Complete review of the Tesla Wall Connector EV charger

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% 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.

Before diving into how the Tesla Wall Connector can help you charge your Tesla at home specifically, it's important to know the different charging levels 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 uses a standard outlet to charge your Tesla at your home. You just use a standard 120-volt wall outlet with a J1772 mobile connector to do this. 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.

There is only one version of the Tesla Wall Connector, so you won't have to weed through various product lines or models when 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

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 Tesla does not officially support the adapters.

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 insufficient 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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 complete – 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

Source: Tesla website; all measurements are approximate

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.

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, suppose you plan on getting additional EVs in the future or end up trading in your Tesla for another EV. In that case, 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.

There's sometimes a misconception that home EV charging is expensive. However, it's substantially less expensive in most areas than 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 power your EV sufficiently.