Hello,My question is, I need to install a 100 amp rated, 80 amp continuos load, Tesla charger at a house. I need to figure out whether or not the existing service can withstand this new added load. I'm not sure how to figure that out. I have to submit the math to the county for approval. The existing service is 150 amps. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
80 amp continuous load Tesla car charger for a home
- Thread starter Elekron
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
My guess is that you will need an upgrade but you need to do a load calculation
- Location
- Massachusetts
Take a look at 220.87 for NEC allowed ways to determine existing loads.
kingpb
Senior Member
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- SE USA as far as you can go
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- Engineer, Registered
Is that 80A at 120V or 240V?
What is the duration of charging, ; i.e. time to recharge?
My questions have nothing to do with the OP, just curious.
BTW: my intuition is that you need a service upgrade seeing how the load added is 2/3 your total continuous rating.
ron
Senior Member
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- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
kingpb
Senior Member
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- SE USA as far as you can go
- Occupation
- Engineer, Registered
So in one location they say 25mi for an hour charge, another says 30, and another says 29. A NEMA 14-50 is nothing more than a 50A range receptacle.
This statement makes no sense: The average driver’s daily charge is less than two hours long and costs about $2.00. But, then they talk about plugging it in and charging all night.
It's confusing because they said you can charge 25-30 mi in an hour. So is that telling me that I will only drive my $75,000 vehicle for 50-60 mi per day?
Regardless, the dollars per mile works out to about 3.3 cents/mi. My truck works out to about 12 cents/mi in fuel costs.
Comparison fuel costs + vehicle costs for a 55 mi/day driving (ignoring Insurance and Maintenance); to my vehicle works out that I spend about $23/day versus a Tesla that costs me about $43/day. Over a 5 yr period I'll save $36k not including inflation.
Funny how this "Green" energy stuff just never seems to payoff.
This statement makes no sense: The average driver’s daily charge is less than two hours long and costs about $2.00. But, then they talk about plugging it in and charging all night.
It's confusing because they said you can charge 25-30 mi in an hour. So is that telling me that I will only drive my $75,000 vehicle for 50-60 mi per day?
Regardless, the dollars per mile works out to about 3.3 cents/mi. My truck works out to about 12 cents/mi in fuel costs.
Comparison fuel costs + vehicle costs for a 55 mi/day driving (ignoring Insurance and Maintenance); to my vehicle works out that I spend about $23/day versus a Tesla that costs me about $43/day. Over a 5 yr period I'll save $36k not including inflation.
Funny how this "Green" energy stuff just never seems to payoff.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
Does not mean you only can drive 50-60 mi day.
The tesla is claimed to be able to drive 300 miles in a 5 hour charge with the 80 amp version.
kingpb
Senior Member
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- SE USA as far as you can go
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- Engineer, Registered
That is further confusing, because that would be 30mi on an hour charge, but that is at the 80A plug; they eluded to 30 mi on hour charge but with the 50A plug in another statement. Seems they are maybe having issues being forthright.
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- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
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- Electrical Engineer
You are applying logic to an emotional situation. People who buy a Tesla don't do it to save money...
It like a Mercedes or a yacht; if they can afford to buy one in the first place, they can afford to not care about the cost to own and operate it. They buy them so they can feel smug about being ABLE to buy them.
Hell, I would if I could afford it!
electric_cal
Member
- Location
- California
Exactly Right!!! You took the words right out of my mouth!!
It's a feel good thing..... :roll:
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
We do a lot of work for Tesla, I got to test drive one last year on the back lot.
O M G .... If anyone would pay me $100k for a testicle, I would give one up it in a heartbeat.
I have never experienced acceleration like that outside of an amusement park ride, and I have driven some very powerful hot-rods. Maybe it's just the weird sensation of that kind of g-force without the accompanying noise, but it was AWESOME. Impractical, but still awesome.
The scuttlebutt by the way is that their acceleration profile is hobbled a little on the units that are sold to the general public, for fear that it's too much for the average driver. The one they let me drive was a test unit. It was actually probably too much for me too, I tend to be a lead foot.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
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- Retired PV System Designer
They certainly also control the acceleration to improve battery range.
The performance versions of the model S, such as the P85D (performance, dual motors) have an optionally activated performance profile, called aptly enough insane mode.
The latest $10,000 enhancement option replaces the conventional (although large) 1300A DC fuse with a 1500A "pyrotechnic device" controlled by its own microprocessor with its own lithium battery.
That in combination with yet another custom profile allows what is called, with a wink to Spaceballs, "ludicrous mode."
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
:happyyes:
:thumbsup:
Rampage_Rick
Senior Member
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
It all depends on the charge rate. Charging at 80A requires dual onboard charging modules ($1500 option) Otherwise the standard single-charger Tesla maxes out at 40A (which requires a 50a circuit)
To add further confusion, there are different sizes of battery. Originally they had a 60kWh pack and an 85kWh pack. They've now upgraded the latter to 90kWh. The EPA ratings for those batteries are 208, 265, and 286 miles respectively.
80A @ 240V = 19.2 kW = ~58 miles per hour of charging
40A @ 240V = 9.6 kW = ~29 miles per hour
32A @ 240V = 7.7 kW = ~22 miles per hour
12A @ 120V = 1.4 kW = ~3 miles per hour
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