EV Charging Guide

Should I Order the J1772 or NACS WenStorm Charger?

By Nathan Park Published August 26, 2026 Read 8 min read Topic Level 2 Charging

By Nathan Park · Last reviewed August 26, 2026

Quick answer: Choose J1772 if your vehicle has the larger round five-pin charging inlet. Choose NACS if it has the smaller slim oval inlet. Check the port on your actual vehicle rather than relying only on its brand or model year, because connector transitions vary across models and production dates. Not sure which you'll need — now or with your next car? Get the dual-connector setup (NACS charger + NACS-to-J1772 AC adapter) and cover both.

The WenStorm Level 2 Portable EV Charger ships in two connector variants at the same $219.99 price: J1772 (round five-pin) and NACS (slim oval). Both variants share the same advertised charging performance and core specifications: 32A at 240V, a fixed NEMA 14-50 plug, a 25 ft cable, IP55 construction, and a two-year limited warranty. The buyer-facing difference is the vehicle connector: round J1772 or slim NACS. This page is the selector: how to match the variant to your specific vehicle without relying on brand or model-year rules that don't always apply.

Disclosure: WenStorm sells both variants discussed below. Verify current specifications, price, and availability on the product page before purchasing.

One portable charger for both connector types

Want one setup that works across a mixed-EV household — or with your next car? Choose the WenStorm NACS portable charger and add a NACS-to-J1772 AC adapter. Plug the charger directly into NACS vehicles, then attach the adapter for vehicles with the larger round J1772 port.

This combination covers the two major AC charging-port types used by EVs in the United States, so you will not need to replace your home charger simply because your next vehicle uses a different connector. Both vehicle types charge from the same portable 32A NEMA 14-50 setup, one car at a time. This does not cover DC fast charging or every regional connector.

Not sure which connector you may need in the future? Choose the NACS charger plus the NACS-to-J1772 AC adapter for one portable setup that serves both major US charging-port types.

The correct selector: look at your vehicle's charging port

Check your vehicle's AC charging inlet — not the brand or the model year. Manufacturers have transitioned to the NACS inlet on different schedules across models, trims, markets, and production dates, and the same brand can ship both connector types in the same model year. The reliable answer is to physically look at (or compare a photo of) the inlet on your specific car:

Choose the J1772 variant if your inlet has the round five-pin J1772 shape. On a CCS1-equipped vehicle, this is the upper portion above the two large DC pins — the J1772 section handles all Level 2 AC charging.
Choose the NACS variant if your inlet is the slim oval NACS / SAE J3400 shape used by Tesla vehicles in the US market and by a growing list of non-Tesla vehicles that have adopted the standard.
If you're unsure, compare the inlet on your car to the product photos on the WenStorm product page, or check your vehicle's owner's manual for the exact charging-port designation.

The physical inlet is the only source of truth that doesn't drift with model-year rollouts, trim splits, and regional differences. Match the connector to the inlet, not to a brand generalization.

What J1772 and NACS are, in one paragraph each

J1772 (SAE J1772) is the round five-pin AC charging connector standardized in the early 2010s. It is the AC-charging half of the CCS1 standard used on most non-Tesla EVs and plug-in hybrids sold in the US. J1772 itself is an AC-only connector; CCS1 vehicles add two separate large DC pins beneath the J1772 section for DC fast charging. Any car with a CCS1 inlet accepts a J1772 plug for Level 2 AC charging on its upper section.

NACS (North American Charging Standard) is the slim oval connector Tesla developed. Tesla opened the specification to the industry in November 2022. SAE International issued the first J3400 Recommended Practice in December 2023 and published a revised version in September 2024. NACS carries both AC and DC through the same physical contacts, which is why it can serve as a single unified connector for home Level 2 AC and Tesla Supercharger DC fast charging on Tesla vehicles.

What "same electricity" means (and doesn't mean)

Both WenStorm variants provide the same AC Level 2 output at up to 32A on 240V. The physical difference is only the plug shape at the vehicle end of the cable.

The broader standards behind the two connectors are not identical. SAE J3400 (NACS) is designed to support DC fast charging through the same contacts used for AC. SAE J1772 is the AC-only portion of the CCS1 inlet; CCS1 vehicles use two additional large DC pins for fast charging. For home Level 2 AC charging — what the WenStorm portable charger delivers — each variant delivers the same AC output for its matching inlet type. For DC fast charging away from home, the connector and the network are different questions handled by different equipment.

