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Preparing for your Model S: Selecting outlet, Solar City, etc.
- Thread starter bonnie
- Start date
Vger
Active Member
Most of these problems have to do with 3rd party J1772 charger incompatibilities. Apparently, there is enough "slop" in the standard that issues are possible. I have never heard of (or had) a problem charging from the Tesla-approved equipment.
ChadS
Last tank of gas: March 2009
I'm another Roadster owner that just put a 14-50 outlet in my garage. Like Bonnie, I had 'em put it on the center post for flexibility. In fact I put two, because I have two EVs. The total was about $550 including the new breakers and the 30' of wiring from the corner of the garage.
I didn't buy an HPC. I just leave the mobile connector plugged in to the 14-50, and use that to charge. When I'm leaving on a trip, I unplug it an stick it in the car. Pretty simple and cheap. Although I will say that if I leave really early in the morning, or get back really late at night low on charge and want to charge the car right away, it would be kind of nice to have a spare mobile connector so I could pack/unpack it at my leisure while always having one plugged in.
I didn't buy an HPC. I just leave the mobile connector plugged in to the 14-50, and use that to charge. When I'm leaving on a trip, I unplug it an stick it in the car. Pretty simple and cheap. Although I will say that if I leave really early in the morning, or get back really late at night low on charge and want to charge the car right away, it would be kind of nice to have a spare mobile connector so I could pack/unpack it at my leisure while always having one plugged in.
Vger
Active Member
From my Roadster experience, I would say yes, a 14-50 is fine. The resulting 40A supply is plenty to charge the car overnight, even with an 85 kWh battery. Really the only justification for having the dual chargers and the HPC are if you expect to be hosting lots of other Tesla owners. :wink:
[This is meant as a reply to contaygious, forgot to quote their message]
[This is meant as a reply to contaygious, forgot to quote their message]
Ok cool. That allays, somewhat, my concerns about compatibility / reliability.
Question still remains: How do you test the HPWC itself without a vehicle though? Put another way -- How do I avoid having to risk a 2nd visit by the electrician (when the vehicle arrives)?
$600 for mine. Had to go up and around a double garage door with conduit - so probably 25'.
When my J-1772 EVSE was installed, the electrician had a tester. If you use Solar City, they may have one for the HPWC.
You probably won't need to upgrade if you just do the NEMA 14-50. I had 100 amp service and was charging at 40A plus running central air and whatever else in the house.. never an issue. Now, if you're charging, running an electric stove and an electric dryer and the AC at the same time, then yeah, maybe. But you can also just not do that :smile:
strider
Active Member
Yes because that is what you'll find at RV parks/campgrounds if you find yourself needing to charge there.
mitch672
Active Member
They have to do a "load calculation", based on what appliances are connected to the service... At least, they are supposed to 
I have 200A service - but I already have a J1172 EVSE wired in. 50A was all I could add. The house has a 100A subpanel, but the AC, the EVSE, and the dryer are separate. I added a 14-50 to that as well, but they would not add a 100A circuit for the HP charger.
Make them do the calculations. You may be able to add 50A to that panel depending on what else is on it.
Hi cinergi:
Actually, it's additive--I have a 100 amp main panel and I need to add a 50 amp sub-panel to supply the NEMA 14-50 outlet. Both would be supplied by my 200 amp overhead cable drop and my 125 amp meter socket box. 100 + 50 > 125, thus the need for a new meter socket. It could be worse--my co-worker had, to pay quite a bit more to upgrade his underground cable.
Actually, it's additive--I have a 100 amp main panel and I need to add a 50 amp sub-panel to supply the NEMA 14-50 outlet. Both would be supplied by my 200 amp overhead cable drop and my 125 amp meter socket box. 100 + 50 > 125, thus the need for a new meter socket. It could be worse--my co-worker had, to pay quite a bit more to upgrade his underground cable.
It is not additive. There are code calculations that are performed. They do not allow for everything to be turned on full blast at once since that never happens.
I have a 40 EVSE circuit, a 50A 14-50, a 60A subpanel for the AC, a 100A subpanel for the house, and a 30A dryer circuit all on a 200A panel and it is within code.
I have a 40 EVSE circuit, a 50A 14-50, a 60A subpanel for the AC, a 100A subpanel for the house, and a 30A dryer circuit all on a 200A panel and it is within code.
digitaltim
Sig737 VIN628
$650 for the NEMA 14-50 50A installed between the garage doors - 30' foot run in conduit from a 100A sub panel - house overall has two 200A panels since it is all electric.
gg_got_a_tesla
Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913
The SolarCity installers got the job done today while working through some minor challenges posed by the relative locations of the external sub-panel, the PV system inverter that I already had and where I wanted the NEMA 14-50 outlet to be (a third of the way towards the front of the garage just in case I want to back in). They had arranged for the inspector from the city of Newark to come in as well and sign off on the installation. Good job, SolarCity!
Not as pretty as the Tesla HPWC but, blends right into my unfinished garage wall
