Level 1 on a dedicated 120 V circuit: parts list
Short answer: Level 1 needs no new charger: a dedicated, grounded 120 V outlet and the cord that came with the car. Tesla's Mobile Connector pulls 12 A (1.3 kW) on a 5-15 adapter or 16 A (1.7 kW) on a 5-20 adapter.
Last updated:
| Part | What to use |
|---|---|
| Circuit breaker | 15 A single-pole (for a 5-15 outlet) or 20 A single-pole (for a 5-20 outlet) |
| Wire | 14 AWG copper on 15 A, or 12 AWG copper on 20 A (NEC 240.4(D) small-conductor limits) |
| Outlet | NEMA 5-15R or 5-20R, on its own circuit |
| Charger | The portable cord supplied with the vehicle (e.g. Tesla Mobile Connector) |
| Protection | GFCI: all 125–250 V garage receptacles need it under the 2023 NEC, 210.8(A)(2) |
Power you get
| At 240 V | 1.3 kW (5-15) / 1.7 kW (5-20) |
|---|---|
| At 208 V | n/a (120 V) |
| Added in 8 hours | 10.4 kWh / 13.6 kWh |
Things to check
- Tesla's manual asks for a dedicated, grounded circuit rated at least 15 A and says not to use extension cords.
- Eight hours at 1.3 kW adds about 10.4 kWh. At 1.7 kW the same night adds about 13.6 kWh.
- This is the only setup most renters can use without a permit, because nothing gets installed when the outlet already exists. Adding a new outlet is electrical work.
Ground-wire size is not listed; your electrician sizes it under NEC Table 250.122. Have a licensed electrician do the work and pull the permit. All four setups.
Sources: Tesla – Mobile Connector owner's manual (PDF); NEC Table 310.16 ampacities (nectables.com restatement); City of Saint Paul – 2023 NEC garage electrical checklist (PDF) (accessed 2026-10-25).