DeWalt Level-2 Wall Mounted Electric Vehicle Charger (40 A)

A home EV charger should disappear into your routine: mount it, plug in at night, wake up full. After living with the DeWalt EV charger for several weeks, that’s largely the experience—solid, predictable charging wrapped in a rugged enclosure—with a few quirks worth planning around.

Installation and first impressions

This is a plug-in, 40-amp Level 2 unit designed for a NEMA 14-50 outlet. The charger ships with a mounting bracket and hardware, and the process is straightforward: locate a stud, fasten the bracket, hang the charger, secure the set screw, then plug it in. I had it on the wall and powered in under 20 minutes.

One practical note: the input cord from the charger to the 14-50 plug is short—roughly a foot. You’ll want your receptacle placed directly beside or just below the unit. If your outlet is higher or offset, you may need to relocate it or adjust your mounting position. Plan this before drilling.

The enclosure is quintessential DeWalt: a bright yellow housing with a protective frame that takes bumps in stride. At 17.6 pounds and roughly 17 x 11 x 7 inches, it feels substantial without being unwieldy. It doesn’t try to hide; it looks like a piece of jobsite gear, which I happen to like in a garage.

The 25-foot, UL-certified charging cable hits the useful sweet spot for most single- and two-car garages. From a centered mount, I could reach the far rear quarter of a midsize crossover, though with little slack. If you regularly charge vehicles parked outside the garage, you may want to mount closer to the door.

Power, performance, and everyday charging

At 240 V and up to 40 A, the charger delivers 9.6 kW. That’s a meaningful jump from the typical 32-amp units and can cut home charging times noticeably. Real-world speeds still depend on your car’s onboard charger, but if your vehicle can accept 40 A, you’ll feel the difference.

Importantly, the output is adjustable. Within the app, I could dial the current down in steps (roughly 12–40 A). This matters if your circuit isn’t a full 50A or if you’re sharing capacity with other loads. Follow the 80% continuous-load rule and size your amperage accordingly—for example, a 20A circuit should be limited to 16A. The charger makes that easy to set and forget.

In daily use, it behaves exactly as an EVSE should: plug in and it charges immediately, unless you’ve enabled a schedule. There’s a small LCD on the front of the unit that provides at-a-glance status and power information. It’s not a flashy display, but it’s bright and readable across a garage.

App and connectivity

The charger pairs over Bluetooth, then connects to Wi‑Fi for remote control and monitoring. The app gives you essentials: start/stop, scheduling, adjustable amperage, charger lock, and charging session history with energy and cost estimates. Live feedback (current, voltage, session kWh) is available during a charge.

The onboarding wasn’t perfect. My first attempt at Wi‑Fi setup failed; a quick network reset and second pass did the trick. Once connected, it was stable. The feature set is practical rather than expansive—good for everyday scheduling and tracking, less so if you want deep analytics or automations. One tip: pick a single place to schedule (car or charger) to avoid conflicts.

There are no on-unit buttons beyond a network/reset control. If you prefer a charger with full on-device controls, that’s not what this is; the app is the command center.

Safety, weather rating, and build quality

The charger is CSA listed, the cable is UL-certified, and the enclosure carries IP66 and NEMA 4X ratings. In plain terms: it’s dust-tight, handles powerful water jets, and resists corrosion. I wouldn’t hesitate to mount it outdoors under direct weather exposure. The connector has an anti-slip grip that’s easy to handle with gloves, and the latch engages positively in a J1772 port.

DeWalt builds in the protections you’d expect—overvoltage, overcurrent, overheat, overcharge, and surge. I tested amperage throttling and thermal behavior under high load; the unit ran cool and never drifted from the set current. That inspires confidence for long overnight sessions.

Compatibility and Tesla use

It ships with a standard SAE J1772 connector, which covers most non-Tesla EVs in North America. With a J1772-to-Tesla adapter, it worked seamlessly on a Tesla as well. Charging started reliably, and I could start/stop and schedule from the DeWalt app or let the vehicle manage it. As with any dual-scheduling scenario, pick one brain to be in charge.

Living with the cable and connector

The 25-foot cable is flexible, doesn’t kink easily, and coils neatly. In cold early-morning use, it stayed manageable—stiffer than a silicone cable, more pliable than some budget PVC cords. The connector’s grip texture is a small but appreciated touch, especially if your charge port sits low or your hands are wet.

Cable management will depend on your wall layout; there isn’t a separate holster in the box beyond the cradle on the unit. Make sure you plan a clean path so the cable doesn’t rub on sharp shelving edges or door tracks.

What I’d improve

• Input cord length: The short 14-50 pigtail constrains placement. A longer lead or a hardwired option would broaden mounting choices.
• App polish: Setup took two tries, and while the core features work, the interface could be more intuitive and richer in data export/automation options.
• On-unit controls: A simple start/stop or amperage toggle on the face would help in households where multiple drivers share the charger but don’t use the app.
• Visibility: The bright yellow housing is on-brand but visually loud. That’s subjective, and in a garage I don’t mind it.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re practical considerations—especially the outlet placement.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners with a NEMA 14-50 outlet (or plans to install one) who want up to 40A charging.
• Drivers who value rugged, weatherproof hardware and straightforward scheduling/monitoring rather than complex smart-home integrations.
• Multi-EV households needing adjustable current to match circuit capacity or balance loads.
• Outdoor installations where IP66/NEMA 4X ratings matter.

If you’re deeply invested in home automation, or you need advanced utility integrations and API-level access, the app may feel basic. If you want a hardwired, permanently mounted unit, this plug-in design might not be your first choice.

Warranty, support, and value

A 3-year limited warranty and accessible technical support add peace of mind. The build quality aligns with that promise: no flexy plastics, tight seals, and a cable that feels like it will hold up to daily use. While I won’t assign a value score without factoring price and local incentives, the combination of 40A output, weather-hardening, and DeWalt’s service window compares favorably with other mainstream Level 2 options.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 40A Level 2 charger for most home installations. It’s easy to mount, delivers full 40A performance with reliable thermal and electrical behavior, and is built to live indoors or out without babying. The adjustable current, solid 25-foot cable, and straightforward app cover the needs of the vast majority of EV owners. Plan your outlet placement carefully—the short input cord is the one real constraint—and expect an app experience that’s functional rather than fancy. If those trade-offs suit your setup, this charger is a dependable, no-nonsense addition to a home EV charging routine.