An old home EV charger has four possible futures: keep it as a spare, pass it on to a new owner, send it back through the manufacturer, or recycle it as electronic waste. Which one fits depends on whether it still works and whether it is still safe. A damaged or faulty charger should never be resold, and no charger belongs in household trash.
Key Takeaways
- Sort the old charger by condition first: working, faulty or damaged decides the route.
- Check the warranty before paying anything; a covered fault costs you nothing.
- Hard-wired removal is an electrician’s job; keep the circuit and the paperwork.
- A dead charger is e-waste. Never bin it, and never resell a damaged unit.
First Decide: Working, Faulty or Damaged?
Be honest about the unit in front of you. Its condition decides the route, and guessing wrong either wastes a good charger or hands a stranger a safety problem.
| Condition | Signs | Best route |
|---|---|---|
| Works, undamaged | Charges normally, housing and cable intact, listing label readable | Keep as a spare, move it, or pass it on |
| Works, but still bound to your app account | You can charge; a new owner could not register it | Release the account first, then pass it on |
| Faulty, still in warranty | Error codes, intermittent charging, dead display | Make a warranty claim before anything else |
| Damaged or heat-marked | Cracked housing, cut cable, scorched connector | Retire it and recycle it as e-waste |
If It Still Works: Spare, Second Spot or a New Owner
A working plug-in portable charger is the easiest to keep. Coil it, store it dry, and it is a spare for a second car, a holiday home or a future EV. A working wallbox can also move, but a hard-wired unit must be removed and refitted by a licensed electrician. If the charger is changing hands, do the same release you would want as a buyer: remove it from your app account, run the factory reset in the manual, and hand over the manual and any RFID cards. Describe its age and condition plainly in the listing. The safety listing on the label is what a careful buyer checks first, as our guide to EV charger certifications explains.
If It Has Failed: Warranty First, Then the Maker
Before you pay to dispose of a faulty charger, check whether it is still covered. Many home chargers carry a multi-year warranty; EVDANCE’s standard warranty is three years. Our guide to which EV charger has the best warranty explains what to look for in the terms. If it is out of warranty, ask the manufacturer about repair or take-back before you recycle it: some makers refurbish returned units or recover parts. Never open a sealed charger yourself; as our overview of whether home EV chargers are safe sets out, the inside of the unit is not a home repair job.
Removing a Hard-Wired Charger Safely
- Plug-in unit: switch off, unplug it, and coil the cable. Nothing else is needed.
- Hard-wired unit: have a licensed electrician remove it and make the circuit safe. Do not cap live conductors yourself.
- Keep the circuit if you can. Most owners fit the next charger on the same circuit, which is the expensive part of the original install.
- Keep the paperwork. File the removal note with the original permit and invoice; the next installer and a future buyer will both ask.
When the replacement goes in, a unit such as the EV-ACT5006T 48A Level 2 wall charger reuses the same kind of circuit, while a portable like the EV-ACS4005T 40A NACS portable charger simply plugs into a NEMA 14-50 outlet and can leave with you when you move.
Recycling a Dead Charger
A charger is electronics plus a heavy copper cable, so it goes to e-waste, not the household bin. Local e-waste collections, council facilities and some electronics retailers accept equipment like this; the exact channel varies by area, so check your local program. Remove the charger from your app account before it leaves, even if it no longer powers on, and take the cable with it rather than cutting it off: recyclers are set up for the whole unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my old EV charger?
Yes, if it works, is undamaged and carries its safety listing, and once you have released it from your app account so the buyer can register it. Describe its age and any faults honestly.
Can an EV charger go in household trash?
No. It is electronic waste with a copper cable. Take it to a local e-waste collection or an accepted retailer take-back point instead.
Should I remove the circuit when the old charger comes out?
Usually not. A sound, permitted circuit is the most valuable part of the installation and will serve the next charger. Ask your electrician to confirm its condition while the old unit is off.
Related Reading
- Which EV Charger Has the Best Warranty?
- EV Charger Certifications Explained
- Are Home EV Chargers Safe?
