Can You Charge a Tesla at Home Without Having to Install Anything?
Home Charging with a Standard Cable
Yes, you can charge your Tesla at home without needing to install anything beyond a standard cable. For instance, my 11-year-old Nissan Leaf was charged at home using a 2.4 kW charger, and it never used a charging station for 9 months. In the same timeframe, I bought a 3-year-old Tesla Model 3 Performance, which cost the same as a new Nissan Leaf. The Tesla has only been plugged into a charging station once during a 500 km trip, but the car's full charge was sufficient for the journey. At home, it is charged using the same 2.4 kW charger as the Leaf.
Considering an 11 kW wall charger would allow me to keep the 2.4 kW charger in the frunk along with a Type 2 to Type 2 cable. With this setup, I would dial the charge rate down to 2.4 kW unless planning a long trip at short notice.
One thing is clear: simply plug into any power source, and a home charging unit is merely a bit faster.
Charging with a 120V Standard Wall Outlet
Teslas can be charged using a 120V standard wall outlet with a portable charger available from many sources. This is level 1 charging and works well for shorter trips when the car can be plugged in for extended periods. If access to a 220V receptacle is available, a level 2 portable charger can provide a full charge overnight and supports both level 1 and 2 charging.
Yes, you can plug into a wall plug just like any appliance. However, the process is significantly slower, taking about ten times as long as a level 2 charger.
Think of using a 120V outlet as the equivalent of filling a swimming pool with a garden hose. While it will do the job eventually, it will take an extremely long time.
Preventing Battery Drain
You can use the same type of outlets as those for your cell phone, which is typically a 120V outlet in the US. However, doing so can slow down the charging process significantly, taking roughly ten times as long as a Level 2 charger. To avoid waiting until the battery is dead, you should try to keep it above the halfway point by performing overnight top-off charges whenever possible. The rate of charge will be slow, with range increases of about 3 miles per hour for each hour of charging. Therefore, if you drive more than 30 miles a day, this charging method might be too slow.
A complete charge from empty to full could take four days or more. This highlights the importance of planning and staying informed about your charging needs.