Tesla Wall Connector installation in Ontario

Six steps take a Wall Connector from the box to its first charge. Tesla's Gen 3 manual covers the charger itself; ESA and the Ontario Electrical Safety Code cover the wiring that feeds it:

The breaker sets the charging speed. Tesla's manual gives the full output on a standard double-pole 60 A breaker, and five smaller settings for a panel with less to spare. Each breaker, the most the charger then delivers, and the power at 240 volts:

The breaker size is programmed into the charger during commissioning, so its output matches the circuit it sits on. The manual also notes that some Tesla cars draw less than the charger's maximum, because the charging rate depends on the car's onboard charger as well.

For full power, the manual asks for at least 6 AWG copper wire rated 90 °C (THWN-2) on a breaker rated 75 °C, or 4 AWG on a breaker rated 60 °C. Below full power, the conductors are sized to the local electrical code, which in Ontario is the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.

ESA requires an electrical permit, which it calls a notification of work, for every EV charger installation, filed before work begins. The notification creates a permanent record of the work and starts ESA's review of it.

The person doing the work files it. ESA says anyone you hire for electrical work in an Ontario home must by law be a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and that contractor files the notification for you. A homeowner may do electrical work in their own home by filing it themselves; a friend, relative or neighbour may not.

The charger is checked too. ESA requires an EV charging system to carry a recognized Canadian certification mark, and Tesla's manual lists the Gen 3 Wall Connector's cULus listing, file E351001.

If the load calculation calls for a bigger electrical service, ESA directs you to your local distribution company, since any change to the service runs through it.

Both work. The Gen 3 Wall Connector carries a Type 3R enclosure rating and operates from -30 °C to 50 °C, according to Tesla's manual.

Ottawa rarely reaches the bottom of that range. Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Ottawa airport count 0.45 nights a year colder than -30 °C, against 15.6 colder than -20 °C. A charger in an attached garage sits warmer still.

Height is the other winter choice. The manual's limits:

At the recommended height the charger stays well clear of Ottawa's February snow, which averages 30 cm deep at the airport. Outdoors, the feeder wires enter through watertight fittings, and the wirebox's gasketed washers keep its Type 3R rating.

Place it where the 7.3 m cable reaches the charge port without strain and can loop around the unit. Its Wi-Fi runs on 2.4 GHz, and the manual advises keeping concrete, masonry and metal studs from standing between the charger and your router.

Tesla's group power management links up to six Wall Connectors at one site over Wi-Fi. Each sits on its own branch circuit of up to 60 A, and their combined output never exceeds the power allocated to the group. Tesla's manual says the feature reduces the need for an electrical upgrade to charge several cars at once.

One car charging alone still gets the full 48 A. When both plug in, the chargers divide the allocation between them automatically, and the manual's planning table suggests 12 A or more per charger for overnight parking, which fits two cars that sleep at home. Access control can limit a charger to up to 10 Tesla cars, named by VIN.

Pair the Wall Connector with solar and daytime charging runs on your own panels: a solar carport puts them over the parking spot, and a home battery stores their output for an evening plug-in.

For charging from the grid, schedule the car for Ontario's ultra-low overnight hours. The overnight prices, and the City of Ottawa loan that covers a Level 2 charger, are in our guide to EV charger rebates in Ontario.