60 Amp or 50 Amp Circuit for Tesla Universal Home Charger???

[dvdboulet]

UPDATE: Based on feedback that I've gotten from a variety of sources, I've absolutely decided to go with a full 60 amp (4 gauge conductor) circuit to drive the hard-wired Tesla wall charger.

NEW QUESTION:

I know that the Tesla so power-sharing... but honestly in the future when we have two EVs (I'm sure this day will come... maybe within the next 5 years) I would ideally like both cars to be able to charge at maximum with two dedicated 60 amp circuits. I'm now thinking of adding a sub panel in the garage that can accommodate 2 such 60 A circuits, and then for now just running off a single 60 A line off that (yet to be) garage sub-panel to my one Tesla charger. My question is what sort of rated Sub-Panel (and conduit to supply it) should I have installed if my end-game is to allow two cars to be able to both charge via 48 amp chargers running continuously at full power at the same time? 125 amp box? Thanks! (p.s. before someone says "ask your local certified electrician" rest assured I will... this is to educate myself before hearing all of the different opinions I'm sure I'll hear when I just that).

Thanks!

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60 Amp or 50 Amp Circuit for Tesla Universal Charger?

I just leased a 2023 GT PE yesterday... coolest thing I've done for myself in decades. The Tesla Universal Charger has been ordered! Should arrive next week.

Question: Should I "plan ahead" and run a true 60-amp circuit (60 amp breaker and 4 gauge 3 conductor wiring) or "cheap out" and just run a 50-amp circuit? The reason I ask is that depending on where I mount my charger... a true 60 amp circuit with 4-gauge conduit is going to cost over $1000 JUST FOR THE WIRE (naturally my electric panel is at the opposite end of the house from the garage and I'm fishing the wire myself to save on labor fees). I know you need a 60 amp circuit for 48 amp charging (which I don't think the ME can actually take full advantage of) and you can limit the charging to also be compatible with a 50 amp circuit. I know I'll be "EV forever" from this point forward and plan to say in my home for at least the next 10 years, so I really want to future-proof as best I can. I just had no idea that copper was this expensive!!!

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[RickMachE]

Answered on your other post.

The Mach-E uses 48amps just fine.

 

[dvdboulet]

Answered on your other post.

The Mach-E uses 48amps just fine.

Much appreciated. That definitely "seals the deal" for 60-amp (4 gauge) conduit. Thanks!!!

 

[HuntingPudel]

Just don't forget that if you go with a 60A circuit and 48A charge rate you must hard wire the EVSE. Outlet receptacles can only handle up to 50A, which would be proper for a 40A EVSE. ??

 

[65MustangBoy]

If you want to charge at the full 48 amp rate, and especially since you have a long run from the outlet to the electrical panel is another reason to go with 60 amp 4 gauge wire.

Personally I have my EVSE set to a lower level (40 amps). I ran 6 gauge wire which is rated for 55 amps and terminated the wire to a NEMA 14-50 plug in my garage. My EVSE came with a NEMA 14-50 plug (I am not familiar with the Tesla charger). My EVSE has the ability to be set for different amperage levels. So My EVSE is set for 40 amps, and the NEMA plug and wiring is 50 amp capable. So that is my 'safety' margin. At 40 amps and 240V my charging rate is 9600 Wh.

 

[Ghost Ryder]

Just do 60amp. The price difference is negligible. But if you're going to DIY, 4 gauge is a pain to work with. Ask me how I know.

 

[dvdboulet]

Thanks all. Absolutely decided to go with a full 60 amp (4 gauge conductor) circuit to drive the hard-wired Tesla wall charger.

NEW QUESTION:

I know that the Tesla so power-sharing... but honestly in the future when we have two EVs (I'm sure this day will come... maybe within the next 5 years) I would ideally like both cars to be able to charge at maximum with two dedicated 60 amp circuits. I'm now thinking of adding a sub panel in the garage that can accommodate 2 such 60 A circuits, and then for now just running off a single 60 A line off that (yet to be) garage sub-panel to my one Tesla charger. My question is what sort of rated Sub-Panel (and conduit to supply it) should I have installed if my end-game is to allow two cars to be able to both charge via 48 amp chargers running continuously at full power at the same time? 125 amp box? Thanks! (p.s. before someone says "ask your local certified electrician" rest assured I will... this is to educate myself before hearing all of the different opinions I'm sure I'll hear when I just that).

