*Note: A few months after I made this review, Tesla began offering the Wall Connector with a 24-foot cable. That would impact the score by 3 points and increase the ChargerRater score from 4.35 stars to 4.5 stars and the final score 4.525 out of 5. Good on Tesla for listening and improving the Wall Connector.
Thank you for the information very appreciated ! I mostly took the wall charger because I don't have a garage, so I had to have the electrician anyways install a circuit and plugin and unplugging the portable charger is annoying ... also add on top that I get faster charging which is appreciated...
And after a few months of your review they STOPPED giving away a Mobile Connector with each car, so now that you need a charger this is an even better value and at a lower price than reviewed
This is probably the best video I’ve seen about charging any electric vehicle. In particular it’s applicable to the Tesla which I just purchased. Tom clearly knows his subject and is able to give a complete and simple review that anyone without a electrician background can understand completely. Just as Tom had said as soon as I ordered the car I immediately bought a $500 third generation Tesla charger. How very stupid of me and what a waste of money I only wish I would’ve seen this video first. I also wish Tom and his company were nearer me so I could use them for all my electrical needs.
Fantastic breakdown of amazing info. This was exactly what I needed to choose a charging solution for acquiring a Tesla finally. Thank you so much for all the effort.
Your delivery, clear and concise review is one of the BEST that I've seen for anything to do with TESLA products. Slow speech is so good rather than the frequently used rapid fire speech I find from US contributors. In fact I am from the UK so the product is not what I need, but I enjoyed watching anyway!! Well done.
I just saw your video today. I ordered a new Tesla 3 RWD car on April 21, and my new car will be delivered in September. Your video was very helpful. I will wait before ordering the Wall Connector until I have had the car for a few months. Thank you!
About 2 weeks ago Tesla discontinued the 9.5 ft Gen3 wall connector and only had the 18 ft version until a few days ago and now they only offer a 24 ft cable length.
Thank you, Tom. Very very useful information. I was almost one of those fools who went out and got a wall charger before getting a car. Instead, I just got a new NEMA outlet installed (with ground up). You saved me a few hundred bucks!
You point out a lot of valid things. Like, I’m legit impressed especially with your electrician background. You’re not being biased. You’re simply telling people what you do and don’t like about it but letting US make the decision. The cable length was on point. No one should have to change their way of life just to charge their car. No, it’s not hard to back up but you shouldn’t have to.
Thank you for your complete an in-depth review. I have seen other reviews of the wall connector and they all have been much more limited than what you did here. Thanks for covering everything in such detail it really makes decisions easier.
In terms of just looks, the Telsta wall connector is so much better than the others in your garage. Very glad you included Celsius for non US folks. Also, the video probably needs an update. Tesla now has a choice of cable length here in Australia - 2.6 M (8.5 foot) or 7.3 M (24 foot).
Outstanding review as always from Tom. It is very disappointing to hear Tesla launched this product without finishing the software. I think the gen2 model had load sharing for at least 2 cars, maybe 4. Shocked there’s no remote monitoring, FW updates, or communications. They also are working on Wall Connector software for direct billing of electricity to the user, but don’t have a release date. Potential EV owners who live in apartments and condominiums desperately need this feature because multi-tenant buildings won’t provide free electricity. It’s an impediment to EV adoption.
Can you set the charger to stop when the vehicle is charged to say 80%- I don’t have a Tesla , I have a Lexus NZ 450 . If this can’t control the charge percentage , is there one that does ?
This is one of the most informative and direct to the point reviews on a difficult subject that I have seen to date! Bravo, and liked/subscribed/ and appreciate the professionalism!
Great review, Tom is always comprehensive and easy to follow. This will save me some time on the installation. The best thing about Tesla charger for me is the one hand operation; the plug talks to the car and tells it to open the charge port when you point at it and push the button on the charge handle. I don't know of any other car manufacturer doing this (?). My other comment on the freeze test, didn't think that New Jersey ever saw temps below 0 degrees Fahrenheit so that's a pretty extreme case in my mind, the cable should heat up when in use so you're usually putting it away warm. Lastly, the advantage of hard wire is for those that install these outdoors, it's much harder to get stolen than the mobile charger that is plugged in to an outlet, not to mention hard wire is just a safer connection.
In Canada the freezer test is exactly our day to day experience… and when the car stop charging before we go on our way the cable is pretty cold ! Thank’s
Great video. The Gen 3 is now only $400 so it seems like a really good value even though you need adapter for a non-Tesla, which I already have. It gives me the option of going either a 50 or 60 amp circuit. I can pick up a 14-50 pig tail for $30 and have a really good charger for a $300-400 less than competitors. All the other options are nice to have and I like the look of the Tesla model better. Thanks for all your videos. They are the best on UA-cam!
And for those who are hung up on keeping a mobile charger in their Tesla at all times, you can buy a second mobile charger from Tesla for half the cost of a wall charger. That way, you can keep one in your trunk and one plugged into an outlet in your garage at all times. Great video and review!
With respect to the mobile connector and keeping it in the car. I go to the airport regularly. A number of airport garages are starting to provide 120V outlets for EVs. Seeing as when I fly it may be 2 -5 days sitting. For example, left it at the airport in December, was at 45% when Ieft. Car was back to the pre-selected 90% with 2 days. Added advantage, since it was plugged in, preconditioned the car as I left the terminal. So I wouldn't not travel with it. It gives more options.
