What EV Charger Do You Need for a 2019 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range?
Your home circuit might be able to push more power than your car can pull. The Model 3 Mid Range takes 48 amps at 11.5 kilowatts on Level 2 equipment. Feeding it a larger supply will not speed up your charging time.
The numbers
| Maximum AC charging rate | 11.5 kW (48 A) |
|---|---|
| Charger size to buy | 48 A |
| Circuit breaker required | 60 A |
| Outlet / connection | hardwired (a 48 A EVSE must be hardwired -- no household receptacle is rated for it) |
| Charge port | NACS |
| Full charge on Level 2 | about 6.3 hours |
| Range added per hour (Level 2) | about 42 miles |
| Full charge on a 120 V outlet | about 50 hours |
| Range added per hour (120 V) | about 5.2 miles |
| EPA rated range | 264 miles |
| Energy for a full charge | about 72.6 kWh at the wall |
Why 48 amps and not more
The onboard charger dictates your maximum intake speed. Buying a larger charging unit is a waste of money because the car cannot draw past 48 amps. At this ceiling, you gain 42 miles of range for every hour plugged in. A full battery takes 6.3 hours from empty. The EPA test numbers look slower at 26 miles per hour because regulatory testing cycles do not run at the car's peak AC rate.
What the install involves
You need a 60 amp breaker to handle a 48 amp continuous load safely. A 48 amp supply requires hardwiring directly to the circuit because no household receptacle is rated for that much current. Call a licensed electrician to pull the wire, land it on the new breaker, and verify your main electrical panel has the spare capacity. They will mount the unit on the wall and tie the conductors straight into the internal terminals.
Chargers that match this car
Your car has a NACS port. The NACS units below plug straight in; any J1772 unit works with the adapter supplied with the car.
Native NACS plug, no adapter needed.
Dual plug: works with NACS and J1772 cars.
Tesla's own unit. Native NACS, hardwire only.
Worth having as well
Common questions
- Can I use a standard wall outlet?
- Standard household outlets deliver Level 1 power at 5.2 miles of range per hour. A full recharge at this speed takes 50 hours.
- What connector does the car use?
- The car has a NACS port. Tesla units plug straight in, and third party J1772 units work using the adapter supplied with the vehicle.
- Do I need a 60 amp breaker?
- Yes. Continuous loads require a breaker rated for 125 percent of the draw, which equals 60 amps for a 48 amp load.
- What is the battery size?
- The pack holds 72.6 kilowatt hours of energy. This stores enough juice to drive 264 miles on a full charge.
Other vehicles
Charging times derived from EPA data for the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range. Electrical requirements follow NEC 625.41, which sizes a circuit at 125% of a continuous load. Always have a licensed electrician verify your panel.