Old 3 prong 40 amp Kiln outlet and circuit for Tesla charger?

[selaing]

When we bought our house over 10 years ago, the prior own had a kiln in the garage. This kiln was on a 40 amp separate outlet with a leviton 3 prong outlet.

Now, coming to today.... I am seriously looking at a Tesla and wonder for my house charger, can I just use this circuit and plug? Or should I re-wire and put a bigger plug. The outlet and panel are about 24 inches apart.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Cheers
Stuart

 

[iluvmacs]

Is it a 10-50 or 6-50? Tesla sells a 6-50 adapter, so you're good to go with that one. If it's 10-50, you can get 3rd party adapters, but honestly it would make more sense to replace the outlet with a 6-50 (and re-configure the neutral as ground, per code compliance).

 

[selaing]

It states on the outlet 1050. So from your reply, I should replace the outlet with a 6-50 plug. I think probably best to get an electrician to come once I get the car.

 

[iluvmacs]

Yes, if you are not 100% comfortable with that kind of work, have an electrician replace it and inspect the wiring, connections, etc. I suggest that if your wiring can accommodate an upgrade, that you have them replace the 40A circuit breaker with a 50A, but it won't make any difference with the UMC that comes with the car -- it's just better future proofing and more "standard" usage for a 6-50.

 

[selaing]

Thanks so much for this note. I truly appreciate your information.

 

[selaing]

one final question.... would I use the home charger with the adapter or a mobile charger with the adapter?

 

[F@kegman]

You would use the mobile charger provided with the car and the new adapter to plug into the outlet.

 

[MorrisonHiker]

one final question.... would I use the home charger with the adapter or a mobile charger with the adapter?

Here are the adapters you can plug into the current gen 2 Tesla Mobile Connector:

Gen 2 NEMA Adapters

Similar adapters are also available for the older gen 1 Mobile Connector.

 

[iluvmacs]

Either will work. You can add the 6-50 adapter to your mobile charger (UMC) for $35.
A home wall charger (HPWC) is $500, but provides a little more convenience, as well as boosting your charging speed if you are able to upgrade that 40A circuit to 50A (or 60A, for that matter, but it's rather unlikely you would be able to do so without replacing the wiring) (also - this part would not apply if you got an SR/SR+ Model 3, since the car itself can't draw more than what a 40A circuit provides in the first place).

 

[Rocky_H]

I like helping with these kinds of threads, but by the time I got here, there was nothin' for me to to do but give a bunch of like and helpful markings. Yes, easy to convert that outlet to a 6-50, which is what I would do.

 

[mspohr]

When we bought our house over 10 years ago, the prior own had a kiln in the garage. This kiln was on a 40 amp separate outlet with a leviton 3 prong outlet.

Now, coming to today.... I am seriously looking at a Tesla and wonder for my house charger, can I just use this circuit and plug? Or should I re-wire and put a bigger plug. The outlet and panel are about 24 inches apart.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Cheers
Stuart

The important factor is the wire gauge. What size wire do you have and how many conductors?

 

[Feathermerchan]

What is a home charger or mobile charger? The charger is in the car.
The UMC is a Universal Mobile Connector. It connects the car to the utility power via changeable adapters.

 

[Rocky_H]

What is a home charger or mobile charger?

Apparently it is the thing that drives pedantic people like you insane. Not all that relevant to correct that terminology here in this thread.

 

[selaing]

I will make sure the breaker is switched off, take off the "10/50 plug" and see what wires it has. Hopefully, it might say on the wire or do I need a wire gauge?

cheers
Stuart

 

[Feathermerchan]

Modern wire is labeled. If it is not, I would replace it because it is a short run. You can measure it with a caliper and look up the gauge.

Rocky - I just go for accuracy and truth so people are not mislead. Many think that electricity is magic and so they might believe that the charger is really somehow inside that little box in the cord. The UMC is an extension cord with several adapters available and some electronics intended to prevent electrocution and fires.

 

[selaing]

Thanks all so much. Looking forward to joining the Tesla family just like our friends.

 

[selaing]

Quick update.... The current outlet is a 6-50. In the wires, it has a red, black and white connected to the outlet. the copper ground is just wrapped up sitting in the box. Running this outlet on the 40 amp circuit.

So new question - do I need to do anything now except get the 6-50 adapter for the mobile charger which comes with the car?
Thanks for all the comments, it's great to be part of a group of people who want to help out fellow Tesla owners (future owner).

 

[wws]

Quick update.... The current outlet is a 6-50. In the wires, it has a red, black and white connected to the outlet. the copper ground is just wrapped up sitting in the box. Running this outlet on the 40 amp circuit.

So new question - do I need to do anything now except get the 6-50 adapter for the mobile charger which comes with the car?
Thanks for all the comments, it's great to be part of a group of people who want to help out fellow Tesla owners (future owner).

It is mis-wired. The white (neutral) wire should NOT be connected on a 6-50. The green safety ground should be used instead. Since you have all four wires, I'd recommend replacing the 6-50 with a 14-50.

FWIW, the previous owners of my house also had a kiln in the garage. I use the circuit for EV charging, but for various reasons I downgraded it to a 6-30. (Dodgy sub-panel, other loads, etc.)

 

[selaing]

argh.... So replace the outlet with a 14-50, and then use all the wires I have in the box. Red, White, Black and copper. I don't see a green wire at all.

thoughts?

 

[wws]

argh.... So replace the outlet with a 14-50, and then use all the wires I have in the box. Red, White, Black and copper. I don't see a green wire at all.

thoughts?

Bare copper and green are equivalent. Safety ground.