AC vs DC adapters (do not confuse them)

Adapters for Level 2 AC charging and adapters for DC fast charging are different products with different safety requirements. The most common confusion:

Situation	Adapter type needed
NACS home charger → J1772 vehicle	NACS-to-J1772 AC adapter (rated for continuous AC load)
J1772 home charger → NACS vehicle	J1772-to-NACS AC adapter (rated for continuous AC load)
Tesla Supercharger → compatible CCS1 vehicle	NACS-to-CCS1 DC adapter authorized by that vehicle's manufacturer
WenStorm portable charger → Tesla Supercharger	Not possible. Superchargers are DC fast charging, not Level 2 AC

AC charging adapters are not designed or approved for DC fast charging. Never use an AC adapter at a DC fast charger; use only the vehicle manufacturer's supported DC-charging solution. Tesla, for example, maintains separate product documentation for its J1772 AC adapter and its CCS DC adapter for exactly this reason. When choosing an AC adapter to pair with a WenStorm charger, look for a product intended for the exact AC direction (NACS-to-J1772 or J1772-to-NACS) that matches your setup and rated for continuous AC use at or above the charger's amperage. SAE's J3400/1 document covers evaluation criteria for J3400 / J1772 charging adapters.

What happens if you switch EV brands later

A portable charger is a $200+ purchase, so buyers often ask what happens if they trade their current EV for a different brand a few years later. Two paths keep the charger useful:

Buy a matching AC adapter. A NACS charger + NACS-to-J1772 AC adapter can charge a J1772 vehicle. A J1772 charger + J1772-to-NACS AC adapter can charge a NACS vehicle. If you're planning ahead for this scenario, the dual-connector setup covered earlier in this article is the direct bundle.
Keep the charger for whoever still uses the original connector. If the household still has one EV of the original type, the charger stays useful without any adapter.

When an adapter isn't the right answer

An AC adapter is a reasonable solution for a household that switches brands or has one of each. It's not universally the right pick:

An adapter adds a physical connection between the charger cable and the vehicle inlet — one more interface that has to seat correctly for the session to start.
Adapters can be lost, dropped, or damaged in ways a fixed connector cannot.
The adapter must be rated for continuous AC use, must be intended for the exact direction of the swap (NACS-to-J1772 or the reverse), and should be a product intended for AC EV charging use. Direction matters. A random unrated adapter is not a safe substitute for the correct variant.

If your household will only ever have one connector type, buying the variant that matches that inlet is simpler than buying the other variant plus an adapter.

The industry transition, briefly

NACS was Tesla's proprietary standard until November 2022, when Tesla opened the specification to the industry. SAE International issued the first J3400 Recommended Practice in December 2023 and published a revised version in September 2024. Multiple non-Tesla manufacturers have announced NACS-native vehicles rolling out on different schedules across specific models, trims, and production dates. There is no single "the industry switched in year X" cutover. Existing CCS1-equipped vehicles remain in the market alongside newer NACS-native models from the same brand.

Both J1772 (as part of CCS1) and NACS are expected to remain in the US installed vehicle fleet for years. That's why WenStorm sells both variants at the same price rather than picking one direction and forcing an adapter purchase on everyone else.

Frequently asked questions

Are the two WenStorm variants the same charger inside?

Both variants share the same advertised charging performance and core specifications: 32A at 240V, a fixed NEMA 14-50 plug, a 25 ft cable, IP55 construction, temperature monitoring at the connector, and a two-year limited warranty. The buyer-facing difference is the vehicle connector: round J1772 or slim NACS.

Can I add an AC adapter later if I switch cars?

Yes. NACS-to-J1772 and J1772-to-NACS AC adapters are available. Confirm the adapter is rated for continuous AC use at or above the charger's amperage, is intended for the specific direction of your swap, and is intended for AC EV charging use before regular use.

Do all Tesla vehicles use NACS?

Current US-market Tesla vehicles use the NACS-style inlet. Tesla vehicles sold in other regions may use different connectors depending on local standards.

Does the WenStorm portable charger work with Tesla Superchargers?

No. Superchargers are DC fast-charging stations with their own hardware and protocol. Portable Level 2 chargers are for AC charging at 240V household or NEMA 14-50 outlets. Superchargers, CCS1 DC fast chargers, and Level 2 AC are three separate charging categories.

Which variant should I buy if I don't own an EV yet?

Wait until you've picked the vehicle and can physically see its charging inlet or check the owner's manual for its charging-port designation. Buying a charger before the car means guessing at both the brand and the exact inlet configuration.

Is one variant more common in stock than the other?

WenStorm holds inventory of both variants. Check the product page for current in-stock status at the time of ordering.

Still deciding? Scroll back up and use the two-button selector to jump to the variant that matches your car's inlet.