Panel has room: 60A breaker, 48A charging
Tesla’s maximum setting: a standard double-pole 60A breaker gives up to 48A, or 11.5 kW at 240V. Use at least 6 AWG 90°C THWN-2 copper with a 75°C-rated breaker, or 4 AWG with a 60°C-rated breaker.[1]
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Tesla Wall Connector Installation in California: Breaker Size, Wiring, Permits and Cost
Updated · Specs from Tesla’s Gen 3 Wall Connector installation manual and California sources, checked Nov 1, 2026 · How we verify
Short answer: A Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector is hardwired to a dedicated 240-volt circuit. For full power (48 amps, 11.5 kW), Tesla’s manual calls for a double-pole 60-amp breaker and at least 6 AWG copper wire with a 75°C breaker. If your panel is short on capacity, the installer can set a smaller breaker. Hire a licensed C-10 electrician and pull a permit.[1][3]
Quick picks: which Wall Connector setup fits your home
Tight panel: a smaller breaker setting
Tesla’s Static Power Management lets the installer pick a lower power level, such as a 40A breaker for 32A (7.6 kW), to match what your panel can supply without extra hardware. The setting stays fixed.[1] Compare this with a panel upgrade or load management.
Busy panel: Dynamic Power Management
A Tesla-approved energy meter, sold separately and installed in the panel, lets one Wall Connector adjust its charging power based on live panel load, up to a limit the installer sets. Tesla says it works with split-phase service where a single Wall Connector is installed.[1]
Two EVs: power sharing
Tesla’s group power management lets up to 6 Wall Connectors at one site share the site’s total available power over unit-to-unit Wi-Fi. Each unit gets its own branch circuit (up to 60A), but total output never exceeds the power allocated to the group, which Tesla says can avoid electrical upgrades for charging several cars at once.[1]
We don’t sell Tesla equipment and have no affiliate relationship with Tesla. Buy the Wall Connector from Tesla; we help you find a licensed electrician.
What size breaker for a Tesla Wall Connector (and other EV chargers)
Tesla publishes this table in its installation manual. The breaker size is programmed into the Wall Connector when it’s commissioned, and some Tesla vehicles may draw less current than the maximum because charging speed also depends on the car’s onboard charger.[1]
| Circuit breaker | Max output | Power at 240V |
|---|---|---|
| 60 A | 48 A | 11.5 kW |
| 50 A | 40 A | 9.6 kW |
| 40 A | 32 A | 7.6 kW |
| 30 A | 24 A | 5.7 kW |
| 20 A | 16 A | 3.8 kW |
| 15 A | 12 A | 2.8 kW |
In every row, the charging current is 80% of the breaker rating. That matches how the Department of Energy describes EV charging under the National Electrical Code: as a continuous load.[2] The same rule of thumb applies to other Level 2 chargers; see our best home EV charger comparison for other brands’ breaker requirements.
Wire size, grounding and mounting
- Conductors: for maximum power, minimum 6 AWG 90°C THWN-2 copper with a 75°C-rated breaker, or minimum 4 AWG with a 60°C-rated breaker. Below maximum power, size conductors and ground to local code.[1]
- Copper only: only copper may land in the Wall Connector’s terminals (12–4 AWG), and Tesla’s manual warns against Eaton BR breakers when the panelboard is aluminum and recommends Eaton BRH breakers instead.[1]
- Ground: an equipment-grounding conductor must run with the circuit conductors; without a proper ground, the unit will fault its ground assurance test.[1]
- Hardwired only: Tesla says to hardwire the branch circuit and not to install cord-and-plug connections. An external disconnect is neither required nor recommended by Tesla, and Tesla lists integrated CCID20 ground-fault protection.[1]
- Mounting height: recommended about 45 inches, maximum 60 inches, minimum 24 inches outdoors and 18 inches indoors. The enclosure is rated Type 3R / IP54 for indoor or outdoor use, from −22°F to 122°F.[1]
- Wi-Fi and setup: the installer commissions the unit, including the breaker size, in Tesla’s Tesla One app. The Wall Connector only works with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks, which it uses for firmware updates.[1]
Wall Connector vs a NEMA 14-50 outlet
The Gen 3 Wall Connector in Tesla’s manual is hardwired, not plugged in, and runs up to 48A on a 60A circuit.[1] A NEMA 14-50 outlet is a separate setup for a plug-in charging cord. Either one needs a dedicated 240V circuit from your panel, so the electrician’s work (running the circuit, the breaker and the permit) is similar. Ask for both options in your quote, and see California EV charger installation requirements for outlet rules.
