A Tesla electric vehicle generally requires a separate circuit for its home charging station. As for how many amps to charge a Tesla, the more amps you use, the faster the car can get back to working.
However, before installing a circuit for any wall charger, you should consider first what fits your service panel. Let me give you an overview of the various circuit ratings and charger work rates through the Tesla charging speed chart below.
| Tesla Wall Connector Circuit Ratings | Tesla Home Charger Speed – Miles/hour of charge (mph) | |||||
| Breaker Size (Amps) | Output Ratings (Amps) | Power Rating on 240v (kW) | S Model | 3† Model | X Model | Y Model |
| 60 | 48 | 11.5 | 41 | 44 | 35 | 44 |
| 50 | 40 | 9.6 | 34 | 37 | 29 | 37 |
| 40 | 32 | 7.7 | 27 | 30 | 23 | 30 |
| 30 | 24 | 5.7 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 22 |
| 20 | 16 | 3.8 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 |
| 15 | 12 | 2.8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 |
Table of Contents
How Many Amps Are Needed to Charge a Tesla?
The amount of current needed to charge a Tesla car primarily depends on a charger’s amp rating and the model’s charging rate.
In general, various charger ratings can draw different amounts of current. If you want to install effective Tesla charging stations in your home, then it would be best to know their ratings.
So, how many amps does a Tesla charger draw? The answer is 12 to 48 amps, depending on which device you’re using.
Generally, there are two types of Tesla home charger voltage available now on the market. There is the level 1 charger that can directly connect to a standard 120v outlet or a level 2 charger that needs a dedicated 220v or 240v circuit.
Overall, the level 2 Tesla wall charger is the most recommended option if you own a Tesla vehicle. It can provide a higher amp rating for an efficient charging solution that can reach up to 44 miles per hour of charge.
As seen in the above table, you may notice that some models can run more miles than others after being plugged in for an hour. This is because the Y and Tesla model 3 charging rate are high compared to other models.
This question is a topic of discussion among Reddit members as well. Join the conversation here:
New tesla owner. What charging amps should i be set at? Currently 48 A
byu/starid3r inTeslaModelY
Calculating Amps at Different Voltage Ratings
You might need to do some calculations to determine the Tesla charger amps. In this case, you can use the formula:
\begin{equation}
\text{Amps} = \frac{\text{Device power rating (Watts)}}{\text{Volts} \times \text{Power factor}}
\end{equation}
For instance, suppose you have a Tesla charger level 2 with a power rating of 11.5 kW. A single-phase EV charger typically has a power factor of 1. In the case of three-phase models, use 1.73 as the power factor. For now, we will use 1 for our calculation.
11.5 kW equals 11500W; 11500 / (240 x 1) = 47.9 amps. Depending on the charging rate of a certain Tesla model, this amperage output may add different distances every hour of charge.
For other Tesla chargers, you may look at the table below to have an idea of what amperage they can draw.
| Tesla Charger Power Rating (kW) | Estimated Amperage Usage (Amps) | |
| 120v | 240v | |
| 19.2 kW | – | 80 amps |
| 17.3 kW | – | 72 amps |
| 15.4 kW | – | 64 amps |
| 13.4 kW | – | 56 amps |
| 9.6 kW | – | 40 Amps |
| 7.7 kW | – | 32 Amps |
| 5.7 kW | – | 24 Amps |
| 3.8 kW | – | 16 Amps |
| 2.8 kW | – | 12 amps |
Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Breaker Do I Need for a Tesla Charger?
The amp requirements for a circuit breaker are important to ensure an efficient and safe electrical system. Using a lower circuit breaker rating may lead to frequent charging disruptions.
In most cases, a 60 amp circuit breaker is best recommended for a Tesla outdoor charger installation. This size is capable of handling up to 48 amps, considering the 80% rule in electrical circuit installation.
However, if your device draws 56 to 80 amps, go for 70 to 100 amp breakers.
How Fast Does a Home Connection Charge a Tesla?
The answer depends on the Tesla charger voltage. If you power your Tesla with a 120v charger, it will work very slowly, adding only 2 miles per hour. However, a 240v model provides more electricity, enough to drive 9 to 52 miles after an hour.
Can I Add a Circuit for a Tesla Fast Charger in My Current Service Panel?
Charging Tesla at home requires a dedicated circuit that adds up to the main service load. Before you consider adding a charger circuit to your main home panel, you should first determine whether it can handle additional loads.
In most cases, 200 amp service panels can accommodate a new circuit for the Tesla charger as long as it has enough space. However, if your breaker box is only 100 amp, you may need to upgrade it to a higher rating first to guarantee that it can power your charger.
Conclusion
Knowing how many amps to charge a Tesla is critical for an efficient and safe charging process. After all, you do not want your breaker to trip because it cannot handle the demand of your charger.
Moreover, always consider how often you use your car before picking a charger. Faster power-ups will shorten waiting time between drives.
I am Edwin Jones, in charge of designing content for Galvinpower. I aspire to use my experiences in marketing to create reliable and necessary information to help our readers. It has been fun to work with Andrew and apply his incredible knowledge to our content.