Thinking of installing a home EV charger? If you’ve purchased an electric vehicle like a Tesla, you’ll need more than just plugging into a regular wall outlet to charge it efficiently. That’s where level 2 charging comes in – it provides much faster charging speeds by utilizing 240V power compared to regular 120V outlets.
The purpose of this post is to discuss two of the most common NEMA outlet options for level 2 EV charging – the 14-50 and 6-50. We’ll go over the key differences, pros and cons of each, and recommendations to help you determine the best choice for your home charging needs. With level 2, you can cut down your EV’s charging time drastically compared to slow level 1 charging. Let’s dive in!
Level 1 vs Level 2 Charging
When you first get an electric vehicle like a Tesla, it comes with a portable charger that plugs into a regular 120V household outlet. This is known as Level 1 charging. The problem is that Level 1 charging is very slow, usually around 3 miles of range per hour of charging. For example, if you have a Tesla with a 60 mile daily commute, it would take around 20 hours to fully recharge on Level 1. This makes Level 1 impractical for daily charging needs.
Level 2 charging involves installing a 240V outlet, which can charge around 10 times faster than Level 1. So instead of 3 miles per hour, you can get 20-30 miles per hour depending on the vehicle and charger. This makes daily charging much more feasible. The two most common Level 2 outlets are the NEMA 14-50 and NEMA 6-50, which provide 240V power to charge EVs faster at home.
NEMA 14-50 Outlet
The NEMA 14-50 is a type of 240 volt outlet commonly used for RV and EV charging applications. This outlet has a total of 4 prongs – three power prongs and one ground. The three power prongs include two 120 volt hot leads and a neutral.
Having a neutral allows you to utilize both 120 volt legs independently, which can be useful if you want to run other 120 volt appliances on the circuit in addition to your EV charger. The two 120 volt legs are 180 degrees out of phase, giving a combined 240 volts when using the two hot leads.
The neutral capacity is also convenient for use with RV and portable generator applications, where you may want split 120 volt capability. So while the NEMA 14-50 provides no additional capability for the EVSE itself, it does offer more flexibility for the circuit as a whole.
NEMA 6-50 Outlet
The NEMA 6-50 is a 240 volt outlet that is commonly used for EV charging applications. This outlet has 2 prongs and 2 wires – a hot, a neutral, and a ground.
The 6-50 provides 240 volts between the hot and neutral wires, which is the same voltage provided by the 14-50 outlet. However, the 6-50 does not provide 120 volt capability since it lacks a separate neutral and hot wire.
The main advantage of the 6-50 outlet is that it only requires a 2-wire circuit from the electrical panel. This makes installation quicker and less expensive compared to running a 3-wire circuit for the 14-50 outlet. The 6-50 is a very cost effective option for dedicated EV charging where you do not need 120/240 volt compatibility.
Wiring Differences
One of the biggest differences between the NEMA 14-50 and the NEMA 6-50 is the type of wiring required.
The NEMA 14-50 outlet needs a 3-wire cable consisting of a hot, neutral, and ground wire. This allows for 120V on one hot wire and 120V on the other hot wire, adding up to 240V total. The neutral wire provides the ability to get 120V from either hot wire to neutral.
In contrast, the NEMA 6-50 only requires a 2-wire cable with a hot and a ground wire. No neutral wire is needed. This provides 240V between the hot and ground.
The benefit of the 2-wire cable on the NEMA 6-50 is mainly cost. The 2-wire cable is simpler and cheaper compared to buying and installing the 3-wire cable required for the 14-50 outlet. This can make a significant difference if you have a long wiring run from the electrical panel to the outlet location.
So in summary, the 14-50 requires a more complex 3-wire cable while the 6-50 uses a simpler and cheaper 2-wire cable. This wiring difference is a major factor to consider when choosing between the two outlets.
Compatibility
The NEMA 14-50 outlet is compatible with more devices, making it a popular choice. This type of outlet is commonly used for RVs, allowing you to plug in a RV in your driveway if needed. Many aftermarket EV chargers and extension cords also use the 14-50 outlet.