Tesla Wall Connector installation cost
Most of the cost is the circuit, not the box. The best California cost data we found is from SMUD: across its Charge@Home contractor network over the past 12 months, the median cost to install an EV circuit was $1,100 (minimum $238, maximum $6,382), and the median for a charger plus circuit was $1,746 (minimum $800, maximum $5,320), before rebates or tax credits.[4] Distance from the panel, wall and trench work, and whether the panel needs an upgrade move the price most. See the EV charger installation cost guide for more.
Permits and picking a C-10 electrician
The Department of Energy says permits may be required from local building authorities and that many areas require a site installation plan before work starts.[2] In California, electrical installation work falls under the CSLB C-10 Electrical Contractor classification.[3] Tesla also cautions that the Wall Connector should only be installed by people trained and qualified to work on electrical systems.[1] Before you hire, check the license on the CSLB site, ask whether the quote includes the permit and inspection, and ask what breaker size your panel can take. Our installer checklist lists the questions, and the installer directory shows CSLB-checked electricians by region.
Rebates and the Tesla Wall Connector
Check your utility’s rules before you buy. SMUD’s customer guide says the Tesla Wall Connector does not currently meet SMUD specifications, though Tesla vehicles can use an adapter with chargers on SMUD’s qualified list.[6] SMUD’s Charge@Home terms also limit eligible chargers to 32 amps on a 40-amp breaker and the circuit incentive to a circuit of 40 amps or less.[5] For LADWP, SCE, PG&E and SMUD programs, see California EV charger rebates.
Warranty
Tesla’s Charging Equipment Limited Warranty covers a Wall Connector for 48 months of normal personal use (12 months for commercial use) from the invoice date. The warranty excludes damage caused by improper installation, which is one more reason to use a qualified installer.[1]
FAQ
What size breaker does a Tesla Wall Connector need?
For full power, Tesla's installation manual calls for a standard double-pole 60-amp breaker, which gives up to 48 amps (11.5 kW at 240 volts). If your panel can't support that, the installer can choose a smaller breaker: 50A for 40A output, 40A for 32A, 30A for 24A, 20A for 16A or 15A for 12A. The breaker size is set in the Wall Connector during commissioning.
What wire size does a Tesla Wall Connector need?
For maximum power, Tesla says to use at least 6 AWG 90°C THWN-2 copper conductors with a 75°C-rated breaker, or at least 4 AWG with a 60°C-rated breaker. Only copper can land in the Wall Connector's terminals. For lower-power installs, Tesla says to size conductors and the ground wire to local electrical code.
Can a Tesla Wall Connector plug into a NEMA 14-50 outlet?
Not the Gen 3 model covered by this manual. Tesla's installation manual says to hardwire the branch circuit and not to install cord-and-plug connections. A NEMA 14-50 outlet is a separate setup used with a plug-in charging cord.
Do I need a permit to install a Tesla Wall Connector in California?
Plan on it. The Department of Energy says permits may be required by local building authorities and that EV charging is treated as a continuous load under the National Electrical Code. In California the work should be done by a licensed contractor; the CSLB C-10 Electrical Contractor classification covers installing electrical wiring and equipment.
Does SMUD give a rebate for a Tesla Wall Connector?
Not for the charger itself. SMUD's customer guide says the Tesla Wall Connector does not currently meet SMUD's specifications, though Tesla owners can use an adapter with chargers on SMUD's qualified list. SMUD's Charge@Home terms also cap eligible chargers at 32 amps on a 40-amp breaker and the circuit incentive at a 40-amp circuit.
Ready to install your Wall Connector? Compare quotes from CSLB license-checked C-10 electricians.
Related guides
- Best EV charger for home
- EV charger installation cost
- Panel upgrade vs load management
- EV charger installation requirements
- California EV charger rebates
- Questions to ask your installer
- Licensed installer directory
Sources
- Tesla: Gen 3 Wall Connector Manual, 48A Single Phase (installation manual, PDF), accessed Nov 1, 2026
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: Charging Electric Vehicles at Home, accessed Nov 1, 2026
- CSLB: C-10 Electrical Contractor classification, accessed Nov 1, 2026
- SMUD: Residential electric vehicles (charging FAQ and installation cost data), accessed Nov 1, 2026
- SMUD: Charge@Home incentive terms and conditions, accessed Nov 1, 2026
- SMUD: Selecting a Level 2 home charging unit (customer guide, PDF), accessed Nov 1, 2026