Great video. As an update to this, having just bought a Long Range Model Y, at least in the US, the car no longer comes with the Mobile charger kit. So, the Wallcharger may be a better long term solution for some people. I also noted that the cable is once again 24 foot, which is another plus for the Wallcharger. (UPDATE: the J1772 adapter is still included.)
Great review! I got an S recently and have been so close to buying the wall connector. I have 100amps available but don’t really are if it charges in 3 hours or 6..I got the adapter you mentioned and it’s perfect. I actually turn down the charge rate in the car to decrease the amount of noise made by the vehicle fans. Long term I think charging at lower amps probably prolongs battery life but nobody knows much about this stuff today.
I've been really pleased with my Gen 3 charger. On a dedicated 60 amp (6/2 wire) circuit I always get 50 MPH, occasionally 49. I installed mine closer to the door so if I end up getting the Y and my wife parks her 3 in the regular spot I would still be able to reach the second bay.
I’m getting 50 mph also. I only expected 44 but it’s always 50. Doses it slow down if the wires get hot? Maybe our wire is heavy enough to prevent getting hot? I think my electrician used #6 wire.
Really excellent and detailed review. Mentioning the 32 amp charging limit of the Model 3SR+ is an important detail and that most people will probably do just fine with Mobile Connector with optional adapters. There's quite a bit more that could be said about the Mobile Connector (which needs its own detailed review and instructions): 1) In North America, many garages may have outlets with circuits that are rated for 20 amps instead of the usual 15 amps. In this case, the Tesla 5-20 adapter can be purchased for $35 to get a modest charging speed increase over the 120 volt 5-15 adapter that's included with the car. 2) Outdoor use of the Mobile Connector requires a weather-rated NEMA 14-50R enclosure that is weatherproof while the Mobile Connector is plugged in. However, some of those enclosures are rather large and ugly. If the enclosure is in a more public area, there needs to be a way to lock the Mobile Connector so it can't be stolen. The best thing may be to have a larger locking box that allows the brick to be locked inside with the outlet with just the cable coming out. 3) Alternative outdoor use of the Mobile Connector is to have the NEMA 14-50R receptacle mounted inside (the garage) then use a weather-proof pass-through port for the charging cable.
I’ve told my story before but, Tesla was slow to respond to request for inquiry so I just purchased a new GEN three instead of waiting.My GEN two wall connector melted on the inside. All the wires were practically disintegrated. So another reason I just bought the generation three was in case there was some kind of issue with my implementation and the GEN two connector. It took Tesla a little while to get back to me and offer me a replacement. They wanted to send me a generation two. I convinced them to instead refund me the purchase price of my generation three. I really like it. Luckily I park very close to the wall connector so I would probably have been OK with an even shorter cable. I would love for the Wi-Fi to work now to be able to charge money to Neighbor’s for houseguests to recover the cost if they would also like to use my wall connector. I’m super excited at the prospect of these units being good for multi housing complexes. Unfortunately, I don’t think a glass cover is may be the smartest for that. It’s sexy, but it’s probably more susceptible to vandalism. I’m very interested in knowing if the wall connector can also share the Wi-Fi connection by acting like a repeater or even better a mesh router. Tesla has so much money now, I hope they start putting it into more customer facing solutions for purchasing and service to be more seamless and expensive. I contacted them several times about adding destination chargers to a new build . We started construction last March and to this day I have still never heard back from them.
I’m glad that I watched this video because I’m ordering my model 3 soon and I won’t order a wall charger. I need to get a 1450 nema plug installed in my garage.
I think the frozen cable test was incorrect being that under normal conditions the cable would be at a different shape when freezing and would properly cradle. Either the cable would be on cradle or charging car therefore the shape would assist in hooking property and not fall as in test, where it was very tightly coiled. Just a thought.
GREAT STUFF MISTER!.. will hold on getting the wall connector ...i just drive 9miles round trip to work daily..so the mobile connector should be fine with the NEMA 14-50..THANKS. CHEERS FROM NYC!
Nice Job Tom! I was a bit surprised you didn’t mention all the other UMC plug adapters that Tesla offers. While the NEMA 5-15 and 14-50 are the most common, the next best (cheapest) option for home charging is the NEMA 5-20 adapter (7-8 mph) for Model 3. Thats good for 80 miles range for a 12 hr overnight daily replenishment. Most garage wall outlets are on 20A circuits even if the wall outlet is a NEMA 5-15 the home owner can replace that with a NEMA 5-15/20 outlet for $3. It should be noted that the Tesla UMC adapters are “smart”. Each unique plug has a built-in chip that communicates with the car. It will automatically limit the charge and voltage to the specific rating of the plug being used.
One thing to note, the early run batches of these were prone to overheating and “red lights of death” on the unit. They pushed a firmware update to automatically throttle down the amps if it was getting too warm. But I’ve heard there is a revised version being shipped now that fixes the overheating issue.
Sure wish this new unit had bi-directional clues within it. Can't wait for a Vehicle to Everything setup to use after disasters and grid down scenarios.
Tom I have the same Tesla wall connector. I've had it for 6 months now it works great. I had a question about the firmware on it. I called Tesla gave them the ip address of the wall connector they logged into the wall connector and told me it has the latest software update when they log into it pretty cool.
I love backing into my garage, no exhaust is great for backing in. Feels great to open the garage door and just drive forward. That being said i put my charger on the side for pulling in forward so I run my cable accross/ around the car... long cable is better
Great video Tom. Having a model 3 and Y, we use the mobile charger and are doing fine with that right now. We may, in the future, opt for a 240 volt service for the two EV’s. We agree, unless you drive a lot of miles in a day, the mobile charger will do the job.
