I just made a reservation for a Model 3. Currently my garage has a regular GFCI outlet I think it's 110 volts- I don't have a huge commute max 40 miles a day, round-tip. I was thinking I could slow charge while at home and destination charge on the weekends. Anyone have an opinion on the feasibility of this from experience?
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Does anyone charge from a regular wall outlet?
- Thread starter Finley&OtisDad
- Start date
SSonnentag
埃隆•馬斯克
I did this for the first 2 weeks of owning the car.
Mine charged right around 5 miles of range per hour. So you can charge like 6pm - 6am and regain 60 miles or basically the days usage overnight. It is just when other things come up that you wish you could charge faster.
Such as giving multiple tours and test drives and 0-60 runs. A 0-60 run can sometimes eat up 4 miles of range, this can all eat up range rather quickly and takes a long time to get back.
It is not ideal but it can work if you want it to.
Mine charged right around 5 miles of range per hour. So you can charge like 6pm - 6am and regain 60 miles or basically the days usage overnight. It is just when other things come up that you wish you could charge faster.
Such as giving multiple tours and test drives and 0-60 runs. A 0-60 run can sometimes eat up 4 miles of range, this can all eat up range rather quickly and takes a long time to get back.
It is not ideal but it can work if you want it to.
dhrivnak
Active Member
I have done this at the in laws and with our Volt and it can work. Definitely a low cost way to start.
jschwefel
Tesla fan/TSLA, Model Y and Cybertruck owner.
I’ve had the Model 3 for just over three months, and I charge on a normal 110v / 15 amp outlet. It charges at 5 miles per hour and works great, but the car is driven only about 15-20 miles per day. It seems vampire losses on the 3 are a lot lower than on my 2012 Model S. I might lose a couple miles a day; it’s so low I hardly notice it. I did have to replace the GFI outlet in the circuit. It was old and would trip regularly when I first started using it. No issues since I replaced it though.
Feasible? Yes. A good idea? No. You’ll soon tire of this routine. One of the joys of owning a Tesla is waking up to a full charge each morning and never having to think about how much charge you have. In the long run you will be much happier if you have a 240V outlet installed In your garage. Just consider it part of the price of the car.
I'm pretty sure that it was determined that the poster would indeed be fully charged every day.
I don't plug either my Leaf or Model 3 in every day, they just don't need it.
How was this determined? By assuming he would charge every weekend at some unspecified destination charging station, as he plans? That would get really old after a while.
By the way, Tesla strongly recommends plugging in every day if you can, even if you “don’t need it”. It’s in BOLD AND UPPER CASE LIKE THIS in the owners manual, as it was for the Model S.
A connected Model S is a happy Model S
Try reading every post from the start of the thread to yours. Others are saying, been there done that. He's planning on charging EVERY night on 110V and IF AND ONLY IF he goes further on the weekends, can use destination or fast chargers to supplement. This can save well over $500 in costs that may not ever be needed.
So why would it not be a good thing? Heck, it's a lot better than some of the CA folks that seem to never charge at home and keep their Superchargers busy.
And it may not be the best recommendation for the Tesla, but for someone who had one of the terrible non-conditioned Leaf batteries that after 3.5 years was at 96% capacity, I know I'm not the worse to make recommendations.
jasonh4451
Member
I have only had the car for a week but my plan is working so far. I charge on a 110V at home but I have a short daily commute and can Level 2 charge for free at my gym (3-4 visits per week). 5 miles per hour overnight covers my normal driving. I can also pay to charge at my office parking garage if in a pinch. ($2.00/hr for Level 2). Nearest Supercharger is 15 miles away if going on a road trip.
Works for me so far. House is getting remodeled next spring though and I'll add a 14-50 for sure at that time.
Works for me so far. House is getting remodeled next spring though and I'll add a 14-50 for sure at that time.
The OP is in Chicago. I’m not sure your experience is relevant. Not too many below freezing nights in Georgia. .
