if you want RFID or key‑fob access instead of a phone, this isn’t that product. It’s app‑centric.

Reliability and support

Over my test period, the charger behaved predictably with no spontaneous shutoffs, error codes, or thermal derates. Every EVSE can have outliers, and this is a complex device that lives in harsh environments, but DeWalt backs it with a 3‑year limited warranty and firmware update support—both confidence boosters for a fast‑moving EV ecosystem.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners wanting the fastest common Level‑2 charging (up to 48 A) with room to grow
• Installations needing a long, robust cable and a durable, weather‑resistant enclosure
• Users who value reliable basics—scheduling, remote start/stop, energy tracking—over bleeding‑edge smart features

Who should look elsewhere:
- Renters or anyone who needs a plug‑in unit (this is hardwired only)
- Those requiring utility demand‑response compatibility for rebates
- Users who want RFID/badges or advanced multi‑user permission controls

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt charger for homeowners who want a stout, high‑amperage Level‑2 unit with an extra‑long cable and solid weather protection. It charges quickly and consistently, the adjustable current helps it fit a variety of electrical panels, and the app covers the essentials without drama. You’ll want a licensed electrician for the hardwired install, and you may miss deeper smart‑home or utility integrations. But if your priorities are durability, speed, and dependable day‑to‑day operation—backed by a three‑year warranty—this is an easy charger to live with.