Thank you for recommending 4 gauge wire. I can't believe after spending how much on the car and the charger that people want to do borderline home wiring (and not code if ever inspected) to save a few ducats.
Excellent overall review of the Gen 3 wall unit. One thing you didn't mention regarding the length of the Gen 3 being shortened to a maximum of 18 feet, is that the gauge of the cable was reduced also. It is much thinner than that of the Gen 2. Perhaps Tesla felt that limiting the length of the newer/thinner cable to 18 feet would be safer since longer cables can heat up at higher voltage/current levels. I know, they should at least provide an option for longer cable which is also thicker. Maybe if enough owners complain they will do that. Also, these are EVSE's, not chargers. Chargers are in the car.
The amps Tom is talking about is AC Amps since your charging using AC charging not fast DC charging like you would find at Tesla supercharger or ElectrifyAmerica chargers. I installed one of these for a customer and I like the ability to configure the max amps the charger can run based on the available breaker and circuit size. We could only find a 50 Amp breaker in our local small town so we set charger below or around 40 Amps max charging I believe.
Great review, thank you. It is very interesting to see how different this product is in Europe. Over here the rating goes to 32 Amps, which translates to 22 KW of charging speed. I doubt that my Tesla can handle this (so far I have only seen charging tables up to 16KW for the Raven), but at least that's what it says in the installation manual.
We have had our Tesla Model 3 SR+ since May 2020. We only drive a few miles each day and have been using the mobile connector on a 110v circuit. Which works fine for us. In the future we plan to buy another Tesla. What, if any, is the advantage of a wall charger (Tesla or other) over the use of the mobile chargers? Being that we will have to buy either the mobile charger or a wall charger for the second car.
This is great content. I saw your review of the DC CCS to Tesla adapter. I’m surprised there are so few choices out there, especially given that non-Tesla DC rapid chargers are sprouting up everywhere
Thanks for this information. You do a great job and deserve all the success with the channel that is coming your way. You really helped me make the right decision. Thanks!
Just watched the video. Very informative, thank you! I purchased the Tesla charger one year ago and do not know if it is Gen II or III. It does NOT reboot after a power outage. Did both generations reboot? Or, does that mean mine is defective? Wish I would have seen your video before shelling out another $4 or 500 + electrician!
I have the Gen3 charger. Works great. The 8.5' cable is perfect for me. I've dialed charge rate back to 16 amps because that's plenty for me, and I'm assuming a little better for battery health (can program to go higher if I ever need that).
Wow! 16 amps is extra cautious. 24 amps would provide real relaxed charging for any modern battery today. However, if 16 is all you need .... all good!
I set mine at the highest! That way I can adjust charging power in the warmth of my car or on the app instead og unscrewing 6 screws on the charger and rebooting it every time I need to change charge-speed.
Quick comment on the mobile charger that comes with your vehicle; those are not mean to be used constantly, I had mine go out a bit over 3 years, and I got stuck driving to super charger out of my way because I had to wait 2 weeks for my wall connector to arrive, just fyi. Lastly if you are going to use the mobile connector and its out of warranty they are not cheap to replace.
I hear your argument about the cable length, and am happy they went back to the 24 footer. However… you should always back into your driveway and garage… for safety and ease of exit.
Why do you install your chargers on the Rear wall of the garage?? I have my Gen3 Wall Connector on one side about 3 feet from the door. No matter which side of the garage that I park on it easily reaches my Model Y.
Thank you so much for the review. I want to get a Model Y, and wanted to know if I could use the wall charger for my BMW i3 as well (seems like I can). But your added information about the charger that comes with the Tesla was great. There seems to be little need for the wall charger after all. Great Review!
Hi Tom.. Doing Research on state code indicating outlets in the garage. We have only a 100 amp service and in our garage there is already a dedicated 30 amp receptacle. I am opting to stay on a 30 amp circuit due to the fact that I don't want to risk overamping the panel. State code indicates that for outlets in a garage, they need to be on either a GFCI breaker or outlet. With this being said I have also heard that due to the fact the Tesla already has a built in GFCI, having 2 GFCI's in series would trigger the breaker. Now being that you can install the wall connector on a lower amp draw, wouldnt this be forcing people to go towards the wall connector option as it would not need a GFCI since it is not an outlet but rather a hardwired device. LMK your thoughts if you can. Thanks!
Wow, very thorough and accurate review!! Thank you. As a Tesla owner since early 2013, still using a 14-50 outlet, couldn’t agree more with everything covered and suggested... except for the freeze test. Now I have a Solar Roof and 3 Powerwalls, so I’m contemplating adding this charger in for smart charging with the whole home system - whenever that is activated.
I think on the scheme of things that’s just something that only happens on so few days for so few people, that I’m not sure it’s really worth mentioning. And I suspect that if it’s left plugged into the car, there’s often maintenance “juice” flowing that it would keep the cable warm enough. What percentage of the users out there that this is something to worry about? Please note, I’m just nit-picking over something that I think you’re nit-picking about. Everything else I 100% agree with. ;)
@@SCWgreg I suspect that you don't live in a Northern state or Canada! 😁 It actually can be a very big deal and a real problem if the unit is mounted outside. Sure, while the vehicle is charging it's not a problem, but when you arrive home at night and want to plug it in and the cable is all coiled up and Frozen it can be an issue. Also, after the vehicle has been plugged in all night, when you unplug in the morning to leave it will be all frozen and stiff and hard to coil up.
@@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney I understand that, but how many people in Northern Canada mount cables/chargers outside? Isn’t that like 101, find a way for indoor charging? What % of EV Owners are stuck with outdoor only options?
