XC60 charging problem

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by sandys

As you have added it to Octopus as a device could it just be that's a false message until OCtopus switches the charger back on or do you not even get a charging schedule from Octopus as the car says no?

It's a bit of the latter in that the schedules are active on the Ohme app and the charger has received them but as soon as the car is plugged in the charger ignores the schedule because it says it can't communicate with the car and therefore doesn't know how to satisfy the schedule. The charger then defaults to being dumb (which is why the message 'charging to 100%' appears) and it's the car that will stop the charging when the battery is full*.

With charger integration I would not expect it to do much talking to the car beside as normal handshake?

Yes and I think it's the basic handshake which includes telling the charger the state of the battery that is failing. If correct it could be the charger or car that's the problem.

*Day to day I seldom need the ~40 mile range from a full battery charge so some of my schedules in the Ohme app specify 'charge to 80%' (applying the 80:20 rule for battery longevity).

EDIT:
I should add that the driver's display in the car shows the correct state of the battery and recognises that the charger is plugged in. The status shows as 'Initialising' (iirc).

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by giftgrub100

Have you tried charging with the three pin plug cable ? That would rule out a car issue if it charges with the other cable.

I'll try that but I don't think the 3-pin cable incorporates any 'intelligence' beyond the necessary safety checks. In any case, the Ohme charges works when in 'dumb' mode.

[sandys]

You need to remove any charging control in charging devices app for IOG, perhaps your limiting in ohme is the issue, you need to do it all through Octopus app.

For me I am setup as an EX30 to get appropriate charging slots and just change the charging percentage accordingly, so 50% is a full charge based on their database battery size, less if I want less, I just full charge as Volvo alreafy have 20% buffer there. Octopus may have updated the database since for >MY23, I sent them all the infos.

[giftgrub100]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

I'll try that but I don't think the 3-pin cable incorporates any 'intelligence' beyond the necessary safety checks. In any case, the Ohme charges works when in 'dumb' mode.

Ah, well if it works in dumb mode its hopefully not a car issue, as it can charge, no need to try the three pin plug.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

Guess they won't notice you plugging in your car then...

Yup. We offer free charging to all employees and visitors and it is just a drop in the ocean.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by sandys

You need to remove any charging control in charging devices app for IOG, perhaps your limiting in ohme is the issue, you need to do it all through Octopus app.

With the Agile (my tarifff) or IOG tariff on an Ohme charger, charging is controlled via the Ohme app, not Octopus. Note that it was all working well for the first week until something 'broke'.

[V60 probably]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

With the Agile (my tarifff) or IOG tariff on an Ohme charger, charging is controlled via the Ohme app, not Octopus. Note that it was all working well for the first week until something 'broke'.

As you're in Yorkshire, if you're anywhere near me, you'd be welcome to try my charger either at home (Wakefield) or work (Leeds), if that would help eliminate a problem with the car.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by V60 probably

As you're in Yorkshire, if you're anywhere near me, you'd be welcome to try my charger either at home (Wakefield) or work (Leeds), if that would help eliminate a problem with the car.

Many thanks for the offer, I'm actually in Wakefield myself. I was planning to ask some friends who have the same charger as me but I think they're on holiday at the moment so I'll check with them first and get back to you.

[Lexman8]

My friends are back from holiday so tomorrow (Wednesday) I'm going to plug my car into their Ohme charger which is exactly the same model as mine. Hopefully that'll reveal something one way or the other.

Meanwhile, the Volvo dealer in Wakefield checked the car this morning and declared it charging okay (on a dumb charger). I spent ages trying to explain that the problem related to the comms between the charger and the car so as to allow intelligent charging. They said they had no way of checking that as they didn't have a smart charger nor any equipment for checking the comms connection at the car's charging port. Wtf?

Thanks again to 'V60 probably' for his kind offer of help.

[sandys]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

Meanwhile, the Volvo dealer in Wakefield checked the car this morning and declared it charging okay (on a dumb charger). I spent ages trying to explain that the problem related to the comms between the charger and the car so as to allow intelligent charging. They said they had no way of checking that as they didn't have a smart charger nor any equipment for checking the comms connection at the car's charging port. Wtf?

Their response is understandable, Volvo don't provide API support or anything like that, why would they support a third parties software, to the outside world the Volvo is pretty dumb compared to some other cars, which lets face it what you would expect when you see the level of support that goes into AAOS skinning vs other manufacturers.

What you most likely have is an Ohme problem, Volvo will never sort that out. Ohme offer two ways of connecting one sounds a lot like Zappis method which takes the car out of the equation and just controls the charger via Zappi/Octopus apps, the Volvo doesn't get involved, it just waits to see power or it doesn't.