XC60 charging problem

[Lexman8]

Over the last day or so whenever I plug the car into the charger I get a message on the Ohme app saying:

"Failed to contact your car. Assuming an empty battery and potentially charging more than expected."

It makes intelligent charging with Octopus impossible now. Anyone else seen this or similar?

I contacted Ohme and they said the charger had detected overvoltage on the incoming supply so I contacted the DNO who sent an engineer round (within 30 minutes!) to check the voltage. He said it was 244V and well within tolerance.

I suspect the overvoltage thing is a red herring and the issue lies with the charger or the car. What's the bet that they each blame the other?

[Philip Fisher]

Wonder what the tolerance is. Whenever I check it always seems to be close to 230. 244 is more than 5% over.

[sandys]

mine is 245v, seems to be no problem on the Zappi and infact remember seeing this on the Zappi site

'The DNO has an obligation to provide each property with a reliable range of power. This runs from 207v-253volts. '

So the range is wide.

I get failed to connect with car on Octopus app sometimes and if you just wait it works, don't keep requesting, like there is some big internet delay

[Lexman8]

Ohme sent me this in an email: "The acceptable tolerance for the home charger is 230V +/- 10% (which gives a range between 207V to 253V)."

The DNO engineer said the supply tolerance was -6/+10%.

My own measurement just now is 242.6V which corresponds well with the DNO reading given that his reading was taken before the incoming fuse and mine was from an internal socket and at peak time.

[Lexman8]

As a backup I thought I'd put the charger on permanent feed and set timers on the car. Looking at the Volvo app it seems you can only set one charging period. Really? I'm sure you could set 8 with Sensus?

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by sandys

I get failed to connect with car on Octopus app sometimes and if you just wait it works, don't keep requesting, like there is some big internet delay

The 'failed to connect' message also appears immediately on the charger screen which suggests a comms issue between the charger and car.

[Philip Fisher]

I will have to ask the sparks at work what we get from our own transformers. We have an 11kv supply and then 6 of our own transformers to supply 400v three phase to the factory. I get the impression we don't operate in such a high voltage range as quoted above but will be interested to check.

I wouldn't say we use a lot of electricity but last year our electric bill was 10 million quid.....

[sandys]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

The 'failed to connect' message also appears immediately on the charger screen which suggests a comms issue between the charger and car.

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?

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

[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.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

I wouldn't say we use a lot of electricity but last year our electric bill was 10 million quid.....

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