 

[65MustangBoy]

If you want to run 2 x 60 amp circuits, then you need a panel that handles 120 amps minimum.

BUT........ I don't know where you live but you may be pushing the total load for your primary panel for your house. For example.... Most new houses in our area are wired with a 200 amp service panel. If you are charging 2 vehicles at 48 amps each that is half of your service panel's rating. You would need to be VERY aware of:
1. Is the oven on
2. Washing clothes
3. Air conditioner
4. etc

 

[ocdxfv]

We have 2 tesla gen 3 units sharing power on a single 60a circuit, which works great for us. We are both retired and I can't imagine a scenario where I would need to charge BOTH cars at the same time at 48 amps. We charge at night (after 9 pm) and when we wake up, both cars are ready to go.

 

[dvdboulet]

If you want to run 2 x 60 amp circuits, then you need a panel that handles 120 amps minimum.

BUT........ I don't know where you live but you may be pushing the total load for your primary panel for your house. For example.... Most new houses in our area are wired with a 200 amp service panel. If you are charging 2 vehicles at 48 amps each that is half of your service panel's rating. You would need to be VERY aware of:
1. Is the oven on
2. Washing clothes
3. Air conditioner
4. etc

I actually have two 200 amp main panels... one has the two AC systems (up and down stairs systems) and various rooms. The other has the kitchen appliances and various rooms (we have a gas stove-top so just the oven is electric). Given the "spread" of items, does one box look like a better candidate to you for powering a new sub-panel in the garage that's dedicated only to EV charging? Thanks!

 

[dvdboulet]

We have 2 tesla gen 3 units sharing power on a single 60a circuit, which works great for us. We are both retired and I can't imagine a scenario where I would need to charge BOTH cars at the same time at 48 amps. We charge at night (after 9 pm) and when we wake up, both cars are ready to go.

Thanks. When you power-share off one circuit like that... do the cables daisy-chain? Meaning do you run to one unit, and then "hop" off that unit to the next? How does the basic wiring diagram look? Thanks!

 

[i8iridium]

Why the 4-Gauge wire? You can run 6 gauge THHN in conduit, which supports up to 75 amps with 8 gauge ground. If you're doing a hardwired charger, you only need to run two current carrying conductors, so two 6ga and one 8ga ground. If you're running NM-B, then it has to be 4ga, but that's a lot of copper. I think you'll still be cheaper with THHN, even with conduit. Though PVC will be cheaper than metallic conduit, (EMT).

Not to mention, 4 gauge is a PAIN to pull.

 

[dvdboulet]

Why the 4-Gauge wire? You can run 6 gauge THHN in conduit, which supports up to 75 amps with 8 gauge ground. If you're doing a hardwired charger, you only need to run two current carrying conductors, so two 6ga and one 8ga ground. If you're running NM-B, then it has to be 4ga, but that's a lot of copper. I think you'll still be cheaper with THHN, even with conduit. Though PVC will be cheaper than metallic conduit, (EMT).

great point. I had only been thinking of "romex" options, but yeah, that's worth exploring. I'll do some research! (and yes, the Tesla chargers don't use the neutral anyway so technically just 4/2 with ground is all I'd need if doing romex anyway).

 

[RickMachE]

Thanks. When you power-share off one circuit like that... do the cables daisy-chain? Meaning do you run to one unit, and then "hop" off that unit to the next? How does the basic wiring diagram look? Thanks!

They communicate via WiFi. You connect both to the same circuit.

 

[i8iridium]

great point. I had only been thinking of "romex" options, but yeah, that's worth exploring. I'll do some research! (and yes, the Tesla chargers don't use the neutral anyway so technically just 4/2 with ground is all I'd need if doing romex anyway).

Yup. Just price it out at your local Lowes/Home depot and see what works best, and also your electrician, if they're doing some part of this to be code compliant.

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