Mounting your Tesla charger to the side wall of the garage sounds good, but the scattered wires can get really frustrating sometimes.
Tesla owners, however, have figured out the solution by mounting the charger to their ceiling. No more wires on the ground!
Surprisingly, no one online has covered the subject matter. So I had to rely on community forums and YouTube DIYs to give you a PROVEN solution.
After virtually studying almost every Tesla owner’s method that worked for them, here I am with a how-to guide that’ll talk you through everything you need to know to get the job done.
Without further ado, let’s hop into the details.
Is a Ceiling Mount Feasible for a Tesla Charger?
Before I give a verdict on that, certain factors must be addressed. But for starters, you can say that it counters the problems and hazards that come with the wall mount.
Most Tesla owners are now preferring a ceiling mount for Tesla chargers because:
✅ It’s simple and easygoing.
✅ It doesn’t require much care and maintenance.
✅ It reduces electrical hazards associated with the charger.
✅ The foot traffic doesn’t disrupt the charging setup.
Is there any con to a ceiling-mounted charger? There isn’t any. It won’t disturb your charging rate or wattage etc. It’s perfectly safe too.
The only reason why Tesla owners are inclining toward ceiling-mounted chargers with retractable wires is because they want to see their garage neat and tidy.
If there isn’t much foot traffic around the vehicle and you don’t mind scattered wires, you can opt out of mounting your EV charger to the ceiling with no worries.
Get Inspired: These 5 Owners Figured It Out
Story # 1: Tesla Owner Performed Ceiling Mount Using Counterweight System
GTM3 did genius work by performing a ceiling mount using a counterweight system that helps the wire to automatically lift upward when not in use.
The installation is clean and convenient, and there’s no trip hazard in this installation.
Story # 2: Another Ceiling Mount Using a Similar but Less Elegant Approach
Haxster used the counterweight approach, similar to the previous one, except the setup looks a bit messy.
But it’s just a matter of convenience. If you’re comfortable with this kind of setup, there’s no harm in it.
Stroy#3 Tesla Owner Did a DIY Ceiling Mount
Another brilliant ceiling mount was performed by Dylankjustice. It took him three days to figure out the retracting cable installation, but in the end, he made a perfect installation.
According to him, the process was a bit tricky, so you need to do proper research before you start your DIY project.
Story # 4: Tesla Owner Who Ceiling-Mounted the Charger for His Wife
Made this charger for my wife…. She has been using it for over a month with no issues…. After pulling down the cord, there is no pull on the charge wire at the car since I used a tool balancer. Once done charging, you have to lift the wire for it to retract. I made it out of steel tubing and plywood.
goats
Story # 5: Tesla Owner Who Creatively Ceiling-Mounted His Charger
Aquad went through many trial and errors to finally get the job done. Here’s what he said about the final look:
So here’s my final setup. I tossed the spring balancer and instead used a counter weight system as suggested here. I bought a 4lb fishing weight off of Amazon and that weight seems to work well.
My only complaint is that I wish the cord itself remained tight, and higher up. I don’t think I can achieve the perfect picture I have in my head with my current configuration. But don’t get me wrong, overall I’m pretty happy with it. It remains high enough that I won’t hit my head on it which was the big goal.
All and all, I dig it. Check out the video below to see the system in action.
He posted multiple posts on the community forum. You can follow this thread to learn all the problems he faced during the procedure.
These 5 rare tips can save you so much time and stress – and few owners know about them (even after years of ownership). Sign up below to learn more. It's free!
How to Mount Your Tesla Charger in the Ceiling: The Actionable Steps
Provided that it’s a DIY project, you’ll have to figure it out mostly by yourself, but based on the information from the community, I have some actionable advice for you.
Let’s break it into sections here.
3 Ways to Power Your Tesla
1. 120 Volt, 15 Amp Receptacle
(gives 3–4 driving miles per hour of charging)
2. 220 Volt, 30 Amp Receptacle
(4x faster than 120 volt and gives 14–17 driving miles per hour of charging)
3. 220 Volt, 50 Amp Receptacle
(50% more powerful and gives 20–30 driving miles per hour of charging )
Required Accessories
1. Tesla Cables & Adapters
These come with your Tesla and allow you to charge using any of the above mentioned power options.
2. Tesla Wall Connector
This main unit comes as an additional purchase. Tesla has introduced a generation 3 connector for easy installation, but a good idea before purchasing is to make sure your home has enough power to support it.
Number of driving miles per hour of charging for long-range vehicles at 60 amps:
- Model X: 30 miles
- Model S: 34 miles
- Model 3: 44 miles
- Model Y: 42 miles
Credit to The Electric Connection.
3. Counterweight System for Retracting Cable
The retracting cable mechanism that needs a counterweight system is to be installed for a proper ceiling mount. The recommended parts are:
- 12″ Aluminum Hoist Pulley Wheel CBM1290 for the charger cable
- Madison Electric Pull-it PN 104 for ceiling opening
- 1/8-inch wire rope minimum for the lifting cable
Installation Process
There hasn’t been a standard procedure for the ceiling mount. However, I found a PDF posted by an owner on a community thread that had good information inside. Here’s the summary:
- Check for the connections.
- Check for the required accessories.
- Mount your wall connector to the ceiling of the garage depending on your convenience.
- Mount the retractable wire system that uses a counterweight mechanism to the ceiling.
- Attach counterweight and lifting wire to the pulleys, respectively.
- Now organize the charging wire according to the instructions given in the above link.
- Make electrical installations after mechanical work is done.
In case you’re unable to do it, call a professional who can solve this puzzle for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast does a Tesla charge on 220V?
Most Teslas charge from 40% to 80% in an hour, but it takes them two more hours to go from 80% to 100%.
What is the cost to install NEMA 14 50?
The overall cost to install NEMA 14 50 ranges from $500 to $2,500, including payment fees and additional expenses.
Can I install my EV charging point?
Unless you’re not a professional electrician, don’t try to install your EV charging point by yourself. However, you can hire a professional to do that for you.
Is Supercharging cheaper than home charging?
Charging at home is going to save you money in most cases. It will cost you $7–$15 to completely charge your Tesla at home, depending on the model you have.
Final Thoughts
To conclude the whole discussion, I’d say that the ceiling mount option for Tesla home charging is a genius solution to most of the inconvenience caused by wall mount, but at the same time, it’s not a standard alternative.
It’s more like a DIY project that most Tesla owners have successfully pulled out and helped solve their issues.
Should you do it? Ask yourself. If you’re comfortable with the traditional wall mount, then you should cling to that because you can get support from Tesla for that.
The only drawback is that it will cost you a handsome amount of money (including typical and additional costs). As quoted by Tesla, the straightforward installation cost can range between $750 and $1500.
If you’ve decided to go for the ceiling mount, the above article encompasses every detail for you. Get to it right away!
Zac Ludicrous
Mechanical engineer by profession. TSLA shareholder before the hype. EV enthusiast all day long. Zac enjoys learning about the future of battery technology, autonomy, and EVs. He considers Tesla Model 3 the most important vehicle of the 21st century -- and is in a quest to improve the ownership experience of every Model 3 owner he possibly can.These 5 rare tips can save you so much time and stress – and few owners know about them (even after years of ownership). Sign up below to learn more. It's free!
