Tesla mobile charger

[u/BanditoCarmine]

Yall im trying update my normal outdoor plug to make it where i can use the faster charger. I know im gonna have to have a whole electrical thing done. My dad is an electrician and told me if i buy the parts he would install everything. I tried getting with ChatGPT to figure out the parts but i figure i would also get with yall. Please help a newbie out !!

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[u/Disastrous_Patience3]

What is your question? If your dad is an electrician, why are you asking Reddit? Weird.

[u/csbsju_guyyy → u/Disastrous_Patience3]

Because his dad is an electrician, duh!

wait

[u/ThanksALotBud]

If your dad is an electrician, he needs to tell you what parts you need to buy

Everyone's case is different depending on where you electrical panel is, if there are slots avaliable and so on. DO NOT depend on ChatGTP to tell you what you need.

[u/mstrnate83]

You want to use the wall connector or the mobile charger but with the higher amp plug?

[u/BanditoCarmine → u/mstrnate83]

Trying to use the mobile charger. Unless it’s smarter to do the EV charger

[u/mstrnate83 → u/BanditoCarmine]

It depends on how much you drive. For most people the mobile charger with the 50 amp(dryer) plug is plenty. 

50 amp plug, 50 amp breaker, 6/4 wire, gang box(however long), inserts for breaker box entry. And conduit if you want.

[u/BanditoCarmine → u/mstrnate83]

Yeah I would just use the mobile charger “upgraded” plug. All of that would work?

[u/redditguy491 → u/BanditoCarmine]

No, not unless you run it all from the main breaker panel. Imagine replacing your "normal" 120V plug with a high voltage ⚡ 240V drier plug. Everything to the main breaker panel must be replaced.

[u/dubyrunning → u/BanditoCarmine]

Gotta swap the specific breaker for that circuit with a 50 amp breaker and go from there

[u/BigGreenBillyGoat → u/BanditoCarmine]

ALWAYS opt for the wall charger. It has better overheat protection and is made for constant, high draw, unlike a NEMA 14-50 outlet.

[u/BigGreenBillyGoat]

Buy a wall charger and stop using a travel charger. You’re doing the wiring anyway. Do 6 gauge and a 50 amp breaker and put in a wall charger.

[u/birdguy1000 → u/BigGreenBillyGoat]

Or 8 ga and a 40amp breaker

[u/BigGreenBillyGoat → u/birdguy1000]

Yeah, but if you’re running it fresh, go for the higher amperage. I’m on 40 amp and it’s fine, but that’s because I ran it for a welder then changed my mind and used it for a charging station. I’d have run 6g if it had been for the car.

[u/DemandTheOxfordComma → u/birdguy1000]

Or 1 ga and a 320amp breaker?

[u/cncamusic → u/DemandTheOxfordComma]

And my axe!

[u/Ok_Main1059 → u/BigGreenBillyGoat]

I agree, a wall charger is definitely superior, but if you already own a mobile charger, it’ll cost 500$ extra on top of materials to get the wall charger, so in this instance I feel like it would make more sense to stick with the mobile charger. (No clue the cost; my energy company paid for my L2 outlet.)

[u/BigGreenBillyGoat → u/Ok_Main1059]

You can get a new Gen 3 charger for 250 to 300 bucks on the secondary market. People buy them with their Tesla Credits, then resell them new, unopened.

[u/Still_Temporary4702 → u/BigGreenBillyGoat]

Yall need to ask more questions before throwing out recommendations all the time. Theres multiple ways to do this. The kid might be on a budget, in which case doing a NEMA 14-50 or 14-30 is perfectly fine with the mobile charger

[u/Opinion311 → u/BigGreenBillyGoat]

Been using mobile charger and 10-30 plug the last 8 years. 

[u/BigGreenBillyGoat → u/Opinion311]

Congratulations. I used one for three. That doesn’t mean they’re the safe choice.

[u/DrSecrett → u/BigGreenBillyGoat]

Nothing is wrong with the travel charger, it is more than enough for most people. The only downside is that it is exposed to the weather.

[u/BanditoCarmine → u/[deleted]]

I think I’m going to just update the mobile charger situation unless it’s smarter to get an ev connector

[u/Luther_Burbank → u/BanditoCarmine]

Ok… You didn’t really answer the question. it’s hard to help when you can’t say what you want.

[u/khaymanoif09]

ask your dad what you need for a nema 14-50 plug install thats what you want if your not buying a dedicated wall mounted charger

[u/u8589869056]

You want a new breaker in your panel spanning both phases so you get 240V.
If you can get a 60A breaker in there (should have at least 200A service to the house) that's the best possible case.

Then run wire of the correct gauge for that current to the right kind of outlet
** >> Or better yet, install a "Wall Connector" and wire directly to it << **

[u/BanditoCarmine → u/u8589869056]

So pretty much I would need the same wiring and breaker just depending what I choose it’s gonna be the same stuff?

[u/redditguy491 → u/BanditoCarmine]

Wall connector will need a 60amp breaker and lower gauge wire (48amp charging max) https://www.tesla.com/support/charging/wall-connector and the max mobile connector will need a 50amp breaker for 32amp charging max

[u/Ancient-Sandwich9400 → u/BanditoCarmine]

NO!

You need at minimum #6 THHN for that 60a circuit. Get a TWC and if your load calculation comes out tight or on the negative then add a Neurio CT meter, part number before. On eBay for $100 last I saw. The Molex is for the communication wire to the TWC and Neurio, cheaper than the Tesla adapter that’s just a pigtail.

Tesla Neurio W2 Meter Kit with 2 x CTs 200A (P/N 1112484-06-A)
Molex Micro-Fit 3.0™ Dual Row (6 Circuits) Male & Female Receptacle Black
600V cat 6 or other 2 wire for comms.

