Tesla Wall Connector vs Universal Wall Connector

At a glance

Choose the Tesla Wall Connector, 48 A if…

Choose the standard Wall Connector if every car in the house uses NACS and is likely to for the life of the charger. It is cheaper and it does exactly the same job for those vehicles. If a second car with a J1772 inlet appears later, a NACS to J1772 adapter exists and is the more expensive direction of adapter, which is worth knowing before assuming that route is cheap.

Check Tesla Wall Connector, 48 A on Amazon

Choose the Tesla Universal Wall Connector if…

Choose the Universal if two connector standards live in the same driveway now, or plausibly will. An integrated adapter cannot be left in the other car, which is the failure mode that makes loose adapters annoying. Either unit is hardwired to a 60 amp dedicated circuit, which means a permit, an inspection and a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.

Check Tesla Universal Wall Connector on Amazon

Which one to buy

• Tesla only, and likely to stay that way: the standard Wall Connector. Same 48 amps, same app, same power sharing, lower price, and nothing on the wall you will not use.
• Two cars with different ports, now or soon: the Universal. The integrated J1772 adapter means nobody has to find the loose adapter, and the charger follows the household rather than the car.
• Selling the house in a few years: the Universal. A charger that works with every car is a plainer selling point than one that needs an explanation.
• A non Tesla car that is switching to a NACS port: either works. Most manufacturers now ship or offer NACS ports and adapters, so the gap the Universal closes is narrowing, but the adapter is still the simplest way to cover an older J1772 car in the same garage.

What is identical

Everything that touches the electrician. Both units hardwire to a dedicated 240 volt circuit of 60 amps for the full 48 amp output, both can be set lower in the app to suit a 40 or 50 amp circuit, both carry the same 24 foot cable, and both support power sharing across up to six Wall Connectors on one circuit. A permit, a GFPE or GFCI protected circuit where the jurisdiction requires it, and a wall position that lets the cable reach the charge port without crossing a walkway are the same job for either. Run the breaker size calculator for the circuit and the installation cost calculator for the quote.

What you give up with each

With the standard Wall Connector you give up the ability to charge a J1772 car without a separate adapter, which is a small thing until a visitor, a second car or a new owner needs it. With the Universal you pay more for an adapter mechanism that a Tesla-only household never touches, and you add one more moving part to a device that otherwise has none. Neither trade is large; the household is what decides it.

See also: Tesla Wall Connector vs third party chargers, NACS vs J1772 and the best EV chargers for Tesla.

Related

• Electrical safety and what needs an electrician
• Home EV charger installation guide
• Installation cost calculator

Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

We review it on its own too, in full detail: the Tesla Wall Connector.

Related reading

• Tesla Wall Connector vs Third Party
• Tesla Mobile Connector vs a Hardwired Charger
• Emporia vs ChargePoint EV Charger
• Grizzl-E vs Emporia EV Charger

Common questions

Does the Universal Wall Connector charge a Tesla any slower?

No. Both units deliver up to 48 amps and 11.5 kW on a 60 amp circuit, and a Tesla plugs into the Universal on the same NACS connector. The adapter in the Universal only comes into play for a J1772 car, and it still runs at the full 48 amps for a car whose onboard charger can accept it.

Which adapter direction is more expensive?

Going from a Tesla wall unit to a J1772 car is the expensive direction, with documented options well over $50. A J1772 to NACS adapter, letting a Tesla use a J1772 wall unit, is around thirty. That asymmetry is a real cost to weigh when choosing which connector to put on the wall, and it is why the Universal exists.

Do these work with non Tesla cars?

The Universal does through its integrated J1772 side, and the standard unit does for vehicles with a NACS inlet, which now includes several manufacturers. Support has broadened and continues to. Confirm compatibility for your specific vehicle model and year rather than assuming, since the transition is still in progress.

Can either be installed on a plug rather than hardwired?

Both are designed to be hardwired, which is also what allows the full 48 amp output, since a plug connection is generally limited to 40 amps continuous on a 50 amp circuit. Hardwiring is licensed electrician work with a permit and an inspection in most jurisdictions. The hardwired against plug in page on this site covers the trade in full.

What circuit do they need?

A 60 amp dedicated circuit for the full 48 amp output, sized for continuous duty at 125 percent of the load. Both units can be set to lower amperages if the panel cannot support 60 amps, which is a normal and legitimate installation. Your electrician sets that during commissioning after running a load calculation.