The Model 3 charges faster from 110 than any other Tesla, so it's certainly MORE doable than other Tesla owners have experienced in the past. But if it's feasible (both technically and financially), I'd consider installing a dedicated circuit just for the added freedom and peace of mind of never having to worry where your next charge is coming from.
ferdboyce
Member
I installed a 20A 110V (5-20) outlet in my space in the parking garage in our condo in Seattle 4 ½ years ago, and have been using it ever since. We're on our second MS now, an 85D - since Nov 16 - and have had no problems. I drive (exclusive of road trips) about 7K miles/year, and I have a "full tank" virtually every morning (80% = 210 miles). I plug in faithfully every day, and In 2 ½ years, I still charge to 96+% when needed for a trip.
I pony'd up for a Tesla charger and I'm glad I did. It's probably overkill most of the time but occasionally I've driven a lot and it's nice to be able to charge at 12 kw.
I'm not an expert on it but I've read a few times in other threads that 240v is a lot more efficient than 120v regardless of amperage. Not sure if the difference would ever pay for a new circuit. And, also that medium charging speeds are healthier for the battery... but, just what I've read in here.
I'm not an expert on it but I've read a few times in other threads that 240v is a lot more efficient than 120v regardless of amperage. Not sure if the difference would ever pay for a new circuit. And, also that medium charging speeds are healthier for the battery... but, just what I've read in here.
timk225
Active Member
I have charged my 3 from a 5-15 (standard 120 volt outlet) near my parking space just to try it on days when I didn't feel like getting out the 15 foot extension cord and getting down on the floor to unplug the oven. It works, but only 5 mph.
The intermediate solution is to install a 6-20 outlet. 240 volt 20 amp. It can use the same standard yellow 12-2 Romex wire, instead of the much more expensive 6 gauge 4 strand wire to hook up a 14-50. I just have to install a double pole 20 amp breaker in my breaker box, and that should be good for around 15 mph. Tesla sells a 6-20 adapter.
The intermediate solution is to install a 6-20 outlet. 240 volt 20 amp. It can use the same standard yellow 12-2 Romex wire, instead of the much more expensive 6 gauge 4 strand wire to hook up a 14-50. I just have to install a double pole 20 amp breaker in my breaker box, and that should be good for around 15 mph. Tesla sells a 6-20 adapter.
I will have to use a 110V plug until the wall charger is installed, but like @jamnmon66 said, it might be overkill most of the time, but my feeling is that it will help smooth out my transition to going with an EV as life happens. Being able to regenerate range in shorter periods of time is a good thing.
I have a MS in Wisconsin. I used a 15amp 110 for a few weeks in summer, come winter no way now how would that work. With the car drawing 24amps at 240volts from the wall a morning battery warmup can still drain a few miles even plugged in.
The reason more power is more efficient so long as the battery doesn't need cooling is the electronic overhead, on the MS it is quoted as 400watts for the chargers and computer as a steady load regardless of how fast you try to charge. Battery warming can take a lot of power for those of us in cold places.
My used car came with the 30amp 240volt adapter which is common for clothes dryers, it works well at 24amp but I plan to go bigger before winter with the hope of improving battery warming/charging efficiency. Below freezing or especially single digit or below zero temps really change things for EV power use and many coastal and southern owners are too quick to dismiss this.
The reason more power is more efficient so long as the battery doesn't need cooling is the electronic overhead, on the MS it is quoted as 400watts for the chargers and computer as a steady load regardless of how fast you try to charge. Battery warming can take a lot of power for those of us in cold places.
My used car came with the 30amp 240volt adapter which is common for clothes dryers, it works well at 24amp but I plan to go bigger before winter with the hope of improving battery warming/charging efficiency. Below freezing or especially single digit or below zero temps really change things for EV power use and many coastal and southern owners are too quick to dismiss this.
Check your electricity bill. Pay attention to plans with Tiers, Baselines, and TOU (Time of use).
The problem with 120V is that your longer charging time makes it harder to avoid the "peak" rates.
Peak rates can be 3X more expensive than Off-Peak rates.
The problem with 120V is that your longer charging time makes it harder to avoid the "peak" rates.
Peak rates can be 3X more expensive than Off-Peak rates.
Yep. My off peak rate is 6 cents and peak is 16. If I charge off peak, it would theoretically cost $4.50 to charge from 0-100% but $12.00 on peak. This of course doesn't take inefficiencies into account.
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