Is 16A or 32A Better for Tesla Charging?

[McLondyn]

Tesla charging at 32A is faster than at 16A. The maximum power supported by Tesla's 220V home single-phase charging pile is 7Kw (32A), which is 220*32=7Kw. Converted to the MODEL3, it's approximately 50 kilometers per hour, and a full charge takes about 9 hours. However, charging usually leaves some margin, so an overnight charging time is sufficient. Here is additional information about Tesla's portable charging: 1. A charging connector with a gun, usually 200v, commonly supports manual adjustment (8, 10, 16A). 16A can charge about 25 kilometers per hour, mainly used for temporary charging when going out, and can be connected to a standard residential air conditioning socket. 2. Tesla also offers official portable charging. However, there is an exception, such as Tesla's original European standard portable charger and some customized portable chargers from Tesla car clubs available on certain platforms. With an adapter, they can support 380v16a or 220V32A charging. This rate is sufficient to be used as a main charging device.

[Emma]

Just helped my cousin with this issue yesterday, and as someone who's been driving an electric car for over three years, I have some insights. Choosing between 16A and 32A really depends on your lifestyle. The 32A option charges much faster, adding about 50 kilometers per hour—enough to fully recharge overnight. If you frequently travel between cities or use your car intensively, installing a 32A wallbox is definitely more convenient. However, you'll need to check if your home's electric meter can handle it, as 32A requires a 380-volt three-phase meter. Older residential areas might need an upgrade from the power company, costing a few thousand extra in installation fees. A standard 220-volt meter only supports 16A, charging around 20 kilometers per hour, which can replenish about 300 kilometers overnight. If your daily commute is just a few dozen kilometers, 16A is perfectly sufficient and can save you some on electricity costs.

[MilaAnn]

Last time I charged, I specifically discussed this with the maintenance technician. A 32A current requires higher specifications for the cable, necessitating a dedicated line of at least 10 square millimeters. If the wiring in an old house is 15-year-old aluminum, using 32A can easily cause overheating and pose a hazard. A 16A setup generally works with a 6 square millimeter copper wire. Additionally, it depends on the distance from the parking spot to the electrical meter box—if it's over 30 meters, opting for 32A is more cost-effective due to less line loss. Actually, a 16A air conditioning socket can also be used for temporary charging. I've used it when staying at a homestay during business trips—two hours of charging adds about 100 kilometers, which is quite convenient. My advice is to have a technician conduct an on-site survey before making a decision; don't blindly choose the higher option.

[StLaila]

My friend has been struggling with installing a charging station recently. The key is to consider your average daily mileage. If you only drive 40-50 kilometers a day, a 16A charger charging for five hours at night is sufficient. However, if you frequently drive over 200 kilometers in a single day and need to use the car the next day, a 32A fast charge for two hours is more practical. It's important to note that some residential areas have limited power capacity, and installing a 32A charger requires approval from the homeowners' association. In winter, battery activity decreases, and charging speed can drop by 30%, making the 32A charger's advantage more obvious. Additionally, choosing a third-party 32A-compatible charging station ensures more stable protocol matching, preventing fault codes from appearing on the dashboard during charging.