@@SCWgreg You'd be surprised how many people mount their chargers outside of their home. In many instances, they simply don't have a garage. Here's the thing, for most people, this isn't a problem - but for the people that it is a problem, it can be a huge problem so it's important that they know which chargers have cables that are more cold-weather friendly. You can't get that information from the company's website.
Tom I enjoy watching your reviews as they are very informative and an unbiased opinion in my mind, so thank you. I just bought a Model Y and got it Sept 1st. I did install the Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector and was able to use a 60A breaker so I can pull 48A when charging. I’m a bit unique in respect that I fly to work on a 7 days on 7 days off schedule, live by myself, and I will leave my Tesla at home in my garage plugged in. My question is do you think it would be wise to dial the Amps down as it will be plugged in for 7 or More days at any given time. I was thinking of it as more of a trickle charger while I am working. I also live in Alberta Canada and its not in common to come home to 2 feet of snow and -30C to -40C (for my American friends -40C and -40F are the same). I have solar power also but regardless I just cant seem to find anything that says to dial it down or just leave it at the 48A charging……. Thanks and be safe out in this crazy world. Cheers
Leave the charger at the highest setting! That way you CAN charge fast when you need it! But of course when you leave your car for a week plugged in, dial down the amps to the lowest, IN THE CAR! You have noticed the possibility to do that in the charging menu in the car? You can even ajust amperage in the app! So never should anyone set a lower amperage on the charger than what the circuit breaker dictates!
yup, that is what I did. Don't need or want any longer cable. I have a 40 foot wide garage for 4 cars. I Put it on the wall between the two outer doors and it is long enough to reach any car.
Tom I moved from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited to a Tesla Model YLR. I’ve got a Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48a and love it, I used an adapter to allow me to charge the MYLR - but considering going with a genuine Tesla 48a charger and selling the Wallbox any thoughts? I might move to a Fisker or Rivian inbthe future, but no more legacy car mfgs for me.
great video review! do u have a video or site comparing the ChargerRater scores for all the EVSEs you've reviewed and scored? need a chart for quick at-a-glance information.
I have a gen 2 HV.. I see the cable on the gen 3 is thinner then the 2, looks like same as the mobile charger connector... think my cable is 18ft though Pro-tip...if you have a 240v outlet installed, in the event of a power outage you can, *first disconnect from grid *, you can feed your house power from a 240v generator through the outlet
Great demo. What would you recommend for a two car household that plans to transition to all electric in the next 3-5 years with a Model Y in the next 12 months and a J1772 charging vehicle later on (prob a Bolt)? We don’t want two chargers, but aren’t sure which would be less of a pain using adapters.
Have you done a freezer test on the Tesla mobile connector? It I use it overnight in the cold, will I be able to roll the cable up and put it back into the pouch?
Hey. Awesome review. Do you know if this 3. gen charger would work with my 2015 BMW i3? We are getting a Tesla Model 3, but keeping the i3, so it would be pretty important :)
*Note: A few months after I made this review, Tesla began offering the Wall Connector with a 24-foot cable. That would impact the score by 3 points and increase the ChargerRater score from 4.35 stars to 4.5 stars and the final score 4.525 out of 5. Good on Tesla for listening and improving the Wall Connector.
What about the wifi smart thing ? Is that available now ?
@@freedivided2221 nope
Thank you for the information very appreciated ! I mostly took the wall charger because I don't have a garage, so I had to have the electrician anyways install a circuit and plugin and unplugging the portable charger is annoying ... also add on top that I get faster charging which is appreciated...
Price has dropped to $400!
And after a few months of your review they STOPPED giving away a Mobile Connector with each car, so now that you need a charger this is an even better value and at a lower price than reviewed
You are spot on with the mistake about ordering one when you are waiting on your car. Two years later and mine is still in the box. Great video
is that still the case today?
@@thenonato yes it is
One of the best throughout reviews I’ve seen. Thank you.
Thank you!
Thanks. I purchased the Tesla “charger “. I knew better but……
This is probably the best video I’ve seen about charging any electric vehicle. In particular it’s applicable to the Tesla which I just purchased.
Tom clearly knows his subject and is able to give a complete and simple review that anyone without a electrician background can understand completely.
Just as Tom had said as soon as I ordered the car I immediately bought a $500 third generation Tesla charger.
How very stupid of me and what a waste of money
I only wish I would’ve seen this video first.
I also wish Tom and his company were nearer me so I could use them for all my electrical needs.
You got a instant like for incuding Celcius in the temperature test
Tom is a good man and knows what he is talking about. Keep up the great content!!
Fantastic breakdown of amazing info. This was exactly what I needed to choose a charging solution for acquiring a Tesla finally. Thank you so much for all the effort.
Glad it was helpful!
Which one did you choose?
Great review, cable length argument is spot on. $90 for a face plate - YIKES.
Your delivery, clear and concise review is one of the BEST that I've seen for anything to do with TESLA products. Slow speech is so good rather than the frequently used rapid fire speech I find from US contributors. In fact I am from the UK so the product is not what I need, but I enjoyed watching anyway!! Well done.
I just saw your video today. I ordered a new Tesla 3 RWD car on April 21, and my new car will be delivered in September. Your video was very helpful. I will wait before ordering the Wall Connector until I have had the car for a few months. Thank you!
About 2 weeks ago Tesla discontinued the 9.5 ft Gen3 wall connector and only had the 18 ft version until a few days ago and now they only offer a 24 ft cable length.
