Tesla Charging Guide

Charging is typically broken up into 2 main forms, home charging and public charging. Charging speed is measured in kW (kilowatt), but it’s sometimes converted to mph (miles per hour) so it’s easier to understand. Since different Tesla models have different efficiencies, the number of miles it can drive per kW differs between models, so given the same kW charging rate, the mph will differ based on the model.

 

Home Charging

These are the forms of charging you can install if you have your own outlet or can run wiring to a breaker box.

Level 1 (120 volt AC)

Uses a standard 120v wall outlet along with the vehicle’s included mobile connector and NEMA 5-15 adapter (or optional NEMA 5-20 adapter).

Outlets	Charge speed Miles of range per hour of charge
	Model 3	Model S	Model X
NEMA 5-15 120 volt / 15 amp breaker Common household outlet	3	3	2
NEMA 5-20 120 volt / 20 amp breaker Common household outlet	4	4	3

Level 2 (240 volt AC)

If you need faster charging speed, level 2 charging can be achieved using either:

• Tesla Wall Connector
• A 240 volt outlet + NEMA adapter + Mobile Connector

Tesla Wall Connector

This is an all-in-one charging solution that connects directly to your breaker box via a 240 volt electrical line. This option allows you to charge the car without the mobile connector, so you can always keep it in the car for emergencies. It charges the various models at the following speeds, depending on amps of the circuit breaker:

240 volt AC Outlet

This option allows you to charge from a 240 volt outlet using your mobile connector and a corresponding NEMA adapter. The most common outlet type is the NEMA 14-50. Depending on the outlet type, this achieves the following charging rates:

Outlets	Charge speed Miles of range per hour of charge
	Model 3	Model S	Model X
NEMA 6-50 240 volt / 50 amp breaker Maximum 32 amp output	30	23	20
NEMA 14-50 240 volt / 50 amp breaker Maximum 32 amp output	30	23	20
NEMA 14-30 240 volt / 30 amp breaker	22	17	14
NEMA 10-30 240 volt / 30 amp breaker	22	17	14
NEMA 6-20 240 volt / 20 amp breaker	15	11	8
NEMA 6-15 240 volt / 15 amp breaker	11	7	5

Public Charging

• Level 2 (240 volt AC)
• Level 3 (DC Fast charging)

These are the forms of charging available in public locations. Some are free and some are paid depending on the location and charging provider. Locations can be found from the built in Tesla map or the the PlugShare mobile app.

Level 2 (240 volt AC Outlet)

Public level 2 charging comes in multiple varieties:

Tesla Destination Charger

These Tesla chargers are located at hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. The have a standard Tesla plug and will bill directly to your Tesla account. Locations can be found through the built in Tesla map on the infotainment screen.

J1772 Charger

These are free or paid 3rd party public chargers that will require plugging in your mobile connector along with the included J1772 plug adapter. While the J1772 adapter cannot be removed while the vehicle is locked, the J1772 charger plug is not locked and can be removed by anyone while charging.

 

240 volt outlet

These are common at RV parking locations. You can plug in your mobile connector to charge form these.

Level 3 (DC Fast charging)

These are the fastest chargers available for Teslas.

Tesla Supercharger

The fastest way to charge a Tesla. These bill directly to the vehicle’s Tesla account and can be found on the infotainment screen maps. Simply pull up next to a charger and plug in the standard Tesla charger plug.

ChaDeMo

These are 3rd party charging stations that require a Tesla ChaDeMo adapter for charging up to 50kW.