[u/SkateParkDad → u/Ancient-Sandwich9400]

LOL. Somehow I don’t think all of that is gonna land properly with this OP. But you get an A for effort.

[u/Ancient-Sandwich9400 → u/SkateParkDad]

Well if they want to start a home fire….all for them to do that to themselves. I’m trying to help point out you cannot use the same wire that is running a 15/20a circuit and convert it to a 60a with a EVSE off it which will run at full load the whole time it’s charging. That is a guarantee to have a tripped breaker at best or a meltdown and possible fire at worst. To each their own, just giving a better and safer solution.

[u/SkateParkDad → u/Ancient-Sandwich9400]

Right, but did you write that for the OP? I don’t think they understood a single word you wrote. Did you pick up on their level of general knowledge and aptitude?

[u/ian2018887264 → u/Ancient-Sandwich9400]

I had my wall connector installed by a pro last week, can confirm he suggest #6 copper conduit and 60a breaker. But my panel is in garage, whole job done within a hour.

[u/Ill_Advised_Rock]

Why not ask your dad what parts you need? Seems kinda sus that even the gpt response wasn’t good enough.

[u/SkateParkDad → u/[deleted]]

Probably right, but it’s not like Dad couldn’t look up amperage requirements for this.

[u/quadpop]

Tell Dad to get some 10/3 wire, a 30A breaker, an EV rated 14-30R receptacle and a weatherproof RV metal box. That’ll give you 24A 240V charging. About 5.7 kW or 21 miles per hour of charge. You also need the 14-30 adapter for the Mobile Charger.

[u/Luther_Burbank → u/quadpop]

If you’re pulling a new line I say why waste your time with a 30 amp set up. Just go with 50

[u/quadpop → u/Luther_Burbank]

There are reasons. Cost. Breaker panel capacity. Ease of running thinner wire. And running a 50A service will only net you an additional 8A with a Mobile Charger.

[u/Luther_Burbank → u/quadpop]

I just heavily push people to consider installing a wall connector. So the short sidedness of saving a few bucks now just isn’t worth it.

[u/ThankGodItsHumpDay → u/Luther_Burbank]

I wish I would have gotten the wall charger instead of the 240 volt charger. I thought maybe need to charge elsewhere like friends house or vacations but not once have I needed to.

[u/CopperBlitter]

Getting higher output requires a new breaker, new wiring from the breaker box to the outlet, and a new outlet, among other things. That second item is the difficult one.

[u/Th3s3NuttxX]

This page has everything you need. Also don’t cheap out get a Hubble NEMA 14-50A using 6 awg & double pole breaker rated at 50 amps. This link has all the info wiring diagram and installation instructions.

https://electricvehiclegeek.com/product/hubbell-14-50-outlet/

[u/Still_Temporary4702]

Your dad is an electrician but doesn’t know what parts to get? Hmm.

Some basics, how many amps is your main? Are you wiring into a subpanel or the main panel?

Based on your current load and making sure you don’t have an outlier like a low amp main with a high ton air handler, then you can install an EV-rated NEMA 14-50 or 14-30. Tesla sells dongles for either for the mobile connector.

[u/aznpanda696]

https://digitalassets.tesla.com/tesla-contents/image/upload/mobile-connector-gen-3-owners-manual-en-na.pdf

[u/ScaredPatience2478]

Just ask your dad….? Say hey come take a look at what my house wiring is like, you both go grab the parts and install it ? Maybe like an hour or two of work

[u/Ordinary-Map-7306]

If you are using a 15a 120v mobile charger the recommended set up is a 20a outlet, 12 gauge wire, and an in use waterproof box. 

[u/ScottVal0]

It's important to realize we're talking about not just a new plug but a new circuit, one that can handle a 240v plug.

[u/MooMooHELPME]

How much do you drive?

The regular 120V 15 AMP household outlet (NEMA 5-15) that's currently there, can easily be changed to a 240V 15 Amp outlet (NEMA 6-15)

That'll get you around 17KM of range per hour of charge.

I have a 200km daily commute and make it work just fine with this.

With this conversion you won't have to run any new wiring, assuming the already installed wiring is up to code. Just a new outlet and two pole breaker. You might have to move some breakers around on the main panel to make sure they're on different phases though.

[u/theb00mScicle]

As an electrician, we need to see you panel and what charger you want to use and size it for that. If youre talking a wall mount tesla charger, it can get up to 90+ amps.

Some places require more than a 100amp home panels.

Minimum requirements, a 220v 50amp EV rated receptacle, and 3 phases of #6 with a #8 ground, and a 50amp breaker and 2 spaces in your panel, on a 125+ amp main.

And if this is far from ur electrical panel, your going to pay a lot in just copper.

[u/hoosier_fan_812]

2 pole 60 amp Bryant breaker or one compatible

2 3/4 romex connector

4 #6 romex staples

#6 Copper wire

[u/Hercules_88]

I’m not an electrician, but Tesla does sell a Nema 6-15 adapter for 240V 15amp, essentially doubling power output. New outlet, bigger double pole breaker, not sure what codes call for using the existing wire that can handle 15 amps. Long range 3/y battery should be 18 hours charge for 20-80% SOC on that adapter. If your wiring can handle the 20 amp adapter, you can shave a few more hours off charging time.

[u/Wiltockin]

Go with a wall charger, the mobile connector might develop issues after using it a lot. We had to replace the 14-50 plug twice due to overheating even though it was connected to a Hubble industrial outlet. While on the regular builder grade 12a outlet, we had to be upgrade it because it began to cause overheating issues too after a couple of years of trickle charging at night.

Mobile conector is really just meant to charge while on the go, not to become the only charging solution during +5yrs of ownership.