What Charging Cables Do I Need?
Finding out what charging cables you need for each occasion – especially for new owners, can be a daunting task. This quick guide aims to help people quickly decide what cables or adaptors they need to meet their needs.
Charging for off-road/rural
If you often drive into rural areas without any Tesla Destination chargers, or other charging network infrastructure, using standard household 10A power is too slow and not enough to charge up the car in a day (or two!). This is where 3 phase power is really useful. Many restaurants, mechanic workshops, hotels or any other building that would require higher amperage electricity for running equipment, can be used to charge your car to full in under 10 hours (often quicker). Our 3 phase cables allow you to charge your Tesla at any 3phase 20Amp or 32Amp outlet.
Another really useful cable for country trips, is a 15A cable. This is 50% faster than a household 10A socket. These are commonly found in caravan parks and showgrounds. A 15A cable is a cost effective ‘backup’, as if 3 phase power is not available, 15A most likely will.
Using existing charging networks
One very common charging standard in Australia is the J1772 plug. This is a single phase 30A outlet, and can charge the car at 30km an hour. Most public J1772 stations are administered by ChargePoint. You need to sign up for a free account to use their network. These stations can be found at Westfield Shopping Centres, and most BMW dealerships. We always recommend to people who use their vehicle in urban areas, to purchase this cable, as it is really useful. We stock a J1772 to Tesla (Mennekes) adaptor.
Another common cable is the Type 2. Type 2 is quickly becoming the new Australian standard for level 2 AC and DC fast charging. More stations are appearing weekly. Most Type 2 stations are run by ChargeFox.