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Tesla Mobile Connector VS Wall Connector [Ultimate Guide]

Steve

October 6, 2024

11 comments

Do you want to know what is the difference between Tesla wall connector and mobile connector OR you want to know which is better option between Tesla wall connector or mobile connector?

Then you are in the right place.

I am going to show you all the features of Tesla mobile charger vs wall charger with all of its all pros and cons.

Then we will compare each of their specs with each other to weigh which one has the extra advantage.

We will see features like Tesla Mobile connector vs wall connector charging speed, installation cost, charging cost, ease of installation process, ease of use, usage risks, cable, plugs and adapters, buying cost, warranty, and much more.

We will also see what the better option for you is by looking into specific use case scenarios and usage patterns of your vehicle and charging requirements. 

Note: Here we are comparing the latest Tesla mobile connector Gen 2 vs the latest Tesla wall connector Gen 3.

I always make Informed Choices… So I also insist you go through the article and once you come to a decision you can make a purchase from here:

Add to compare

Deal

3 months ago

Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3

$420.00

Key Features:Among Fastest Level 2 EVSE – 48 amp smart Home EV charging station – with 24-foot cable with integrated cable management

• Max charging power: 11.5kW @48A single-phase
• Charging speed: Up to 44 MPH
• Charging connector: NACS
• LED status lights: Yes

*Note: Prices and warranty details may change over time and the same will be updated here at the earliest. Check Best Deals Worldwide.

★★★★★

Add to compare

Deal

3 months ago

Tesla Mobile Connector

$300.00

Key Features:Portable & Lightweight Level 1/2 EVSE – Plug & Play Ready to use – Can charge with Nema 5-15, 5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 10-30, 14-30, 6-50 and 14-50

• Max charging power: 7.7kW @32A single-phase
• Charging speed: Up to 30 MPH
• Charging connector: NACS
• LED status lights: Yes
• Weather protection: Nema 4x enclosure

*Note: Prices and warranty details may change over time and the same will be updated here at the earliest. Check More info and Latest price.

★★★★★

So let’s first jump into a quick comparison and difference between Tesla Mobile Connector vs Wall Connector, followed by an in-detail comparison and use case scenarios.

Tesla Mobile Connector vs Wall Connector

Tesla wall connector and mobile connector – Difference and comparison table:

So that was a quick specs comparison and the difference between Tesla wall connector and mobile connector.

Now let’s look into the details of what is Tesla wall connector and mobile connector and their features.

What is Tesla Mobile Connector?

Tesla mobile connector is a portable EV charging device that you can carry with your car wherever you go.

Currently at the time of writing the latest version of Tesla mobile connector is Gen 2. So all the details here are of the Gen 2 Tesla mobile connector.

With a Tesla mobile connector, you can charge your car just about anywhere, where wall outlet is available.

It is simple to use. Just like how you charge your phone by plugging in the adapter to the wall outlet at one end for the power source and plug-in the cable to the phone charging port at another end for the power supply to charge the phone battery.

Similarly, you can just start to charge your EV by plugging in the charger to a wall outlet for a power source and plug in the charging cable handle to EV charge port to charge the battery.

It comes with 1x 20-foot cable, 1x Nema 5-15 adapter, 1x Nema 14-50 adapter and 1x storage bag or cable organising bag.

Tesla mobile connector is compatible with all Tesla models and non-Tesla vehicles. But you will need a charging adapter to charge non-Tesla cars.

It can be used outdoors and indoors as well.

Now let me show you the specifications of the Tesla mobile connector.

Tesla Mobile Charger Specs

Main features of Tesla mobile connector:

Portability:

The most important, unique, and pinnacle quality feature of the Tesla mobile connector is its portability added with flexibility and versatility of usage.

You can charge your EV just about anywhere with a power wall outlet.

Inbuilt power controller:

Tesla mobile connector has an inbuilt power sensor and controller that senses the power supply input and accordingly switches power output.

So no need to have any separate circuit breaker. As this goes beyond any GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter)

It can check any problems related to electricity feed and temperature and can automatically alter or stop charging based on the problem.

Any problem will be indicated by status lights over the mobile connector light bar, indicating what the problem is.