This video deserves a like just for that “ground up” tip. Good vid. Thanks.
Thank you, Tom. Very very useful information. I was almost one of those fools who went out and got a wall charger before getting a car. Instead, I just got a new NEMA outlet installed (with ground up). You saved me a few hundred bucks!
With no front camera or uss sensors, you’re better off backing into the garage anyway. So you don’t need a long cable that’s too long.
The best video I’ve seen regarding Tesla charging s7stem. Thanks for sharing!
You point out a lot of valid things. Like, I’m legit impressed especially with your electrician background. You’re not being biased. You’re simply telling people what you do and don’t like about it but letting US make the decision.
The cable length was on point. No one should have to change their way of life just to charge their car. No, it’s not hard to back up but you shouldn’t have to.
Tom, great thorough review! Surprised at the cold weather results ......
Thank you for your complete an in-depth review. I have seen other reviews of the wall connector and they all have been much more limited than what you did here. Thanks for covering everything in such detail it really makes decisions easier.
In terms of just looks, the Telsta wall connector is so much better than the others in your garage. Very glad you included Celsius for non US folks.
Also, the video probably needs an update. Tesla now has a choice of cable length here in Australia - 2.6 M (8.5 foot) or 7.3 M (24 foot).
Great review! Now that is a true "Power Wall" you have there in your garage 😎
Outstanding review as always from Tom. It is very disappointing to hear Tesla launched this product without finishing the software. I think the gen2 model had load sharing for at least 2 cars, maybe 4. Shocked there’s no remote monitoring, FW updates, or communications. They also are working on Wall Connector software for direct billing of electricity to the user, but don’t have a release date. Potential EV owners who live in apartments and condominiums desperately need this feature because multi-tenant buildings won’t provide free electricity. It’s an impediment to EV adoption.
I’ve watched a lot of videos on installing the charger and yours is by far the most comprehensive and informative! Great job!
Love the video Tom and really love the complete break down of the Gen 3 charger.
One of the best overviews i have seen. cleared up all my questions! Thank you for such a great video
These reviews and videos goes in such detail and cover all main questions, it is awesome
Can you set the charger to stop when the vehicle is charged to say 80%- I don’t have a Tesla , I have a Lexus NZ 450 . If this can’t control the charge percentage , is there one that does ?
This is one of the most informative and direct to the point reviews on a difficult subject that I have seen to date! Bravo, and liked/subscribed/ and appreciate the professionalism!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Great review, Tom is always comprehensive and easy to follow. This will save me some time on the installation. The best thing about Tesla charger for me is the one hand operation; the plug talks to the car and tells it to open the charge port when you point at it and push the button on the charge handle. I don't know of any other car manufacturer doing this (?). My other comment on the freeze test, didn't think that New Jersey ever saw temps below 0 degrees Fahrenheit so that's a pretty extreme case in my mind, the cable should heat up when in use so you're usually putting it away warm. Lastly, the advantage of hard wire is for those that install these outdoors, it's much harder to get stolen than the mobile charger that is plugged in to an outlet, not to mention hard wire is just a safer connection.
In Canada the freezer test is exactly our day to day experience… and when the car stop charging before we go on our way the cable is pretty cold ! Thank’s
Great video. The Gen 3 is now only $400 so it seems like a really good value even though you need adapter for a non-Tesla, which I already have. It gives me the option of going either a 50 or 60 amp circuit. I can pick up a 14-50 pig tail for $30 and have a really good charger for a $300-400 less than competitors. All the other options are nice to have and I like the look of the Tesla model better. Thanks for all your videos. They are the best on UA-cam!
And for those who are hung up on keeping a mobile charger in their Tesla at all times, you can buy a second mobile charger from Tesla for half the cost of a wall charger. That way, you can keep one in your trunk and one plugged into an outlet in your garage at all times. Great video and review!
Tom, thanks for this thorough review, great job with this and previous wall chargers. I am eagerly waiting for my Cybertruck!
Excellent review with a lot of important details and insights !
With respect to the mobile connector and keeping it in the car. I go to the airport regularly. A number of airport garages are starting to provide 120V outlets for EVs. Seeing as when I fly it may be 2 -5 days sitting. For example, left it at the airport in December, was at 45% when Ieft. Car was back to the pre-selected 90% with 2 days. Added advantage, since it was plugged in, preconditioned the car as I left the terminal. So I wouldn't not travel with it. It gives more options.
Airports are great examples of effective 120v charging, but there aren't too many other places that 120v charging is really the best.
Great video. As an update to this, having just bought a Long Range Model Y, at least in the US, the car no longer comes with the Mobile charger kit. So, the Wallcharger may be a better long term solution for some people. I also noted that the cable is once again 24 foot, which is another plus for the Wallcharger. (UPDATE: the J1772 adapter is still included.)
Great review! I got an S recently and have been so close to buying the wall connector.
I have 100amps available but don’t really are if it charges in 3 hours or 6..I got the adapter you mentioned and it’s perfect. I actually turn down the charge rate in the car to decrease the amount of noise made by the vehicle fans.
Long term I think charging at lower amps probably prolongs battery life but nobody knows much about this stuff today.
Very thorough review. Obviously not intended for very cold climate exteriors.
I've had mine in -36C and never had the issues you've had... Bought December 2021
I've been really pleased with my Gen 3 charger. On a dedicated 60 amp (6/2 wire) circuit I always get 50 MPH, occasionally 49. I installed mine closer to the door so if I end up getting the Y and my wife parks her 3 in the regular spot I would still be able to reach the second bay.
