July 29, 2024
Why Professional Installation of a Tesla Home Charger is Essential
By the end of 2023, Colorado had over 90,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads with EVs accounting for 11% of the new car market. As electric vehicle sales surge and with Tesla leading the charge, many Denver and Boulder residents are discovering the critical need for a Tesla charger at home.
As your family-owned, community-oriented home services provider, we thought we’d explain why professional installation of a Tesla home charger by a licensed electrician is a smart investment. We’ll also answer some of the more common questions Colorado Tesla buyers might have, including how long it takes to charge a Tesla and how the cost might impact your electric bill.
The Importance of Professional Installation for Your Tesla Home Charger
Installing a Tesla home charger is not a DIY project. Here’s why you should trust a licensed electrician with this important task:
- Safety: Improper installation can lead to electrical hazards. Our professionals have been performing safe and reliable electrical work for over 50 years.
- Experience: A knowledgeable tech who is experienced in hardwiring charging stations into homes provides better service. They understand your home’s needs and come prepared.
- Compliance: We handle all necessary permits and ensure your installation meets local codes and standards.
- Efficiency: A professionally installed Tesla charger operates at peak efficiency, giving you the fastest charging times and the most reliable performance.
- Long-term support: Applewood backs all of their work with the most comprehensive warranty in the area. If you experience any issues with your home charger, we’ll be back to ensure it works properly.
Trusting your home charger to an unlicensed provider can be disastrous. With the increase of electric vehicles, opportunists have popped up to meet the demand. These “installation companies” don’t have the expertise or license to properly perform the work as they claim. Make sure you hire a fully-licensed and insured electrician.
How To Charge a Tesla at Home
Many people assume that you can simply plug your Tesla into your home wall outlet and be ready to drive in a couple of hours. While this is partially true, you won’t get very far.
It is possible to use a standard 120-volt outlet with an adapter to charge your Tesla, but this method only provides 2-4 miles of travel for every hour of charge—a less-than-ideal solution for most drivers.
For a more efficient option, a 240-volt outlet can significantly speed up the process. However, the gold standard for home charging is the Tesla wall connector, which requires professional installation by a licensed electrician. This ensures not only faster charging but also the safety and reliability of your electrical system.
To use the wall connector, you will need to order it from Tesla and then have a licensed electrician perform the installation. Contact Applewood to schedule a Tesla charger installation with one of our licensed electricians before you bring your new vehicle home.
How Long Does it Take to Charge a Tesla?
Tesla batteries are lithium-ion, which means that you can charge them anytime without having to run them down first. Tesla recommends you plug your car in every night to top off the charge so that you always start the day with a full battery.
If you’re using a Tesla home charging station, the charge time will depend on how many amps your home circuit carries. Most circuits in the United States are 15 or 20 amps which translates to 10-14 miles per hour of charge. An Applewood technician can assess and install the appropriate charging setup for your home.
Teslas that are in the “sweet spot” of 20%-80% battery power will only take a couple of hours to top off. Charging an empty battery takes an average of 8-10 hours. Essentially you can expect:
- Standard 120-volt outlet: 2-4 miles of range per hour
- 240-volt outlet with Level 2 charger: 12-24 miles of range per hour
- Tesla Wall Connector: Up to 44 miles of range per hour
The company provides the following chart to further explain Tesla charge times:
Wall Connector Technical details
Max miles of range per hour of charge
| Circuit breaker(amps) | Maximum output(amps) | Power at 240 volts(kilowatt) | Model S(mph) | Model 3†(mph) | Model X(mph) | Model Y(mph) |
| 60 | 48 | 11.5 kW | 41 | 44 | 35 | 44 |
| 50 | 40 | 9.6 kW | 34 | 37 | 29 | 37 |
| 40 | 32 | 7.7 kW | 27 | 30 | 23 | 30 |
| 30 | 24 | 5.7 kW | 21 | 22 | 17 | 22 |
| 20 | 16 | 3.8 kW | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 |
| 15 | 12 | 2.8 kW | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 |
As you can see, chargers with greater amperage are significantly faster. Consult with an licensed Applewood electrician to learn what type of charger makes sense for your home. Your choice may depend on your circuit breaker panel’s capacity, your driving needs and the time in between trips. Keep in mind that if you have two Teslas, you will need two charging stations to charge both at the same time.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge A Tesla?
Compared to the price of gas, charging a Tesla is a good deal, especially given that a full charge gets you more miles than a tank of gas. The average cost to charge a Tesla, based on the national average cost of electricity, is $13.96. This number varies, depending on what model you drive but the range remains between $10-18 per charge.
The current price of electricity in Denver is 15¢/kWh. Given that most Tesla batteries carry 85-100 kWh, you’re looking at $13-$16 for a complete battery charge in the Denver area. If you follow Tesla’s recommendation to charge your vehicle nightly, you’ll only incur smaller regular upcharges to your utility bill.
How Far Can a Tesla Go on a Full Charge?
The 2023 Model 3—currently the most popular in the Tesla line—averages 272-315 miles per battery charge. This is consistent with gas powered cars which average 200-400 miles per tank of gas. Given that gas runs upwards of $50/tank, your electricity cost is a good investment, not to mention the greenhouse gasses you avoid adding to the ozone layer.
Your Tesla Home Charging Station Experts
Ready to power up your new car? Finding a licensed electrician for Tesla charger installation is easy. Contact Applewood today to schedule your wall charger installation. As your local, family-owned Denver, Boulder, and Longmont electrical services contractor, our licensed electricians are here to ensure you get the best performance from your Tesla home charger.