Other Features of Tesla Mobile Connector:

Versatility:

Tesla mobile connector is compatible with a whole range of plugs to accommodate a variety of power inputs from 110V/15amp to 240V/50amp and can get a variety of power outputs from 15amp to 32amp by using various Nema wall plugs.

Charging speed:

Tesla mobile connector offers max 3 miles of range per hour of charging at low speed with 110V/120V power using Nema 5-15 plug adapter.

It can be boosted if charged with 240V power supply using Nema 14-50 plug adapter to a max 30 miles per hour of charging at medium speed.

(Note: The max charging speed specific for your vehicle can vary)

For a detailed comparison of charging speed using a variety of Nema plugs with all Tesla models, see the comparison table below.

Full battery charge time:

With a 110V/120V Nema 5-15 plug, to charge from 0 to 100% usually Tesla mobile connector takes around 5 days.

With 240V Nema 14-50 plug, to charge from 0 to 100% usually Tesla mobile connector takes around 15-20 hours to a full day.

(Note: To protect the battery damage, the charging rate for any EV from 0-80% will be faster than going from 80%-100%. The slower rate of charging to go from 80% to 100% can take around 1x to 2x charging time compared to going from 0-80%)

LED light indicators:

This is a very good feature of the Tesla mobile connector showing different status with different colours of lights on the light bar.

With the different colours and blinking patterns of light, you can get the idea of whether the mobile connector is working properly or having any issues.

If having charging issues then you can know what issue Tesla mobile connector lights mean and how you can solve it.

So these were some important specifications of Tesla mobile connector.

Now let’s go into the details of Tesla wall connector.

(Later I am going to cover some common features that both Tesla mobile and wall connectors have, followed by the section pros and cons of both)

What is Tesla Wall Connector?

Tesla wall connector is a fixed EV charging station for locations like homes, flats, condos, offices, etc to charge electric vehicles.

Currently at the time of writing the latest version of Tesla wall connector is Gen 3. So all the details here are of the Gen 3 Tesla wall connector.

Tesla wall connector is the most powerful home charging solution offered by Tesla.

Tesla wall connector is weatherproof and can be used outdoors as well as indoors.

It requires professional installation before you can start to use it.

It has more sophisticated functionalities than the Tesla mobile connector with the inbuilt software and control system.

Tesla wall connector is compatible with all Tesla models and also non-Tesla vehicles with compatible charging adapters and power output.

Now let’s look into the detailed specifications of Tesla wall connector.

Tesla Wall Connector Specs

Main features of Tesla wall connector:

Access controls:

You can control who can charge with your Tesla wall connector. You can restrict charging to only Tesla vehicles or only specific vehicles with its VIN.

Power load sharing:

With a smart charging feature, it is possible to install up to 6 Tesla wall connectors over the same circuit breaker and charge 6 vehicles at the same time. It will smartly handle power output and power-sharing requirements without overloading the circuit.

Tesla app connection:

You can add a Tesla wall connector to the Tesla app for remotely controlling the charging process. Like, you can start, pause, stop, and schedule the charging session.

You can also vary the current amperage of power output from the Tesla app.

Smart Schedule Charging

Because you can add Tesla wall connector to Tesla app, there is smart charging schedule you can do from the Tesla app.

You can control and set both charging start time and stop time from Tesla app (Wall connector) device settings while charging with Tesla wall connector.

So you can easily utilize and take advantage of off-peak charging rates if your electric utility provider offers Time-of-Use charging hours.

Because it is not possible to do the same with the default Tesla car side charging schedule settings. There you can only set either of charging start time or stop time (departure time). So this is an extra advantage for you if you have Tesla wall connector.

Tesla IP address control interface:

You can also control the Tesla wall connector from an IP address http://192.168.92.1.

There you can see any alerts or issues in the Tesla wall connector, can connect Tesla wall connector to internet, can update firmware, control charging current, control charging access, and can configure power load sharing between multiple Tesla wall connectors.

Smart power management with Solar panel connection:

Tesla wall connector and Solar panel can be connected with the Tesla app, which results in smart grid power usage.

Charging usage statistics:

You can see Tesla wall connector usage statistics including charging history, gas savings, and charging costs from the Tesla app.

Note: You can see the charging stats from the start of your Tesla vehicle ownership or Jan 1, 2022 whichever is later.

