For those looking for the most convenient charging solution for their electric vehicles, a wall connector is a must. An at home charge point that can be powered by either the national grid or your other at home solar solutions (such as solar panels or the Tesla Powerwall solar battery – read more about this in our Tesla Powerwall Review) is the best solution to your charging problems.
Of course, there are countless home-chargers for electric vehicles, but Tesla excels with their latest offering: Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3. And no, you don’t need to drive a Tesla to own one – the Gen 3 is now compatible with non Tesla electric vehicles, too.
But before you run off to search for a multiple wall connectors installation, let our expert team at Effective Home guide you through the Tesla wall connector to help you decide if it’s worth the price tag. We’ll consider this for both Tesla vehicles and non-Tesla cars.
Who Are Tesla?
Tesla likely needs no introduction. Whilst today Tesla is most famous for its production of electric vehicles and being the passion project of infamous businessman Elon Musk, Musk actually wasn’t involved in the founding of the company.
Tesla currently has headquarters in Austin, Texas in the US, but it was originally founded in San Carlos, California in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning (although a lawsuit agreement in September 2009 allows Eberhard, Tarpenning, Musk, Wright, and Straubel to call themselves co-founders due to the impact the other 3 has had on the company’s growth). Elon Musk actually joined Tesla in 2004 after becoming their largest shareholder, and later their chief executive officer in 2008.
The company is a world leader in electrical energy solutions, so it makes sense that they’ve expanded into the world of solar electricity in recent years. It is their solar battery and solar inverter solutions that garner respect and admiration in the solar space today – and it’s through this solar lens that we’ll consider the usefulness of a Tesla wall connector for electric vehicles today.
Tesla Wall Connector Overview
The Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3 is, unsurprisingly, the 3rd generation of EV home charging offered by Tesla and it makes some real improvements on the ones that came before. Chief amongst these is its easy compatibility with other electric vehicles besides Tesla branded ones, making it a realistic option for more drivers.
It’s a powerful charger, too. As a three phase charger it’s capable of 22kW of output, which could mean rapid charging for your car. But be warned. Most UK homes are only on a single phase supply, so you won’t benefit from all 22 of those kWs if that’s the case. But even when you take away the three phase element, the wall connector is still capable of 11.5 kW and adds a range per hour of about 44 miles.
Another impressive, and possibly unexpected feature for those unfamiliar with EV chargers, is its wi-fi connectivity. Smart features allow for the charger to respond to the length of time on charge and can time the charge overnight to reach 100% just before it’s needed so no power is lost and the car’s battery isn’t negatively impacted.
In addition to the inner workings, Tesla have improved the exterior of the wall connector compared to its predecessors – which were notoriously ugly, eliciting some negative opinions from homeowners.
Now, the Gen 3 version allows for versatile style with swappable front plates which come in black, red, blue and a metallic silver/grey, allowing you to choose your favourite design (for an additional £95). But even away from the optional extras, the Gen 3 version has a stylish white front plate and a sleek and modern design that will fit in with most homes.
Tesla Compatibility
Tesla has a range of home energy solutions designed to put you in charge of your home’s energy. The ones that are most compatible with solar panels are the Tesla Powerwall (a solar battery that can store excess energy your solar panels produce for later use) and Tesla’s solar roof (a roof made of solar tiles). The Gen 3 Wall Connector can make use of both to power your electric vehicle. Your solar roof can power your wall connector directly, or else the solar energy can be stored in your Powerwall and used later to charge your car when the sun goes down.
This compatibility means you rely less on the National Grid and its electrical systems which sometimes fails and instead enjoy full control of how you power your home. And better yet, this system is no longer restricted to Tesla owners now that the wall connector is compatible with other non-Tesla vehicles without the need for an additional adapter.