However, the Tesla Universal Mobile Connector that comes with Tesla vehicles does not actually utilize the neutral line found in the 14-50 outlet. The UMC only needs the two hot lines to provide 240V for Level 2 charging. This means that the NEMA 6-50 outlet with just two hot lines and a ground is sufficient for Tesla home charging purposes. Unless you need compatibility with RVs or other devices, the 6-50 may be the better choice for your Tesla.
Outlet Costs
The NEMA 14-50 outlet typically costs around $100, which is quite pricey compared to some cheaper options found on Amazon. However, it’s worth investing in a high-quality outlet for safety and performance.
On the other hand, the NEMA 6-50 outlet costs about half as much, usually around $50. So if you’re looking to save some money upfront on the outlet itself, the 6-50 is the more affordable option.
Just keep in mind that the wiring for the 14-50 is also more expensive, so the total costs difference ends up being greater than just the outlet price. But strictly comparing outlet hardware, the 14-50 runs about $100 while the 6-50 is roughly $50.
Installation Costs
One of the biggest differences in cost between installing a NEMA 14-50 outlet versus a NEMA 6-50 outlet is the wiring. The NEMA 14-50 requires a neutral wire in addition to the hot wires, so the 3-conductor wiring needed costs about 50% more than the 2-conductor wiring for the NEMA 6-50.
Since wiring costs are usually determined by linear foot, the longer the wiring run from your electrical panel to the outlet, the more you’ll save on material costs by going with a NEMA 6-50. Even if the outlet itself costs slightly more, the 6-50 wiring is cheaper and can lead to overall cost savings for long wire runs.
The only time the extra neutral wire is needed is if you think you’ll use the 14-50 outlet for an RV or to get 120V in addition to 240V. For typical home EV charging, the extra neutral wire provided by the 14-50 isn’t necessary. So unless you have a specific need for a neutral wire, the 6-50 can provide the same 240V charging capabilities at a lower overall installation cost.
Recommendations
When choosing between a NEMA 14-50 or 6-50 outlet for home EV charging, consider the following recommendations:
NEMA 14-50
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Pros: More versatile and compatible with RVs and various EV chargers. Allows 120V and 240V output.
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Cons: More expensive outlet and wiring. Extra neutral wire not needed for Level 2 EV charging.
The 14-50 is a good choice if you need the 120V compatibility or foresee using the outlet for an RV or large equipment.
NEMA 6-50
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Pros: Less expensive outlet and wiring. Only needs hot, neutral, and ground.
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Cons: Not compatible with some EVs or equipment needing 120V.
The 6-50 is ideal if you just need 240V for EV charging and want a more affordable installation. The simpler wiring will save on costs for long wiring runs.
Recommendation
For a basic home EV charger installation, the NEMA 6-50 is likely the better choice unless you have a specific need for the extra capabilities of the 14-50. The 6-50 provides the full 240V at similar amperages as the 14-50, at a lower material cost. Evaluate your personal needs, but the 6-50 will suit most home EV owners’ needs.
Conclusion
Overall, for home EV charging, both the NEMA 14-50 and NEMA 6-50 outlets provide 240V charging for Level 2 fast charging. The main differences come down to compatibility and costs.
The NEMA 14-50 outlet offers more compatibility with RVs and chargers that can utilize a neutral line. However, for most home EV charging purposes, the neutral line is unnecessary.
In terms of costs, the NEMA 6-50 generally provides better value. The outlet itself costs about half as much as the 14-50. More importantly, the wiring is simpler and cheaper, using only 2 conductors instead of 3. This can lead to major cost savings, especially for long wire runs from the electrical panel.
For most homeowners installing a new circuit for Level 2 EV charging, the NEMA 6-50 is likely the best option. It delivers the same charging speed at lower material costs. Unless you specifically need compatibility with RVs or chargers that require a neutral line, the 6-50 outlet is the most affordable yet fully capable choice for convenient home charging.