Is it 6/2 romex or THHN on the 60 amp? I have 6/2 romex and I’m ordering a wall connector
I’m getting 50 mph also. I only expected 44 but it’s always 50. Doses it slow down if the wires get hot? Maybe our wire is heavy enough to prevent getting hot? I think my electrician used #6 wire.
@@frankcoffey we’ve had ours for about 15 months and have never had any issues with slowing down. Our wire gets a little warm but not hot at all.
I had no idea the included Tesla charger did 32amps! I think I will start with just getting that plug installed and see how it goes! Thanks my man!!
Really excellent and detailed review. Mentioning the 32 amp charging limit of the Model 3SR+ is an important detail and that most people will probably do just fine with Mobile Connector with optional adapters. There's quite a bit more that could be said about the Mobile Connector (which needs its own detailed review and instructions):
1) In North America, many garages may have outlets with circuits that are rated for 20 amps instead of the usual 15 amps. In this case, the Tesla 5-20 adapter can be purchased for $35 to get a modest charging speed increase over the 120 volt 5-15 adapter that's included with the car.
2) Outdoor use of the Mobile Connector requires a weather-rated NEMA 14-50R enclosure that is weatherproof while the Mobile Connector is plugged in. However, some of those enclosures are rather large and ugly. If the enclosure is in a more public area, there needs to be a way to lock the Mobile Connector so it can't be stolen. The best thing may be to have a larger locking box that allows the brick to be locked inside with the outlet with just the cable coming out.
3) Alternative outdoor use of the Mobile Connector is to have the NEMA 14-50R receptacle mounted inside (the garage) then use a weather-proof pass-through port for the charging cable.
Thanks. I will definitely do a separate review dedicated to the mobile connector.
I really enjoyed the video- very informative and comprehensive. Thank you!
I’ve told my story before but, Tesla was slow to respond to request for inquiry so I just purchased a new GEN three instead of waiting.My GEN two wall connector melted on the inside. All the wires were practically disintegrated. So another reason I just bought the generation three was in case there was some kind of issue with my implementation and the GEN two connector. It took Tesla a little while to get back to me and offer me a replacement. They wanted to send me a generation two. I convinced them to instead refund me the purchase price of my generation three.
I really like it. Luckily I park very close to the wall connector so I would probably have been OK with an even shorter cable.
I would love for the Wi-Fi to work now to be able to charge money to Neighbor’s for houseguests to recover the cost if they would also like to use my wall connector. I’m super excited at the prospect of these units being good for multi housing complexes. Unfortunately, I don’t think a glass cover is may be the smartest for that. It’s sexy, but it’s probably more susceptible to vandalism. I’m very interested in knowing if the wall connector can also share the Wi-Fi connection by acting like a repeater or even better a mesh router.
Tesla has so much money now, I hope they start putting it into more customer facing solutions for purchasing and service to be more seamless and expensive. I contacted them several times about adding destination chargers to a new build . We started construction last March and to this day I have still never heard back from them.
I’m glad that I watched this video because I’m ordering my model 3 soon and I won’t order a wall charger. I need to get a 1450 nema plug installed in my garage.
Checked the Tesla site today (November 2021), the Wall Connector now comes with a 24 foot cable, so good news
Very impressive presentation. Technical and colloquial at the same time. Thx
I think the frozen cable test was incorrect being that under normal conditions the cable would be at a different shape when freezing and would properly cradle.
Either the cable would be on cradle or charging car therefore the shape would assist in hooking property and not fall as in test, where it was very tightly coiled.
Just a thought.
GREAT STUFF MISTER!.. will hold on getting the wall connector ...i just drive 9miles round trip to work daily..so the mobile connector should be fine with the NEMA 14-50..THANKS. CHEERS FROM NYC!
Tom, thanks for the commissioning walk thru.
Nice Job Tom! I was a bit surprised you didn’t mention all the other UMC plug adapters that Tesla offers. While the NEMA 5-15 and 14-50 are the most common, the next best (cheapest) option for home charging is the NEMA 5-20 adapter (7-8 mph) for Model 3. Thats good for 80 miles range for a 12 hr overnight daily replenishment. Most garage wall outlets are on 20A circuits even if the wall outlet is a NEMA 5-15 the home owner can replace that with a NEMA 5-15/20 outlet for $3. It should be noted that the Tesla UMC adapters are “smart”. Each unique plug has a built-in chip that communicates with the car. It will automatically limit the charge and voltage to the specific rating of the plug being used.
Good point. But I'll be doing another review dedicated to the mobile connector and I'll go into it more thoroughly there.
The cable length is the #1 reason I have not gotten this. It needs to be 24'.
Does anyone make an extension cable you can add on?
One thing to note, the early run batches of these were prone to overheating and “red lights of death” on the unit. They pushed a firmware update to automatically throttle down the amps if it was getting too warm. But I’ve heard there is a revised version being shipped now that fixes the overheating issue.
Bought a unit off eBay they not fixed
My favorite presenter. Always great reviews!
Sure wish this new unit had bi-directional clues within it. Can't wait for a Vehicle to Everything setup to use after disasters and grid down scenarios.
Tom I have the same Tesla wall connector. I've had it for 6 months now it works great. I had a question about the firmware on it. I called Tesla gave them the ip address of the wall connector they logged into the wall connector and told me it has the latest software update when they log into it pretty cool.
Excellent video. Very informative even for someone working in intelligent transportation systems and dealing with power systems for a while. Subbed.
Thank you!
Hi, the charger is now 24’. Now it’s on my “possible charger” list alongside the Grizzle.