Power output controls:

You can control the amperage of current to charge the vehicle from Tesla app and IP address interface.

Warranty:

Tesla provides 48 months of warranty on Tesla wall connector which is the highest in market among other average warranty provided by EV charger brands. It shows the confidence of Tesla in workings of Tesla wall connector.

Other features of Tesla wall connector:

Charging speed:

It can add a range of up to 44 miles per hour of charging depending on your vehicle.

Look at the charging speed table below which shows charging speeds over different power supply and Tesla models.

Full battery charge time:

With Tesla wall connector 240V 48A 11.5KW power output, it can take somewhat 6-10 hours to fully charge the battery depending on the vehicle.

Tesla wall connector can charge Tesla battery from 0-80% in just 3 hours. (Exact speed varies by vehicle)

(Note: To protect the battery damage, the charging rate for any EV from 0-80% will be faster than going from 80%-100%. The slower rate of charging to go from 80% to 100% can take around 1x to 2x charging time compared to going from 0-80%)

Internet connection:

Tesla wall connector can be connected to the internet with Home network Wi-Fi to get software updates.

Software updates:

It receives over-the-air firmware updates which remove any internal glitch or update the already available features as explained above in the wall charger and can also add smart features to it.

(Note: Software updates can be received only when Tesla wall connector is connected to Wi-Fi.)

LED light indicators:

This is a very good feature of Tesla wall connector showing the different statuses of wall charger with different colours of LED lights on the light bar.

With the different colours and blinking patterns of light, you can get the idea of whether the Wall connector is working perfectly or having any issues.

If having charging issues then you can know what the exact issue is by identifying the Tesla wall connector light indication and what it means, so you can then look into how to solve it.

So these were some features specific to Tesla wall connector.

Now let’s see some common but important features available in both Tesla mobile and wall chargers.

Common Features of Tesla Mobile Connector and Wall Connector:

Schedule Charging

With both Tesla wall connector and Tesla mobile connector you can set a charging schedule, with Tesla’s default schedule settings from in-car display and Tesla app.

But these settings will function at the end of Tesla’s vehicle side (power receiver end) and not the charger side. Whether Tesla vehicle will decide when to allow the power for charging.

These default settings will only allow to set either charging start time or stop time, and not both.

But Remember with Tesla wall connector you can use Tesla app for smart schedule charging feature, which works from the side of the wall charger (power supplier end). Where Tesla wall connector decides when to supply and stop the power for charging.

There you can set both, the charging start time and stop time.

Because you can add Tesla wall connector to Tesla app, there is an advantage to this over a mobile connector. (I will discuss all the pros and cons next section.)

While with Tesla mobile connector you can use only in-car display dashboard to set the charging schedule. Because you can’t add Tesla mobile connector to Tesla app, that is a disadvantage compared wall connector.

Remote diagnostics

You can perform remote diagnostics for your Tesla wall connector or Mobile connector using Tesla’s Diagnostics tools.

Auto Sensor Button on Handle

Tesla wall connector and Tesla mobile connector both has a button on charging handle, pressing which you can open Tesla’s charge port. It functions on a specific frequency of rays to open the charge port remotely when the button is pressed.

So these were some common features having both Tesla wall connector and Tesla mobile connector.

Now, we will see the Pros and Cons of Tesla wall connector and Mobile connector over each other.

Pros and Cons of Tesla wall connector and Mobile connector

Pros of Tesla wall connector

• Charging access controls
• Power load sharing feature
• Can take advantage of off-peak charging rates with its fast charging speed
• Can take advantage of off-peak charging rates, with smart charging schedule settings from Tesla app controling start and stop time of charging
• Can view charging stats
• Hardwired solution so no chances of wear and tear of wall plug side
• Aesthetic appeal
• Higher charging speeds.
• 48 months warranty

Cons of Tesla wall connector

• Higher cost of purchase
• High cost of installation
• Requires expert to install wall connector
• A Fix place solution

Pros of Tesla mobile connector

• Low cost of purchase
• No cost of installation
• Portable use
• No installation is required as such – ready-to-use
• Easy to use as it is plug-and-play
• Versatility of usage with various power supply options

Cons of Tesla mobile connector

• Can’t be added to Tesla app for remote control and other features
• Frequent usage (Plug-in and Plug-off) can wear Nema plugs and may need replacement over time.
• It has more chances of falling and breaking while moving in and out of the car trunk as every time it is needed to plug in and plug off to charge the EV
• Can’t set smart schedule charging as can’t be added to Tesla app, can only set either start time or departure time (stop time) of charging from default Tesla car schedule settings
• Can’t take much advantage of off-peak electricity hours for much lower charging rates due to slow charging speed.
• Slower charging speed
• Only 12 months warranty

Important Notes

The sturdiness of the cable and weather resistance of both Tesla wall connector and mobile connector come with very good quality.

