What kind of outlet is this and is it good for Model X

[Jimmy T]

Hi everyone, I'm a long time lurker but didn't feel like I could make an account until I ordered a Tesla! I've been pontificating for about a year to buy one, but didn't do it. Finally worked up the courage to press the red button!

Ordered a silver, Model X 100D, premium and auto pilot packages. So excited for my August delivery!

The sales rep called me today and asked how I would charge it and I said my credit card. I then realized he meant the car.

I attached a picture of a large outlet in my backyard shed. Would this accommodate a Tesla home charger? Anyone know what kind of outlet it is?

 

[Freedom101]

Your picture isn't loading. FYI.

 

[Jimmy T]

Whoops!

 

[Yinn]

Which one of these looks like yours?
A lot of them will charge your car, some just do it quicker.

Edit: Looks like a 6-50R, which is typically used for welding. The good news is that this should be a 240v/50amp receptacle (hopefully properly wired) so a conversion to a Tesla charger should be a piece of cake using the existing wiring.

I don’t know if the new kits come with a 6-50R adapter but such an adapter would be significantly cheaper than going with a Tesla permanent charger as well.

 

[TexasEV]

Attachments aren’t working at the moment. Can you identify the outlet from this chart?
http://www.trci.net/media/4682/nemaplugreceptacleconfigurations.pdf
Also can you find the circuit breaker and see how many amps?

 

[SoCal Jimmy]

pretty sure thats a 6-50R but could be wrong.

 

[dhrivnak]

I agree it looks like a 6 - 50R and you could swap the outlet out for a NEMA 14-50 and then you can use the standard plug.

 

[Saghost]

I agree it looks like a 6 - 50R and you could swap the outlet out for a NEMA 14-50 and then you can use the standard plug.

But you need a fourth wire for the 14-50, which is likely not in the wiring (the Neutral). It isn't used by the car, but not connecting it leaves the outlet not fully functional for future users - like an RV, say.

You can buy a 6-50 adapter from a number of sources. At one point Tesla was selling 6-50 plugs for the UMC, but I'm not sure if they do right now.

(I agree, that's pretty clearly a 6-50, which delivers plenty of power for a Tesla if it's backed by a suitable breaker and wiring.)

 

[Yinn]

But you need a fourth wire for the 14-50, which is likely not in the wiring (the Neutral). It isn't used by the car, but not connecting it leaves the outlet not fully functional for future users - like an RV, say.

You can buy a 6-50 adapter from a number of sources. At one point Tesla was selling 6-50 plugs for the UMC, but I'm not sure if they do right now.

(I agree, that's pretty clearly a 6-50, which delivers plenty of power for a Tesla if it's backed by a suitable breaker and wiring.)

Looks like the new UMCs don’t come with it, and max out at 32amp anyway: Model S/X/3 Gen 2 NEMA Adapters

So there should be plenty of capacity in that outlet to run at that amperage. For $35 to buy the adapter directly from Tesla, that’s definitely the easiest way to be up and ready.

 

[TexasEV]

Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be. Just buy the Gen 2 UMC 6-50 adapter from Tesla and you’re all set.

 

[iluvmacs]

Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be. Just buy the Gen 2 UMC 6-50 adapter from Tesla and you’re all set.

I think that verifying the circuit in the panel is correct is an important step. I've seen soooo many people post pictures of 14-50 or 6-50 outlets recently that have 30A breakers on them (totally not up to code). It's a one minute task that could save a lot of headaches later.

 

[Jimmy T]

Thanks everyone, I'll look at the panel to see what I have and then order that $35 adapter as needed.

 

[dgatwood]

Thanks everyone, I'll look at the panel to see what I have and then order that $35 adapter as needed.

Just be aware that the adapter is a significant tradeoff. You'll get 25% faster charging (during the fast part of the charge cycle, anyway) if you connect a wall connector to that instead (40 amp maximum charge rate on a 50 amp breaker versus 32 with the mobile connector). I'm not sure if that matters to you, but I figured it was worth pointing out.

 

[MorrisonHiker]

If you do get a Gen1 UMC and adapter, be sure to check the breakers or fuses. My brother has a 6-50 outlet in his garage and I used it for a couple of hours at 40 amps before blowing the fuses. It turns out he only had 40 amp fuses and I should've only been charging at 32 amps. Once I replaced the fuses and dialed back the charging amps, I didn't have any more issues after that.

Just pointing out that 6-50 outlets might not've been installed with "continuous use" by EVs in mind and might only have 40 amp fuses/breakers instead of 50 amps fuses/breakers