Installing a Convenient Tesla Wall Charger at Home

Adding a Tesla Wall Connector in your garage allows rapid, convenient charging of your electric vehicle right at home. The latest generation Tesla charger can restore over 30 miles of driving range per hour plugged in, fully repowering your EV battery overnight. But what exactly is involved behind the scenes to make this happen?

This comprehensive guide will walk you step-by-step through installing a Tesla Wall Connector in your garage in six main stages. Follow along to gain the knowledge, prep work, tools and installation techniques needed to set up your own convenient home EV charging solution.

Overview of the Tesla Wall Connector

The proprietary Tesla Wall Connector is one of the best home EV chargers available today providing up to 44 miles of range per hour of charging. Purchased directly from Tesla starting at $500, it is engineered specifically for their vehicles but can work with other EVs with adapters.

Advantages of the Tesla wall charger include:

• Fast charging speed – adds over 30 miles per hour
• Future-proof support – adaptable to new, higher capacity batteries
• Compact, sleek design with multiple mounting options
• WiFi connectivity and over-the-air firmware updates
• Energy monitoring via smartphone app

Installing your own wall connector allows charging with inexpensive residential electricity rates instead of public fast charging prices. While hiring an electrician simplifies installation, with proper precautions, DIY is also feasible for many homeowners.

Now let‘s get started with the steps!

Step 1: Gather Tools and Components

Installation requires standard electrical and construction tools:

Safety gear like gloves and goggles are also recommended

In addition to tools, the Tesla wall connector package provides all charger components including:

• Wall connector unit
• Cable box
• Mounting template and hardware
• Wiring diagrams
• Charging cable/holster

Carefully inspect delivered parts to ensure nothing is damaged before proceeding.

Step 2: Choose Installation Site

Finding the optimal parking location is key for a successful DIY Tesla wall charger setup. Consider the charging cable length as your car must reach the unit. Today‘s Gen 3 chargers include up to 25 feet of cable.

Ideally choose a wall area:

• Centered on your selected parking space
• With available wall studs for mounting
• At least 18 inches off the ground (24 inches outdoors)
• Below 60 inches height for ergonomic access

Use painters tape to mark the planned locations on the wall and garage floor prior to installing. Get this positioning right the first time for best results.

Step 3: Cut Wall Openings

Now that positioning is planned, use Tesla‘s included template aligned to your markings to trace openings for:

• Wall charger bracket
• Conduit housing wiring
• Cable box

Carefully measure and level the template prior to tracing outlines with a pencil. Then don a safety mask and goggles before using a drywall saw to cut out the marked shapes. Vacuum any debris before moving to wiring.

Step 4: Wire the Electrical Connections

This is the most complicated stage – consider consulting a certified electrician if you have any doubts on working with high voltage electrical.

Otherwise, feed wires from the main electrical panel through the cut conduit opening to emerge at the charger location. Attach the ground, neutral and line wires to their clearly marked corresponding terminals within the cable box. Refer to Tesla‘s wiring diagram.

Make sure connections are extremely tight and secured neatly with provided cable ties. Close up box before mounting.

"Taking proper electrical precautions is critical whenever installing a high voltage wall charger. Consult professionals if needed prior to connecting any wires," recommends Race Hartley, Master Electrician.

Step 5: Mount the Hardware

The wall charger components can now be permanently installed:

1. Securely fasten the cable box using the provided hardware. Ensure no wires are pinched behind it.
2. Align the wall connector sleeve over the cable box flush until fully seated.
3. Insert and tighten corner screws through the back mounting bracket.
4. Arrange connector cable through chosen side grommet opening. Use cable ties to neatly gather any excess.

Step 6: Commission the Charger

Prior to first use, complete charger setup and activation:

1. Turn on the circuit breaker connected to the unit. Verify status lights activate on charger.
2. Connect to the charger‘s built-in WiFi network using SSID and password printed on the Quick Start guide.
3. Open the Tesla app and follow prompts to detect the charger and add it to your account.
4. Initiate a power check according to the indicated light sequence.

Finally, press and hold the circular button on the charger for 5 seconds to make it discoverable and connect it to your Tesla!

Tesla has released updated versions of their wall connector over time with different charging capacities:

While both can charge at necessary overnight rates, the Gen 3 has higher safety and efficiency with lower capacity for future upgrades. Either generation will satisfy daily charging needs.

Installing a Tesla wall charger runs $1300 on average:

• Tesla Wall Connector – $500
• Supporting electrical equipment – $200
• Electrician‘s installation labor – $600

This upfront expense pays off over time through lower cost charging compared to commercial stations. Exact pricing depends on your home electrical panel capacity and local electrician rates.

Some choose to self-install their wall connector if comfortable working with electrical systems to save on labor. Either way, investing in home charging capability provides great convenience and long-term savings for EV owners.

Installing a Tesla wall connector enables faster, cheaper home charging in just a few straightforward steps:

1. Acquire tools and components
2. Select optimal positioning
3. Cut the necessary wall openings
4. Run wiring connections
5. Mount the hardware
6. Activate and test

While a professional installation may cost $600+ for labor, DIYers can self-install for around $800 total.

Carefully consider your home‘s infrastructure, local permitting regulations and personal capability before getting started. But once powered on, having your own personal EV fueling station leads to smooth driving for years ahead.

Let me know if any part of the process needs further explanation!