Complete List Of Tesla Wall Connector Features
The Tesla wall charger is an excellent option for any home with the wall connector Gen 3 iteration. But what features make it so exciting?
| Feature | Explanation |
| 7.5m cable | This is 2.5m longer than the standard EV home charger, which could prove to be incredibly valuable for those looking to charge more than one vehicle or a vehicle that can’t fit on a driveway and is further away. |
| Versatile indoor or outdoor options | Indoor or outdoor mounting is available with the Gen 3 wall connector, meaning if you charge on your drive or in a garage, the Gen 3 can handle it. |
| Tesla app features | Tesla owners will be familiar with the Tesla app, but even non-Tesla owners will want to download the app to track charging and keep up to date with how the wall connector is performing. |
| 4 year warranty | A 4 year warranty might not sound particularly long, but most EV home chargers come with a 3 year warranty as standard. 4 years shows that Tesla is confident in the durability of their new wall connector. |
| 44 mile per hour output | With an 11.5 kW, 48 amp power output, the Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3 can add 44 miles of range per hour to the vehicle. The average UK EV charger at 11.5 kW only achieves around 30-40 miles, so Tesla is above average here. |
| Auto sense handle | The auto sense handle automatically opens the charging port when nearby, making charging a much smoother process. |
| Power management options | Power management features allows for maximised charging speed and minimised installation costs, helping you get the most out of your new Wall Connector. |
| Power sharing | Most people won’t have 6 Teslas, but one of the smart features of a Gen 3 connector is that power sharing can occur between up to 6 vehicles to charge them all at once to optimise the charging for all vehicles, speeding the whole process up. |
Those are the top level features, but lets consider the pros and cons of the wall connector to decide how they stack up against other chargers below.
Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3 Pros
There are a number of key pros that make this EV charger an obvious choice for both Tesla and non Tesla owners alike.
Power
Adding 44 miles per hour to your EV is a huge bonus. With three phase charging you can achieve 22kW of power to your vehicle – extending the range added to your car significantly. But even at a more conservative 11.5 kW (more realistic for most UK homes), 44 miles of range per hour is above average compared to other chargers.
Length
The 7.5m length is incredibly handy for homeowners without a driveway or who need a little bit more wriggle room when it comes to charging their car. 2.5m longer than usual is generous, too.
Versatility
Given the connector’s ability to be used with Tesla and non-Tesla vehicles and its ability to be installed indoors or outdoors, the versatility on offer is impressive and is a huge improvement on the previous wall connectors Tesla were offering.
Customisability
The old wall connectors messed with the aesthetic appeals of many homes – and homeowners were quick to complain online. We don’t think the Gen 3 Wall Connector is worthy of the same complaints. The original connector is stylish enough, but with 4 optional front plate upgrades, most homeowners will find a style that suits them and their house.
Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3 Cons
Of course, not everything is perfect with the Tesla wall connector, and it’s important that we discuss these issues, too.
Cable Design
Whilst the larger cable is appreciated, it is cumbersome to use. With so much extra length, they don’t fit into the built-in storage in a convenient way, and often the cable will be left trailing on the floor or hanging out of the storage. It can look messy, and for some homeowners that could be a real sticking point.
High Cost
A simple wall connector from Tesla, without any bells and whistles starts at around £475, but that doesn’t include installation. When you add that, plus any optional extras that make the Tesla wall connector more convenient, you’ll suddenly find that bill increasing significantly.
No PEN Fault Detection
A PEN fault detection device will protect your EV from a dangerous voltage spike that could turn your EV into a very dangerous object that could cause serious injury if touched. There are plenty of recommendations online suggesting that the Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector requires an additional PEN fault detection device in order to operate safely, so this is an additional cost you ought to consider.
Tesla Wall Connector Review Summary
Overall, the Tesla wall connector in its current form is an impressive at-home EV charger that can be used with both Teslas and non-Teslas. There are a few drawbacks which you’ll need to consider to see if any of them are a large enough problem to stop you investing.
If you decide to get one, however, you’ll notice a powerful home charger that’s stylish and versatile and that can be included as part of a wider solar panel system to ensure your EV is as green as can be by being powered by renewable energy.
Choosing a Tesla wall connector could be exactly what you need to enhance your solar set up.
