The difference between 10 A and 15 A comes down to two things: how fast you need to charge, and whether you can have a dedicated outlet installed.
A 15 A charger delivers about 3.45 kW, roughly 19 km of range per hour, and needs a dedicated 15 A or 20 A outlet. A 10 A charger delivers about 2.3 kW, roughly 13 km per hour, from any standard power point. Choose 15 A for home if you can install the outlet; choose 10 A if you can't.
| Daily driving | Hours on 10A | Hours on 15A |
|---|---|---|
| 40 km | 3.1 h | 2.1 h |
| 80 km | 6.2 h | 4.1 h |
| 100 km | 7.7 h | 5.2 h |
| 150 km | 11.6 h | 7.7 h |
| 200 km | 15.5 h | 10.3 h |
Australian 15 A plugs have a larger earth pin than 10 A plugs. It exists so a 15 A load can't go into a 10 A outlet that isn't rated for it. Adapters that defeat it are widely sold online, and they are exactly what an electrician tells you not to use.
To charge on 15 A you need a dedicated 15 A or 20 A outlet, installed by a licensed electrician. In Victoria that is prescribed electrical work and comes with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. What the install involves.
A car draws its full rated current for 10+ hours straight. In older homes, an outlet sharing a circuit with the fridge or a heater, or ageing rubber-insulated cable, is the weak link. A dedicated EV circuit fixes both.
50% faster than 10 A, with a built-in RCD and current settings of 8, 12 or 15 A. Covers most daily commutes overnight once you have a dedicated outlet.
Plugs into any standard power point. The right choice for renters and as a backup in the boot.
If you can install a dedicated outlet, usually yes. It's about 50% faster (19 vs 13 km per hour), which turns a 100 km day from a 7.7-hour top-up into 5.2 hours.
No. The 15 A plug's larger earth pin stops it fitting a 10 A socket, and you should never use an adapter to get around that. Use a charger with a genuine 10 A plug. The other way round works: a 10 A plug fits a 15 A outlet and charges at 10 A speed.
Yes. Installing an outlet is prescribed electrical work in Victoria, so it must be done by a licensed electrician who issues a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Taking a Tesla Model Y RWD (about 60 kWh) from 20% to 80% takes about 17.4 hours on 10 A and about 11.6 hours on 15 A. Most drivers top up overnight instead.
No. Adapting a 15 A plug down to a 10 A socket defeats the plug design that stops a 10 A outlet being overloaded. Use a charger with a genuine 10 A plug for 10 A outlets.