For about a decade, buying a home charger in the US meant choosing between two plugs: the J1772 connector used by almost every automaker, and Tesla's own connector. That split is closing. Tesla's design was standardized as SAE J3400, known as NACS, in December 2023, and automakers have been moving to it since. If you are about to install a home charger in Florida, here is what the change means for you, and the one thing about it that does not change at all.
The part that does not change: your wiring
The plug is on the end of the charger's cable. It is not in your wall. A 40 A charger with a NACS handle and a 40 A charger with a J1772 handle need exactly the same circuit: the same breaker, the same wire, the same permit. So you can install the circuit today with confidence and choose, or later change, the connector on the charger. Our Level 2 charger installation page covers the circuit side.
The two connectors
| J1772 (Type 1) | NACS (SAE J3400) | |
|---|---|---|
| Home Level 1 and Level 2 | Yes | Yes |
| DC fast charging | Uses CCS1, a larger combined inlet | Same compact plug |
| Found on | Most non-Tesla EVs built before the switch; many public Level 2 stations | Tesla vehicles; many 2025 and 2026 models from other brands |
| Cross-use at home | J1772 charger can charge a NACS car with an adapter | Check the automaker's and charger maker's guidance before using any adapter |
The federal Joint Office's charging connector page says NACS can be used for Level 1 and Level 2 and is compatible with J1772 for those speeds through an adapter, and that J3400 connectors and cables need UL 2251 safety certification (DriveElectric.gov, charging connectors). It also notes that all major automakers and charging companies announced plans to adopt J3400 as early as 2025.
What recent models use
The transition is model by model and year by year, and it is not always all-or-nothing:
- Kia EV6 (2025): Kia announced a NACS charging port (Kia Media).
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2025): Hyundai announced it as its first model with a native NACS port (Hyundai News).
- Toyota bZ (2026): NACS port (Toyota Pressroom).
- Nissan Leaf (2026): a split design, with J1772 for AC charging and NACS for DC fast charging (Nissan press kit). A home Level 2 charger for this car needs a J1772 handle.
Many other 2025 and 2026 models have moved to NACS as well. Rather than rely on a list, look at your own car's charge port, or its window sticker and owner's manual, before you buy a charger. Hyundai and Kia owners can also read our Hyundai and Kia home charging guide.
How to choose the connector for a home charger
- Match the car you have. Buy the charger with the connector that plugs straight into your car. Daily charging with no adapter is simpler and removes a part that can be lost, dropped or left at a friend's house.
- Check if the charger is offered both ways. Several makers sell the same charger with either handle. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus datasheet, for example, lists J1772 Type 1 and NACS versions of the same unit (Wallbox Pulsar Plus datasheet).
- Two cars with different ports? Pick the connector for the car that charges most at home and keep a proper adapter for the other, or install two chargers with power sharing. Our two EVs, one home post covers the options.
- Buying a car soon? Install the circuit now and buy the charger when you know the port, or choose a plug-in charger on a NEMA 14-50 outlet that can be swapped without an electrician.
Adapters: fine, with conditions
Adapters are a normal part of the transition, but treat them as electrical equipment, not accessories. Buy the one your automaker supplies or recommends. Check that the adapter is rated for at least the current your charger delivers. Never chain adapters or combine one with an extension cord; Tesla's Mobile Connector manual, for example, rules out extension cords, multi-plugs and conversion plugs outright (Tesla Mobile Connector manual). And inspect it: a cracked or loose adapter that sits in the Florida sun on a carport is a heat point.
Tesla chargers and non-Tesla cars
Tesla sells both its Wall Connector and a Universal Wall Connector. Both follow the same breaker table, up to 48 A on a 60 A circuit, both are rated Type 3R / IP54 for outdoor use, and both can share power across up to six units (Tesla Universal Wall Connector manual). If your household has a Tesla and a car from another brand, ask which connectors and adapters the specific model supports before you buy. For Tesla owners, our Tesla home charging guide goes further.
Public charging in South Florida
Home is where most charging happens; the AFDC notes that most EV owners do the majority of their charging at home (AFDC). But the connector you choose at home does not lock you out of public stations. Many public Level 2 stations use J1772, so NACS drivers keep an adapter in the car; fast chargers vary by network. Check your automaker's app for what your car can use.
What to ask before you buy
- What charge port does my car have for AC charging? (Not just DC.)
- Is this charger sold with the other connector too, and can the cable be changed later?
- What adapter does my automaker supply, and what is its current rating?
- Is the charger listed to UL 2594, the EV supply equipment standard (UL 2594)?
Questions homeowners ask
Will NACS make my J1772 charger obsolete?
No. A NACS car can use a J1772 charger through an adapter for Level 1 and Level 2. Your circuit stays useful either way.
Does the connector change charging speed at home?
No. At home the speed is set by the charger's output, the circuit and your car's onboard limit, not by the plug shape.
Do I need a new permit to change a charger's connector?
Swapping one plug-in charger for another on an existing outlet does not change the circuit. Replacing a hardwired unit should be done by an electrician; ask your building department whether it needs a permit.
My 2026 car has NACS for fast charging. Is it NACS at home too?
Not always. The 2026 Nissan Leaf uses J1772 for AC charging. Check the AC port specifically.
Get the circuit right, then pick the plug
KRW Electric (EC13012832) installs chargers with either connector across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, with the permit and inspection handled. See EV charger installation, our best home EV chargers roundup, the Florida Home EV Charging Guide, or send us your car model and we will help you choose.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
