Tesla Wall Connector Electrician
Does an electrician need to be trained to be able to fit a Tesla charger? Can you charge an EV on a Tesla charger?
Any qualified electrician, after a 4-year apprenticeship can fit a Tesla charger to a wall in a domestic dwelling. However, courses are available that give specific knowledge to cut down on installation time. You can also charge most EV’s from a Tesla charger, but the results vary.
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Are Tesla home chargers worth it?
With Tesla having the advantage in the market with the number of Tesla chargers dotted around the country, is it worth the hassle and the expense of fitting a Tesla charger at home?
It depends on what value you place on convenience. If you have a Tesla charger within a mile or two of your home and you are ok with sitting around in your car waiting for the Tesla to charge, then a home Tesla charger will add little value to your driving experience.
On the other hand, if you feel that connecting your Tesla overnight and having a full charge when you are ready for your day is valuable, then a home charger is for you.
How much does it cost to install a Tesla charger at home in the UK?
With electricians, prices for labour being so expensive, is having a Tesla charge at home going to be affordable?
OLEV (the office for low emission vehicles) offer a 35% grant for fitting EV chargers up to a maximum of £ 350.00
Below is an indication of what you may have to pay for a typical installation, including the OLEV grant payment.
| kW Rating | Installation Cost including OLEV |
| 3.7 kW | £ 300 -400 |
| 7 kW | £ 400-750 |
| 11 kW | £ 1250 |
Is it cheaper to charge Tesla at home or at a supercharger?
Tesla superchargers bill at a higher tariff rate making the Tesla supercharge an expensive way of charging your car.
Because the Tesla supercharger belongs to Tesla and is placed for the driver’s convenience and recharging the car, they can charge a much higher kW rate than you will in your own home. Of course, you are not charging as fast, but the rate for charging is much lower.
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model Y in the UK?
| Type | Cost/kWh | Cost to charge |
| Home | 16 p/kWh | £ 13.10 |
| Public Rapid Charger | 30 p/kWh | £ 19.70 |
There is a distinct cost advantage when charging from home, and the total cost of a home Tesla installation, when amortised over the life of the car, could pay back the overall installation price if you use the car frequently.
Should I charge my Tesla every night?
It is recommended to charge your Tesla batteries every night to keep them topped up so you can utilise the full range of the vehicle.
Is there a specific charge you should put into your batteries? Keep your car in the daily range and charge to 90% of the battery’s capacity.
Obviously, if you want the maximum range from your Tesla, charge the batteries to 100%.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model Y at home?
Tesla batteries are big compared to other EVs, so Tesla does take more time to charge to full capacity.
With a level 1 charger using a NEMA 5-15 socket, the Tesla takes a massive 31 hours to charge to total capacity.
When you have a long road trip ahead of you, there is some planning involved to get your Tesla ready.
This is one of the disadvantages of owning a Tesla and EVs in general.
Do you need planning permission to install an electric charging point?
No, Under the town and countries act you have permitted development rights for charging points under 1.6m
This means there are no regulatory requirements on the homeowner of the Tesla to apply for planning permission to install a Tesla charger.
Is an EV charger notifiable?
Yes, your home is covered by the building regulations detailing how your home electrics should be wired and protected.
EV chargers, including Tesla fall under part P of the building regulations, which means they have to be notified by the local buildings officer.
This means the only persons who can install an EV charger are qualified electricians who are Part P registered and accredited as competent.
Can I charge an electric car from a 13 amp socket?
Yes, electric vehicles are supplied with a 13 amp plug, which is known as a granny charger because they are slow.
They are primarily there to get you out of trouble if you can’t access a charger to charge your EV faster.
Can I use an extension cord to charge my electric car?
No, If you use an extension cord to charge your EV, you will run a risk of causing a fire as resistance builds in the extension cable.
If your extension cable does not burst into flames, you will run an increased risk of electric shock.
Charging an EV with an extension cord is extremely dangerous and could have catastrophic consequences.
How long is the charging cable for Tesla?
8.5 feet and 18 feet. They come in two lengths. It’s preferable to use the shorter cable, it reduces resistance and heat build-up in the cable, making for a faster charging time.
Most domestic single garages in the Uk are on the small side to fit a Tesla and charge overnight, so your tesla charger will be fitted on an outside wall for your convenience.
You can still park in the garage and run the cable under the door.
Electrical installation
It has just been announced that RCB AC may cause an unsafe installation, and the electrician should only fit an RCBO A to make the installations safe for the customer.
The installation is straightforward, proving you have space for an additional RCBO A in your consumer unit.
