After getting a Tesla, you likely need to install a home charger, which requires finding the correct circuit breaker to provide enough power for it.
Tesla owners have many questions about their chargers and how to maintain them.
But your Tesla car does not require as much power as you would assume, making it easy to accommodate the charging requirements.
The size of the breaker needed for a Tesla charger depends on the voltage and amperage. For example, if you have a 240-volt outlet, you will need a 50 amp or 60 amp breaker, depending on your desired recharge rate. You should not go below 50 amps if you don’t have to.
The Tesla Model S electric car has one of the most advanced charging systems in the world.
The size of the Tesla charger you need depends on how much power your vehicle needs and how long it will take for the battery to charge fully.
This guide explains the different outlet adapters and the best size breaker to use for them.
Finding the different charging outputs is explained by Tesla online to help drivers know what they need to install.
Combine this with some electrical knowledge, and you can learn everything about installing the best charging system for your car.
What Size Breaker Do I Need For A Tesla Charger?
The Tesla charger is a device that is used to charge electric vehicles. The charger has an AC outlet and can be connected to the wall outlet of a building.
It has a built-in circuit breaker that prevents an electric shock from occurring when the device malfunctions or the power goes out.
Tesla chargers have different sizes depending on whether they are for home use or commercial use.
The size of the breaker depends on how many amps are used and how much electricity is drawn from it.
The breaker size needed depends on the amperage of the charger.
The wall outlet charger is a 240 volt NEMA 14-50 outlet. This would require a 50 amp breaker to provide enough power and volts to charge your vehicle safely and quickly.
The breaker size needed always depends on the amperage of the charger though. The maximum size you would need for a Tesla charger is a 60 amp.
The type of Tesla you have will also factor into this. But to avoid confusion, it is best to go with the standard 50 amp breaker.
Factors To Consider When Buying A Breaker For A Tesla Charger
Tesla’s chargers are not just regular charging stations. They provide an experience that is unlike anything else in the world.
These chargers are designed to be one of a kind, and when you buy them, you have to understand the factors that will affect your experience with them.
But before installation, you will need a suitable circuit breaker, and there are some factors to consider when buying this.
Electrical Load Capabilities
The electrical load size is an essential thing that matters when charging your Tesla and using a break. This includes the watts, amps, and volts needed when plugging the vehicle into the outlet.
For example, if you used a 240V charger with a 50 amp breaker, this would equal about 12,000 watts.
You need to check these calculations to see if this will provide enough watts to charge your car correctly.
Desired Recharge Rate
The next thing that matters is how quickly you want to be able to charge your car when it is plugged in. You can get a faster charge with a bigger breaker and outlet adapter.
For example, the 120V adapter will charge your car 3 miles per hour. But the 240V adapter will charge the car 30 miles per hour.
With a 50 amp breaker, you would get about 23 miles per hour.
It is obvious which is the better choice. You will need to match the proper breaker size to the 240V adapter.
Electric Service Size
The electrical service size also impacts charging and varies based on the breaker size.
However, you won’t need much from the service to charge a car, and it is not recommended to install a new service for this.
Your existing service can likely handle the electrical load without any issues.
For example, charging your Tesla on a 240V adapter equals a similar load to a stove in the kitchen.
How Many Amps Does A Tesla Home Charger Draw?
The Tesla Home Charger is a device that can charge your Tesla Model 3, Model S, or Model X.
The charger comes with a built-in inverter and AC output. It does not have a DC input and can only be used to power the vehicle.
Tesla’s home chargers are designed to draw as few amps as possible. They have a maximum continuous current of 48 Amps, depending on the size of the breaker.
Below we list the standard circuit breaker sizes used and the equivalent amps these breakers can draw for the charger.
60 Amp Circuit Breaker
The 60 amp breaker is the largest recommended by Tesla, providing an output of 48 amps for charging. This equals about 11.5 kW and works for all four Tesla models.
50 Amp Circuit Breaker
The 50 amp is the most common breaker with a power output of 40 amps and 9.6 kW.
40 Amp Circuit Breaker
The 40 amp breaker has an output of 32 amps and 7.7 kW when running a 240V power adapter.
30 Amp Circuit Breaker
The 30 amp breaker is small but still can charge slowly with 24 amps and 5.7 kW of output.
How Fast Does A 50 Amp Breaker Charge A Tesla?
Tesla has been known to be an innovator in electric vehicles, and the latest product is Tesla’s home charger.
It is designed for those looking for a quick charge for their Tesla vehicles.
It’s important to note that the Tesla home charger does not have a fixed power output, and it will depend on how much power your house is drawing.
When using a 240V outlet on a 50 AMP, you can expect your Tesla Model 3 to charge roughly 30 miles per house.
This would give you a full charge overnight.
Summing Up What Size Breaker You Need for a Tesla Charger
For your Tesla charger, it depends on how much charging power you want or need in order to determine what size breaker you’ll have to get.
Overall, however, it’s best to not go anywhere below 50 amps, and most drivers stay between the 50-60 amp range for their chargers.
