Home Charging - Frequently Asked Questions

Home Charging Behavior

What's a best practice for charging a Tesla at home?
We recommend plugging in every evening to top off the battery.

What percentage should I charge the battery to?
For regular use, we recommend keeping your car set within the 'Daily' range bracket, up to approximately 90%. Charging up to 100% is best saved for when you are preparing for a longer trip. You can adjust how full the battery charges from the charge settings menu.

Should I wait for the battery to fully deplete before charging?
Tesla uses lithium ion batteries so there is no memory effect, this means there is no need to deplete the battery before charging. We recommend plugging in as often as possible.

How long does it take to charge a Tesla?
Mobile Connector and Wall Connector charging speeds both vary by car and available power supply.

Home Charging Installation

How long does it take to install home charging equipment?
Home charging equipment installation can take several hours. More complicated jobs may take up to two days.

How much does installing a Tesla home charging equipment cost?
Installation costs vary depending on the electrical system and the type of installation. Tesla provides a list of recommended electricians in your area who can provide you a quote.

Can I use a normal 120 volt outlet to charge?
You can use a NEMA 5-15 adapter for a 120 volt outlet. This provides approximately two to four miles of range per hour of charge depending on the car. For the best home charging experience, we recommend installing a Wall Connector.

I have an existing 240 volt outlet in my garage. Can I use it?
There are many different types of 240 volt outlets. Tesla supports adapters for the most common outlets.

I live in an apartment or condo. Can I still get Tesla home charging installed?
Increasingly, condos and apartment buildings are required by law to allow EV charging. Additionally, incentives may be available to you or your building property manager to alleviate cost, at the federal, state, county, municipal and utility levels. Check https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity.html for more information.

We offer the following templates to help get these conversations started with your building manager or HOA:

Note: Always ensure you have approval before installing any charging hardware.

Where can I find out more about incentives specific to home charging?
Home charging related incentives can be found at the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Incentives specific to home charging installation are typically administered on a local basis, often as time-of-use electricity rates or rebates from utility providers. Contact your electric utility provider to find out if they have special rates for electric car charging.

Wall Connector

Do I have to install a Tesla Wall Connector?
The Wall Connector is our recommended home charging solution, as it provides the most convenience and the fastest charging speeds. However, a Tesla can also be charged with the Mobile Connector or at universal charging stations with the included J1772 adapter.

How do I connect my Wall Connector to Wi-Fi?
By following the steps for connecting a Wall Connector to local Wi-Fi, you can ensure that your Wall Connector stays up-to-date with over-the-air firmware updates and remote diagnostics.

I have two Tesla cars. What’s the best option for charging both at the same time?
Installing two Wall Connectors configured for power sharing would be the best option.

Can I control who has charging access to my Wall Connector?
Yes. Charging Access Control gives you full control over which cars are allowed to charge with your Wall Connector. You can restrict access directly through the commissioning wizard without having to resort to a physical locking device.

Public Charging

Why is Supercharging so much faster than charging at home?
Superchargers skip the onboard charger of the vehicle, providing up to 120kW of direct current (DC) power to the battery. This level of power requires dedicated transformers and utility connections which are not available in residential situations.

Can I just use a local Supercharger to charge my car?
Yes, but the best charging experience will always be to charge at home for your convenience.

What is Destination Charging?
We work with hotels, resorts, restaurants and other hospitality based locations to install Wall Connectors to enable charging when away from home.

I own a property with parking available to the public. How can I join the Destination Charging program?
You can apply to become a Tesla charging partner.

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