The Battle for Home Charging: A Tesla Owner's Journey
When I first bought my Tesla Model Y Premium All-Wheel-Drive, I knew I'd have to find a way to charge it at home without relying solely on Superchargers. As a tenant in a rented townhouse community, the challenge was real. But here's where it gets controversial: I had to figure out a solution that worked for me, and I'm sharing my journey to help others in similar situations.
Before I even bought my Tesla, I reached out to my leasing office to see if they had any plans to bring EV charging to the neighborhood. I was determined to find a solution, whether it was positive or negative. And that's when the real adventure began.
My Challenge with Home Charging
In a rental community, parking spots can be a bit tricky. My assigned parking spot is staggered, meaning my car is parked in front of my neighbor's front door. Initially, I asked my neighbor if I could park in their spot during the day, but I couldn't upgrade my outlet to the typical 220v-240v alternative.
I knew that overnight charging would be necessary for sufficient charging, especially for trips or errands. The Tesla Mobile Connector, which is 20 feet long, wasn't long enough for my needs. So, I had to explore my options.
My Options
I had a few choices: use the Mobile Connector and park in my neighbor's spot, buy an 8 or 10-gauge extension cord, or purchase an NACS to NACS extension cord. I didn't want to rely on my neighbor's spot, so I decided to explore other options.
The 10-gauge extension cord was the first option I considered. It was less expensive, more readily available, and recommended by my friends who are electricians. However, running this option would have put the Mobile Connector on the ground, which I wasn't comfortable with.
I then turned to NACS to NACS connectors, and I found plenty of options. Given the high price of the car, I chose to spend the extra money on a connector from A2Z, which was recommended by other owners and had a positive reputation. This option kept the Mobile Connector off the ground and provided an additional 16 feet of length.
Putting It Into Action
The process was relatively simple: plug the Mobile Connector into my house, plug the NACS to NACS extension into the Mobile Connector, and plug the extension into the car. It worked immediately, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, be aware that these cables can be a target for thieves. In my area, I haven't had too many issues, but if you're in a place where copper wiring is heavily sought after, keep the cables in a secure place. I store mine away when not in use and keep them visible from my Ring camera at night.
Additionally, if you plan to run the cable across the sidewalk, consider getting a cable cover from a local hardware store. I chose a heavy-duty option from Amazon to protect the thicker gauge of the NACS to NACS extension.
Speed of Charging
Tesla claims the Mobile Connector will provide 3-5 miles of range per hour when plugged into a typical wall outlet. My experience aligns with this, and it's definitely worth it, even though it's slow. It's better than having the car sit stagnant.
I plan to cover more details, including troubleshooting, my electric bill increase, and any issues with neighbors or the leasing office. If you're looking for help with an at-home charging solution or have questions about my setup, feel free to email me at joey@teslarati.com.
🚨 I FINALLY figured out a way to charge my Tesla at home as a renter — Using Superchargers exclusively was inconvenient, tough on the battery, and expensive. Here's how I did it: [link]
