If you’ve bought an electric vehicle (recently or are considering one, you’re not alone! And while there are many more options, Tesla still dominates electric vehicle (EV) sales with 75 percent of the market share. While there is a network of Tesla charging stations throughout the U.S., having a charger at home allows you to more efficiently and quickly charge your Tesla while managing and monitoring your charging and energy usage. (Bonus: if you have solar, you can power your car with the sun!)
The Tesla Wall Connector (also known as the Tesla home charger) is the only Tesla-specific home EV charger for charging your Model 3, Model S, Model X, or Model Y (though you can use other home EV chargers with an adapter). In this article, we’ll cover the Tesla Wall Connector’s features – including price, charging speed, pros and cons, and more – so you can decide if you want a Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector to charge your Tesla at home.
Key takeaways about the Tesla home charger
The Tesla Wall Connector is the only Level 2 home EV charger made specifically for charging your Tesla Model 3, S, Y, or X at home.
The Tesla Wall Connector costs $400, making it the most affordable Level 2 home charging solution available for your Tesla available today.
Some nice features come with the Tesla Wall Connector, including the convenience of using the same app as your Tesla to manage, schedule, and monitor charging.
The Tesla Wall Connector can add up to 44 miles of range per hour, depending on your specific Tesla model.
A Tesla Wall Connector doesn’t work with any other EVs, so if you trade in your Tesla for another electric car or add a different make and model EV down the road, you’ll need to purchase a third-party adapter or a different home EV charger.
Looking to power your Tesla on sunshine at home? Visit the EnergySage Marketplace to compare custom solar quotes.
What’s in this article?
What to know about Tesla charging at home
Before diving into how the Tesla Wall Connector can help you charge your Tesla at home specifically, it’s important to know the different levels of charging you can do at home and how they vary. EV chargers are also known as EVSE, which stands for electric vehicle supply equipment.
A Level 1 charger is really just using a standard outlet to charge your Tesla at your home. To do this, you just use a standard 120-volt wall outlet with a J1772 mobile connector. However, this is very slow, only adding approximately 2-5 miles per hour to your range. A Tesla Wall Connector is a Level 2 charger: the standard for home EV charging. It allows you to charge much more quickly than a Level 1 charger, providing up to 44 miles of range per hour, depending on your Tesla model.
Tesla Wall Connector: key things to know
There is only one version of the Tesla Wall Connector, so you won’t have to weed through various product lines or models when it comes to charging your Tesla at home. We break down the key things to know about the Tesla Wall Connector below here:
Key features of the Tesla Wall Connector Price (for the equipment)$400 for charger $75 for colored faceplate $425 for the pedestal for outside installation Wiring/plug optionsWall-mounted or pedestal mounted (with the additional cost of pedestal), hardwired EV compatibilityCharges all Tesla models: 3, S, X, and Y Charging connectionTesla connector Average EV charging speedUp to 44 miles per hour EV charger outputUp to 11.5 kW / 48 amps Cable length24 feet ConnectivityWiFi-enabled Over-the-air updates Tesla app provides monitoring and management Power capabilitiesUp to four Tesla Wall Connectors can share power from one circuit Indoor/outdoorBoth Equipment warranty4 years from your date of purchase Additional featuresCharging access control gives you full control over which cars are allowed to charge with your Wall Connector
Wiring and compatibility
The Tesla Wall Connector is hardwired and uses a Tesla charge plug, meaning it works with any Tesla EV. Adapters made by third-party companies can enable non-tesla EVs to charge from the Wall Connector. However, charge performance may vary and the adapters are not officially supported by Tesla.
Convenience
The Tesla Wall Connector home charger can adapt to and be used with most home electrical systems. It also has customizable power levels depending on your circuit breaker’s capabilities and is versatile enough to install indoors or outdoors in most homes, apartments, and condo complexes. (Do keep in mind that if you live in a multi-unit complex, you’ll need to confirm with your HOA or complex that you can install an EV charger at your parking spot.) The Tesla Wall Connector cable is lightweight and 24 feet long, providing flexibility in where you install it – whether in your garage, carport, or parking garage.
Suppose you have two Teslas to charge but don’t have enough power for multiple electrical circuits. In that case, you can connect multiple Tesla Wall Connectors (up to four) to share power from one circuit while sufficiently charging your vehicles.
Connectivity
The Tesla Wall Connector can connect to your home’s WiFi network to receive over-the-air firmware updates, remote diagnostics access, and usage data tracking capability.
Warranty
The Tesla’s home charger comes with a four-year equipment warranty that starts on the date of purchase. Additionally, as long as you use a Tesla Certified Electrician for installation, your charger comes with a one-year workmanship and external components warranty, starting on your installation date.
The Tesla app
You can monitor and manage your Wall Connector charging with the same Tesla app on your smartphone (iOs or Google Play). This is also the same app you manage charging your Tesla at a Supercharger (Level 3 charging) or via destination charging (Level 2 charging on the go). You can easily schedule charging at home, set a maximum charge amount, and pause charging if needed using the app.