However, Tesla officially mentioned that mobile connectors should not be exposed to heavy rain, snow or storms.

While there are no such exact clarifications in the case of wall connectors.

However, Tesla is not covering any of the water or snow damage in Tesla wall connector either.

So, you anyway need to take care of both from direct exposure to water or snow or storms.

Which is Best for You? – Tesla Wall Charger or Tesla Mobile Charger

In reality, both Tesla wall connector and Tesla mobile connector are best in its place.

But to find the best option for you, we need to see which option is more suitable to you according to,

• Your driving habits,
• Charging habits,
• Budget,
• Power supply feasibility of your location,
• How many EVs do you have in parallel or your future plan with EVs,
• Vehicle compatibility

and many other things.

So here, we will see different use case scenarios to find the best option for you among Tesla wall connector and mobile connector.

How is Your Daily Traveling Habit or Requirement

Long-distance Commuting?

If you are traveling 100 to 150+ miles a day then it is likely better for you to choose Tesla wall connector.

As with this scenario you will probably have less time for charging and require faster charging. And Tesla wall connector charges the EV at almost 25% to 50% faster rate than the Tesla mobile connector.

But if you have access to public chargers, destination chargers or superchargers and you can make sure to have enough juice for your EV to shoot on anytime then you can opt for Tesla mobile connector as it has other advantages.

Casual city drivers or just occasional long trips?

If you don’t have much daily traveling needs then you will probably get much time for charging. Or you could prefer overnight charging.

Then Tesla mobile connector is suitable for you in this case.

Are you on frequent roadtrips to isolated or remote places?

In case of frequent traveling to isolated places where it is rare chances to find public chargers or destination chargers or superchargers then I recommend you to have Tesla mobile connector with you.

You can find standard wall outlets at almost every place you go. So you can easily charge your EV by plugging mobile connector to a power source.

Do you have multiple EVs or plan to have one?

If you already have many Electric cars or you plan to have then Tesla wall connector will be more suitable for you.

And if you see, there are good chances that you will need to charge more than one EV at the same time, especially if anyone from your family also going to use the EV.

Then Tesla wall connector is the better option for you.

Here Tesla wall connector’s power load-sharing feature can be of great advantage to you.

With that, you can charge multiple EVs at the same time without any overloading of the circuit or any other hurdles.

You can have up to 6 wall connectors set up in the same circuit, so you can charge up to 6 EVs at the same time parallely.

So then in the future, you will have the option to buy another Tesla wall connector to fulfill this need.

Note: Tesla wall connector power sharing feature only works with multiple Tesla wall connectors and not with other EV chargers, not even Tesla mobile connectors.

Compatibility of Your Electric Car

Now, you need to know what the maximum power output is compatible with your EV.

For example, if you have a Tesla Model 3 Rear-wheel drive then its onboard charger supports a max 7.7KW 32A power input. In this case, there is no charging speed advantage you can get even if you charge that Tesla model with a Tesla wall connector.

So your vehicle’s onboard charger power compatibility is an important factor in selecting the best compatible option.

If your EV supports limited or lower power compatibility, which comes under the max power output offered by the Tesla mobile connector then it is best to have Tesla mobile connector.

Here no need to spend for Tesla wall connector for higher charging speed.

Power Supply Facility

In case, if power supply requirement of 240V is not feasible as needed for Tesla wall connector then you have to get one if you need Tesla wall connector.

Then it will incur extra costs in addition to installation, extracting power point and setting up a circuit breaker, getting a permit, etc. Also, you need to appoint a certified electrician to do that for you.

If you don’t want to go that way saving much cost then you can choose Tesla mobile connector.