Yep, they just updated it - I guess we weren't the only ones complaining.
KOA membership for $600 a year. Well worth it. If you travel a lot of course
I recommend the Juice Box. I've had one since 2017 for my Chevy Bolt and it came with WiFi
I reviewed the JuiceBox recently: ua-cam.com/video/taX9odl2hYM/v-deo.html
Good video! Cant wait to see your review on the alpha EV charger, we preordered one!
Great to hear. I should be getting one pretty soon now.
I love backing into my garage, no exhaust is great for backing in. Feels great to open the garage door and just drive forward. That being said i put my charger on the side for pulling in forward so I run my cable accross/ around the car... long cable is better
22 years in the USAF, we called that “combat parking”.
Great video Tom. Having a model 3 and Y, we use the mobile charger and are doing fine with that right now. We may, in the future, opt for a 240 volt service for the two EV’s. We agree, unless you drive a lot of miles in a day, the mobile charger will do the job.
240v is so much better. Its not hard to install at all....
Appreciate the video, I learned a lot. Outstanding amount of information, testing and thoughts.
It would be great to see the rating once they enable the additional smart features.
We'll definitely update the review.
Thank you for recommending 4 gauge wire. I can't believe after spending how much on the car and the charger that people want to do borderline home wiring (and not code if ever inspected) to save a few ducats.
Excellent overall review of the Gen 3 wall unit. One thing you didn't mention regarding the length of the Gen 3 being shortened to a maximum of 18 feet, is that the gauge of the cable was reduced also. It is much thinner than that of the Gen 2. Perhaps Tesla felt that limiting the length of the newer/thinner cable to 18 feet would be safer since longer cables can heat up at higher voltage/current levels. I know, they should at least provide an option for longer cable which is also thicker. Maybe if enough owners complain they will do that. Also, these are EVSE's, not chargers. Chargers are in the car.
The amps Tom is talking about is AC Amps since your charging using AC charging not fast DC charging like you would find at Tesla supercharger or ElectrifyAmerica chargers. I installed one of these for a customer and I like the ability to configure the max amps the charger can run based on the available breaker and circuit size. We could only find a 50 Amp breaker in our local small town so we set charger below or around 40 Amps max charging I believe.
Great review, thank you. It is very interesting to see how different this product is in Europe. Over here the rating goes to 32 Amps, which translates to 22 KW of charging speed. I doubt that my Tesla can handle this (so far I have only seen charging tables up to 16KW for the Raven), but at least that's what it says in the installation manual.
Any knowledge how to install two or more gen 3 wall chargers to use load sharing? One 60 amp breaker doable for both or need 100amp? Great video!
very good review, thanks for creating it. good job
Ground up install for 14-50 outlet is a good detail to know. Thanks.
We have had our Tesla Model 3 SR+ since May 2020. We only drive a few miles each day and have been using the mobile connector on a 110v circuit. Which works fine for us. In the future we plan to buy another Tesla. What, if any, is the advantage of a wall charger (Tesla or other) over the use of the mobile chargers? Being that we will have to buy either the mobile charger or a wall charger for the second car.
This is great content. I saw your review of the DC CCS to Tesla adapter. I’m surprised there are so few choices out there, especially given that non-Tesla DC rapid chargers are sprouting up everywhere
Is the little green light in stand by always on when not in use? Or does it turn off after using it???
It stays lit
Thanks for this information. You do a great job and deserve all the success with the channel that is coming your way. You really helped me make the right decision. Thanks!
Thank you!
Just watched the video. Very informative, thank you! I purchased the Tesla charger one year ago and do not know if it is Gen II or III. It does NOT reboot after a power outage. Did both generations reboot? Or, does that mean mine is defective? Wish I would have seen your video before shelling out another $4 or 500 + electrician!
very helpful video, great advices. Thanks guys.
Excellent review really well done, easy to understand explanations.
BEST CHARGING VIDEOS ON UA-cam PERIOD!!!!!!!
Such a thorough review. Thanks for all the great info!
I have the Gen3 charger. Works great. The 8.5' cable is perfect for me. I've dialed charge rate back to 16 amps because that's plenty for me, and I'm assuming a little better for battery health (can program to go higher if I ever need that).
Wow! 16 amps is extra cautious. 24 amps would provide real relaxed charging for any modern battery today. However, if 16 is all you need .... all good!
@@tonys9413 8-gauge cable from the panel to the charger, so easy to go up. I'm retired, so no daily commute to worry about.
I set mine at the highest! That way I can adjust charging power in the warmth of my car or on the app instead og unscrewing 6 screws on the charger and rebooting it every time I need to change charge-speed.
I'd love to see a demo of the WiFi interface. What kind of info and settings are available
Quick comment on the mobile charger that comes with your vehicle; those are not mean to be used constantly, I had mine go out a bit over 3 years, and I got stuck driving to super charger out of my way because I had to wait 2 weeks for my wall connector to arrive, just fyi. Lastly if you are going to use the mobile connector and its out of warranty they are not cheap to replace.
I hear your argument about the cable length, and am happy they went back to the 24 footer.
However… you should always back into your driveway and garage… for safety and ease of exit.
What an incredibly thorough review. Bravo
Why do you install your chargers on the Rear wall of the garage?? I have my Gen3 Wall Connector on one side about 3 feet from the door. No matter which side of the garage that I park on it easily reaches my Model Y.
Thank you so much for the review. I want to get a Model Y, and wanted to know if I could use the wall charger for my BMW i3 as well (seems like I can). But your added information about the charger that comes with the Tesla was great. There seems to be little need for the wall charger after all. Great Review!