Image source: Tesla Motors Club
Equipment add-ons
Tesla offers some equipment add-ons for the Wall Connector, including colored faceplates and a pedestal stand, which are available for an additional charge. The faceplates let you customize the look of your Tesla home charging to match some of the popular Tesla model colors, including black, deep metallic blue, red multi-coat, and midnight silver metallic. The colored faceplate retails at $100 but is currently listed on Tesla’s website for $75. It comes with a faceplate and two fasteners to attach to the front of your Tesla Wall Connector.
Image source: Tesla
The pedestal is an additional option if you are installing your Tesla Wall Connector away from your home a bit or outside on a parking pad. It costs $425 and is also available on the Tesla website. You may need to trench and/or add a concrete pad to secure the pedestal, so you’ll want to consult with a contractor before planning that type of installation or purchasing the pedestal.
Image source: Tesla
How much does the Tesla Wall Connector cost?
The Tesla Wall Connector is an affordable home EV charging option, priced at $400. Remember that you’ll also have EV charger installation costs as you’ll want a trusted, licensed, and experienced electrician to ensure your charger is correctly installed. According to Qmerit, most standard EV home charger installations cost between $799 and $1,999. Additionally, depending on your home’s electrical panel, floor plan and wiring, you may need additional wiring or electrical work, so your installation and setup costs may increase.
Pros and cons of the Tesla Wall Connector
The Tesla Wall Connector is a solid option for charging your Tesla at home and is one of the most affordable Level 2 chargers available. It also offers the convenience of using the same app you use for managing your Tesla and has some aesthetic upgrades available in the form of colored faceplates to match your Tesla’s paint. Some of the main pros and cons of this EV charger include: ProsCons The most affordable Level 2 home charging option available Only works with Teslas, so if you get another EV you’ll need a new EV charger Uses the same app as the Tesla vehicle to schedule, monitor, and manage home chargingDoesn’t automatically integrate or connect to other home energy management systems, inverters, or solar systems Includes add-on faceplate options to customize the look of your home chargerNo integration with solar systems, batteries, or other smart home devices
Schedule your charging for off-peak hours if you have TOU rates
Like many home EV chargers, the Tesla Wall Connector and Tesla app can help you schedule and manage EV charging if you live in an area with Time-of-use (TOU) or surge electricity rates. In the app, you can enter your TOU details and create a schedule to charge your EV when it costs the least.
Tesla Wall Connector charging speeds
One of the nice things about driving a Tesla compared to gas-powered vehicles (outside of avoiding the rising gas prices!) is that you can plug your car in overnight to charge and usually wake up to a full – or nearly full – charge. That said, the speed of your Tesla Wall Connector is helpful to know and consider. The Tesla Wall Connector can provide up to 44 miles of range per hour, with up to 11.5 kW / 48 amp circuit output, depending on your specific model. As a comparison, this is 50 percent faster than a wall connector with a NEMA 14-50 outlet.
Depending on your circuit breaker and if power-sharing may be limited at certain times because of other energy use in your home, we break down the usual charging rate based on the output at your home. Here’s an example of how quickly the Tesla Wall Connector can charge:
Average miles per hour charging with Tesla Wall Connector Circuit breakerMaximum outputPower at 240 voltsModel 3Model SModel XModel Y (amps)(amps)(kilowatt)(miles per hour)(miles per hour)(miles per hour)(miles per hour) 604811.5 kW44413544 50409.6 kW37342937 40327.7 kW30272330 30245.7 kW22211722 20163.8 kW15141215 15122.8 kW1110911
Source: Tesla website; all measurements are approximate
How to install your Tesla home charger
As with any EV home charger, you’ll want to get a licensed electrician to install your Tesla Wall Connector. This includes ensuring any additional supporting electrical work is covered, such as if you need to do added wiring or upgrades to your electrical panel. While these can add to your cost, covering the safety aspects and enabling long-term savings (compared to filling up a gas tank) will usually make driving an EV and charging it at home financially beneficial.
Tesla has a database on their website, so you can search to find electricians trained in installing Tesla home charging equipment near you.
Is a Tesla Wall Connector the right home EV charger for you?
If you own a Tesla or are planning to buy one, the Tesla Wall Connector is the most affordable Level 2 home charging option available today. However, if you plan on getting additional EVs in the future or end up trading in your Tesla for another EV, you will need to get another home charger or purchase a third-party adapter (though these adapters aren’t officially supported by Tesla).
It’s also important to consider that you won’t get any bells and whistles in the form of smart home connectivity. The Tesla Wall Connector doesn’t provide any integration with other smart home devices, energy management, or solar panel systems. Even if you have a Tesla Powerwall for energy backup and storage, there is no direct connection between the Powerwall and your charging equipment. So, while the Tesla app lets you manage your car and home charging, you won’t have access to additional features or integration that some more expensive home EV charging systems offer.
Power your Tesla with solar
There’s sometimes a misconception that home EV charging is expensive. However, it’s substantially less expensive in most areas than buying gasoline, especially if you’re using solar to power your charging. Your exact comparison depends on the cost of electricity in your area and the make and model of Tesla you own (since various models have different ranges).
Going solar is one of the best long-term solutions to lower your home Tesla charging costs. You can use the EnergySage Marketplace to compare several quotes from pre-screened installers, helping you find a system that fits your needs at the right price. If you’re planning to charge an EV at home, add a note to your profile so installers can right-size your solar system to sufficiently power your EV.
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