Are you on Budget?

If you have budget constraints then it is best to have Tesla mobile connector.

It has a lesser buying cost with almost no installation cost. 

Are you a homeowner with a dedicated charging space and want to have an aesthetic look?

In this case, Tesla wall connector is best for you.

It will beautifully blend with your home’s aesthetics.

Do you have solar panels installed at your home?

If you have solar panels installed then it will be a very smart use of energy with personal energy production at home and good for schedule charging as well.

There, it is good to have Tesla wall connector.

Are you a travel enthusiast? Have long trips to remote places?

If you normally travel to remote places then you should have both Tesla wall connector for a home charging solution and a Tesla mobile connector for a remote charging solution.

With this, you will always have juice for your EV to run.

You can charge your EV at home faster to get ready to head on to the road again.

Plus, you can charge your EV almost anywhere with a wall outlet with Tesla mobile connector’s plug-and-play charging.

Should you have both Tesla wall connector and mobile connector?

Ideally, it is best to have both to get all the advantages of Tesla wall connector and Tesla mobile connector.

It is good to have Tesla mobile connector as an emergency option with Tesla wall connector.

It is the best option to have a mobile connector for emergency use either at home in case if wall connector disappoints at the time due to whatever reasons or if you are on a road trip and any issues occur with available Level 2 chargers or superchargers or can’t find one.

(And I assume probably you won’t be on budget with having the money to buy a Tesla, so both can be ok to spend on, right?)

Conclusion

So this was the story between Tesla mobile connector and Tesla wall connector.

Now the question for you to figure out is – considering the features of both Tesla wall connector and mobile connector, your charging habits, and requirements – what can be the most suitable charging option for you?

I have given the best guide to you so that it will become much easier to know the difference between Tesla wall connector and mobile connector and choose either one or both depending on your situation.

So, if you found this guide helpful then share it with your friends.

See you in the next article.

FAQs

What is the difference between a mobile connector and a Wall Connector?

The main difference is mobile connector is a plug-in type portable Level 1 and Level 2 charger while wall connector is fixed location hardwired Level 2 charger. So you can have mobile connector with your car in trunk and can charge anywhere where a wall outlet is available. While Tesla wall connector is Home charging unit which is meant to be a fixed charging station installed at home or offices.

Can I use a Tesla mobile connector at home?

Yes, of course, you can use Tesla mobile connector at home by just plugging it to a 110V/120V standard wall outlet or 220V/240V or dryer outlet wall outlet. Mobile connector comes with replaceable Nema 5-15 power cable charging with 110V/120V outlet and Nema 14-50 for 220V/240V wall outlet.

Does a Tesla Wall Connector need a 3 phase?

No, it does not necessarily need a 3-phase connection, it actually supports both 3-phase and single-phase electricity. So for all residential use, it is installed over single-phase electricity. But if 3-phase is available which will be at commercial places then it can be installed on 3-phase also, which will give up to 22kW high power output compared to 11.5kW max with single-phase residential installation.

Is a Tesla Wall Connector 120v or 240v?

Tesla wall connector is a 240V unit which is Level 2 home EV charger. It needs 240V electricity as input power.

What size breaker for Tesla wall charger?

For Tesla wall charger you need to have at least 60A circuit breaker supporting a maximum of 48A power output. But if you use lesser power output then circuit breaker size can be reduced. But remember wall charger’s max power output should not exceed 80% of the circuit breaker size, for safety reasons. It can be rated higher but not lower than this limit.

Do I need GFCI breaker for Tesla wall charger?

No, you don’t need separate GFCI breaker, as Tesla wall charger includes an inbuilt GFCI breaker.

Is a Tesla Mobile Connector 120v or 240v?

Tesla mobile connector supports both 120V and 240V power. So it’s Level 1 + Level 2 charger. With Nema 5-15 power cable you can charge with 120V and Nema 14-50 with 240V electricity.

What size breaker for Tesla mobile charger?

For Tesla mobile charger it is best to have at least 50A circuit breaker as recommended by Tesla.

Can you charge a Tesla on a 15 amp breaker?

Yes, you can charge Tesla on 15 amp breaker. It will max charge at 240V 12 amp current (2.8kW power output) using mobile connector with Nema 6-15 power cable.