Can You Charge A Tesla With A Regular Outlet?
If you are thinking about switching to an electric car, like a Tesla, you probably have a few concerns about keeping it charged.
One of the biggest anxieties that prospective EV owners have is what happens if a Tesla runs out of charge and how you recharge a Tesla. Of course, no one wants to get stuck on the highway because they ran out of charge, but honestly, that never happens.
The advantage of a Tesla is that there are so many ways to charge this electric vehicle. You can charge your Tesla right at home so that you never run out of charge.
In most cases, you can fully charge a Tesla overnight, just like you plug in your phone to charge while you sleep, and then it is ready when you wake up to start the day!
Tesla recommends installing a Wall Connector at your home, as this is the fastest and easiest way to charge up your vehicle.
However, you will need to install an outlet outside of your garage or in the garage (if you have one) before purchasing your Tesla. Tesla recommends a NEMA 14-50, which is a 240V outlet on a 50 AMP circuit breaker.
These will charge a Tesla Model 3 at about 30 miles per hour. However, if you have a 240V plug already installed, you can purchase adapters for those outlets. But what about regular outlets? Can they charge a Tesla?
Keep reading to find out!
Can You Charge a Tesla With a Regular Outlet?
Most regular household outlets are 110V or 120V outlets. These have a much lower voltage than the recommended 240V outlets that you can use to charge up a Tesla. However, you can use a regular outlet to charge your Tesla.
The good news is that all Tesla models come with a domestic adapter so that you can charge it up with a standard outlet that you can find installed in any home or establishment. Yes, that also means you can use your dryer outlet to charge your Tesla.
However, these types of outlets only charge about 7 miles of range per hour of charge, depending on the vehicle, so charging in this way does vary depending on the car.
How Long Does It Take To Charge a Tesla With a Regular Outlet?
According to the Tesla website, you will receive an adapter for a 110-volt outlet which is a regular outlet. This is included in the price and is part of the standard equipment that you get with new Tesla cars.
This type of charging outlet will provide roughly two to four miles of range per hour of charge, depending on the vehicle.
Most Tesla vehicles have batteries that last for about 250 miles when fully charged, but this depends on how you drive and how large the battery is. So, if a regular charging outlet takes about an hour to give you 4-5 miles of charge, you would have to wait about 62 hours to charge it up.
As this takes so long, Tesla recommends using a Wall Connector, which will charge it up fully in about 6 to 15 hours.
![Tesla Wall Connector [Hardwired] 48-Amp](https://ev-america.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/319Y1X1IvL._SL500_.webp)
Tesla Wall Connector [Hardwired] 48-Amp
- Charge in as little as 7 hours
- 11.5 kW power output for a single vehicle
- Indoor and outdoor installation approved
- No integration with other home energy systems
How Much Does It Cost To Charge a Tesla?
How much it costs to charge a Tesla depends on the model and the battery of the vehicle.
For instance, the newer Tesla Model X Long Range and the Model X Plaid come equipped with 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) batteries, whereas older versions of the car may have batteries with capacities of 60 kWh.
The cost of electricity can also range depending on your location and provider. The average in the US is about $0.13 per kWh. So, let’s say you have a charging efficiency of about 85%, which is average for Level 2 home charging stations.
With these calculations in mind, it could cost about $15.29 for a Model X to charge fully, as it has a range of about 360 miles.
However, the cost will vary depending on what type of charger you are using, how long you use it, and how low your battery is to begin with!
What Is The Best Way To Charge a Tesla?
The best and most efficient way to charge a Tesla would be with a Tesla Wall Connector. These offer the fastest charging speeds for your home, with up to 44 miles of range per hour charged. These can be ordered online and installed by a Tesla Certified electrician.
Alternatively, you can use an adapter to charge with a 240-volt outlet, which can power large appliances. A 240-volt outlet will give you about 30 miles of range per hour charged.
You can also use Superchargers when you are on the road, as there are 25,000 global Superchargers available on a 24/7 basis that can give you 200 miles in 15 minutes.
As you get a mobile connector with a NEMA 5-15 adapter when you purchase your vehicle, you can plug this into the regular, domestic 120-volt outlet that you have at home, as this will supply 2-4 miles of range per hour charged.
This is best done overnight and perfect if you only drive about 30-40 miles daily.
Final Thoughts
Charging up your Tesla with a regular, standard household outlet is possible. However, these are low in voltage and can take much longer to charge up the car.
In addition, getting a full charge with a standard outlet would take around 3 or 4 days, depending on your vehicle and its battery.
While it is possible, it is far more practical to use an adapter for a 240-volt outlet or install a Tesla Wall Connector in your home!
I would be interested in an off grid connection and how many solar panels would be required to recharge a Lexus to 80% with 8 hours of sunlight.
That’s an interesting question. I know that around 10 solar panels to charge a Tesla. Ultimately it’ll depend on the battery’s kWh and the panels’ wattage. Here is an interesting resource to read over: https://www.beny.com/how-to-charge-a-tesla-with-solar-panels/