Really informational post, saved me 200 bucks. Thank you!
Hi Tom.. Doing Research on state code indicating outlets in the garage. We have only a 100 amp service and in our garage there is already a dedicated 30 amp receptacle. I am opting to stay on a 30 amp circuit due to the fact that I don't want to risk overamping the panel. State code indicates that for outlets in a garage, they need to be on either a GFCI breaker or outlet. With this being said I have also heard that due to the fact the Tesla already has a built in GFCI, having 2 GFCI's in series would trigger the breaker. Now being that you can install the wall connector on a lower amp draw, wouldnt this be forcing people to go towards the wall connector option as it would not need a GFCI since it is not an outlet but rather a hardwired device. LMK your thoughts if you can.
Thanks!
This video helped me a TON! Many many thanks!!
Tom, have you reviewed, or do you have experience with Ford’s 48 amp hard wired wall charger?
Wow, very thorough and accurate review!! Thank you. As a Tesla owner since early 2013, still using a 14-50 outlet, couldn’t agree more with everything covered and suggested... except for the freeze test. Now I have a Solar Roof and 3 Powerwalls, so I’m contemplating adding this charger in for smart charging with the whole home system - whenever that is activated.
Thanks! What part of the cold weather test do you disagree with?
I think on the scheme of things that’s just something that only happens on so few days for so few people, that I’m not sure it’s really worth mentioning. And I suspect that if it’s left plugged into the car, there’s often maintenance “juice” flowing that it would keep the cable warm enough. What percentage of the users out there that this is something to worry about? Please note, I’m just nit-picking over something that I think you’re nit-picking about. Everything else I 100% agree with. ;)
@@SCWgreg I suspect that you don't live in a Northern state or Canada! 😁 It actually can be a very big deal and a real problem if the unit is mounted outside. Sure, while the vehicle is charging it's not a problem, but when you arrive home at night and want to plug it in and the cable is all coiled up and Frozen it can be an issue. Also, after the vehicle has been plugged in all night, when you unplug in the morning to leave it will be all frozen and stiff and hard to coil up.
@@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney I understand that, but how many people in Northern Canada mount cables/chargers outside? Isn’t that like 101, find a way for indoor charging? What % of EV Owners are stuck with outdoor only options?
@@SCWgreg You'd be surprised how many people mount their chargers outside of their home. In many instances, they simply don't have a garage. Here's the thing, for most people, this isn't a problem - but for the people that it is a problem, it can be a huge problem so it's important that they know which chargers have cables that are more cold-weather friendly. You can't get that information from the company's website.
Tom I enjoy watching your reviews as they are very informative and an unbiased opinion in my mind, so thank you. I just bought a Model Y and got it Sept 1st. I did install the Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector and was able to use a 60A breaker so I can pull 48A when charging. I’m a bit unique in respect that I fly to work on a 7 days on 7 days off schedule, live by myself, and I will leave my Tesla at home in my garage plugged in. My question is do you think it would be wise to dial the Amps down as it will be plugged in for 7 or More days at any given time. I was thinking of it as more of a trickle charger while I am working. I also live in Alberta Canada and its not in common to come home to 2 feet of snow and -30C to -40C (for my American friends -40C and -40F are the same). I have solar power also but regardless I just cant seem to find anything that says to dial it down or just leave it at the 48A charging……. Thanks and be safe out in this crazy world. Cheers
Leave the charger at the highest setting! That way you CAN charge fast when you need it! But of course when you leave your car for a week plugged in, dial down the amps to the lowest, IN THE CAR! You have noticed the possibility to do that in the charging menu in the car? You can even ajust amperage in the app! So never should anyone set a lower amperage on the charger than what the circuit breaker dictates!
I order Model S LR , 2021. Does it justify to buy Tesla Gen3? I believe newest model maximize utilization of the Gen3. Am I correct?
You should setup gen3 charger on the side wall near entrance, that way 18 ft. cable will be long enough, any electrical cable the shorter the better.
yup, that is what I did. Don't need or want any longer cable. I have a 40 foot wide garage for 4 cars. I Put it on the wall between the two outer doors and it is long enough to reach any car.
Tom I moved from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited to a Tesla Model YLR. I’ve got a Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48a and love it, I used an adapter to allow me to charge the MYLR - but considering going with a genuine Tesla 48a charger and selling the Wallbox any thoughts? I might move to a Fisker or Rivian inbthe future, but no more legacy car mfgs for me.
great video review! do u have a video or site comparing the ChargerRater scores for all the EVSEs you've reviewed and scored? need a chart for quick at-a-glance information.
Not yet, but I am working on that now.
I have a gen 2 HV.. I see the cable on the gen 3 is thinner then the 2, looks like same as the mobile charger connector... think my cable is 18ft though
Pro-tip...if you have a 240v outlet installed, in the event of a power outage you can, *first disconnect from grid *, you can feed your house power from a 240v generator through the outlet
Great demo. What would you recommend for a two car household that plans to transition to all electric in the next 3-5 years with a Model Y in the next 12 months and a J1772 charging vehicle later on (prob a Bolt)? We don’t want two chargers, but aren’t sure which would be less of a pain using adapters.
Have you done a freezer test on the Tesla mobile connector? It I use it overnight in the cold, will I be able to roll the cable up and put it back into the pouch?
Hey. Awesome review. Do you know if this 3. gen charger would work with my 2015 BMW i3? We are getting a Tesla Model 3, but keeping the i3, so it would be pretty important :)