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Choosing A Tesla Home-charging Option

Discussion in 'Supercharging & Charging Infrastructure' started by tps5352, Jan 5, 2021.

?

Which home-charging option do you plan to or already use?

  1. Tesla Gen 2 (or 1) Mobile Connector (that came with car)

    19 vote(s)
    34.5%
  2. Dedicated Tesla Gen 2 (or 1) Mobile Connector (a 2nd one you purchased just for home use)

    3 vote(s)
    5.5%
  3. Tesla Corded Mobile Connector

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. Tesla NEMA 14-50 Wall Connector

    7 vote(s)
    12.7%
  5. Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector (i.e., the latest model)

    15 vote(s)
    27.3%
  6. Tesla Gen 2 (or 1) High Power Wall Connector

    19 vote(s)
    34.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. tps5352

    tps5352 Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2019
    Messages:
    298
    Location:
    Bay-Delta Region, California, USA
    Thank you, Bruce.

    That's right. There are two Tesla Gen 2 120-volt adapter-plugs, and six Gen 2 240-adapter-plugs, right? There is often so much focus on the slowest (5-15) and fastest (14-50 and maybe the 6-50) adapters, that we overlook the others. I have seen at least three additional aftermarket Gen 2 adapter plugs, also. Meanwhile, to its credit Tesla continues to offer two Gen 1 120-volt adapter-plugs, and four Gen 1 240-adapter-plugs.

    Why so many different types of Tesla USA plug adapters? First, because United States buildings have been constructed with a bewildering variety of different 120- and 240-volt electrical outlets, each with their advocates and devotees. Second, because it may be an historic remnant of the "early days" of Tesla, before the supercharger and fast DC charger networks grew so large, when Tesla wanted to help alleviate charge paranoia and attract as many customers as possible by providing homes and businesses with pre-existing outlet types on garage walls the claimed means to keep electric cars operating (at first with UMCs and after 2017 with Gen 2 MCs). These days most new, better informed car buyers are probably being steered mostly towards hard-wired wall connectors or perhaps NEMA 14-50 receptacles. Up until a few years ago, new Teslas came with both 5-15 and 14-50 adapters. I'm sure you remember that.

    I'll see about modifying the chart to perhaps somewhat better recognize other Tesla NEMA adapters. (I need to improve the resolution, anyway.)

    True. But I am going to respectfully punt on that one. I have no hands-on experience with non-Tesla, aftermarket charge equipment. There are more than a few domestic and overseas sources; I would hesitate to try to keep up with new product introductions, successes, and failures; and I couldn't always vouch for quality. Most (but not all) Tesla charging equipment I can personally vouch for. Its relatively small number of product designs seem relatively stable, well-made, of good quality, and often well-documented. Although it can seem initially overwhelming, what the chart suggests is that today's Tesla customer has a relatively small, clear-cut number of charging options from which to choose.

    It was not my intention with the chart to get into the review, evaluation, and recommendation from among all products. Instead, the goal was to provide a logical blue-print for step-by-step decision-making from among the limited numbers of Tesla charging products.

    Comments like these are helpful and have already given me ideas for a different approach to home-charging decision-making.
     
  2. leonar40

    leonar40 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2021
    Messages:
    125
    Location:
    Bloomington, IN
    I got a Clipper Creek 240V 40A charger for free and put a Tesla adapter on it.
     
  3. pb2000

    pb2000 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2019
    Messages:
    164
    Location:
    Calgary
    NEMA 14 series is just a modern grounded version of NEMA 10 (no longer permitted, but still in the wild). Everything else if just follow the series and match breaker amperage to the plug
    NEMA 5 - 120V (LNG) - Typical household plugs
    NEMA 6 - 240V (LLG) - Hotel/Home through the wall air conditioners, welders, shop tools
    NEMA 10 (depreciated) - 120/240V (LLN) - Dryers, ovens
    NEMA 14 - 120/240V (LLNG) - Dryers, ovens, RV/boat shore power

    240V only countries are a lot simpler due to only one voltage, but a lot of their electrical code/work looks a bit dodgy in my opinion (especially the UK).
     
    • Informative x 2
  4. tps5352

    tps5352 Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2019
    Messages:
    298
    Location:
    Bay-Delta Region, California, USA
    Tell us a little about that, would you?
    • Is it a mobile connector or a wall connector?
    • If a wall connector, is it hardwired, or does it plug into an outlet?
    • How long is the charging cable?
    • Does your Tesla provide the same charging information on the screen during charging?
    • Do you charge other brands of electric cars, or just the Tesla?
    • Any issues?
    • How can all of us get a free wall connector? (Ha, ha.)
    Thanks. I'll take a look at the CC website. I think I remember that the three CC founders initially made home charging equipment for the General Motors EV1 in the 1990s, is that right?
     
  5. tps5352

    tps5352 Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2019
    Messages:
    298
    Location:
    Bay-Delta Region, California, USA
    You are in Alberta, correct? Please excuse my ignorance. Are home electrical devices pretty much the same in Canada as they are in the USA?* I've only seen a couple of movies about the North American electricity wars involving Edison, Westinghouse, and Tesla. But I don't know the history of electrical development in other countries.
    _____
    * Just Googled. So we are both on 120-volt standards, I guess.
     
  6. pb2000

    pb2000 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2019
    Messages:
    164
    Location:
    Calgary
    Canadian and US grids are heavily integrated and the electrical codes are almost a carbon copy. Mexico and central America are also similar enough that they use the same plugs.
     
    • Informative x 2

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