Charging errors

[Dnwhite13]

Using my 120v home charger, I get very frequent charging errors (at least 50% of the time). It usually takes 1-3 unplugs to resolve. Is it my connection, or is this common? Thanks!

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[RickMachE]

"charging errors" is too general.

What color lights on the charger before plugging it into the car?
What color lights after?
Does it charge at all?

 

[Dnwhite13]

Orange light when there is a charging errors. Blue light when functioning properly. Yes, charges fine after unplug/repugnant cycle(s). Sometimes it shows error immediately, and sometimes mid-charge...which is the worst, because I miss out on overnight charges. Thanks!

 

[Tampamike]

For the Ford mobile charger that comes with the car, it’s not been common for charging errors ons 120v plug. However, using the NEMA 14-50 240V plug, it’s been a common scenario that it starts to overheat after, maybe, a year’s worth of use. In that scenario, it overheats, the amber light starts flashing slow until it cools down and then it keeps charging. I’ve had that. It will still charge overnight, just more slowly.

 

[cheerioboy26]

Anything else plugged into the circuit that could kick on and cause an issue? My brother had to unplug his refrigerator in the garage

 

[ChrisO]

Anything else plugged into the circuit that could kick on and cause an issue? My brother had to unplug his refrigerator in the garage

I echo this concern, and more.

I was using the Ford mobile charger on 120v at the start and then was having problems.
The first thing to understand is that it will pull almost the max of that circuit, so it is VERY important that nothing else is on that circuit.

In my case I thought I was good because nothing was plugged in to the one outlet in my garage. But I came to find out the garage door was on the same circuit.

Not only that I noticed some burnt spots on the outlet. I pulled out the outlet and found some burning around the wires.

Bottom line is that using a 120V outlet can be more dangerous than using a dedicated 240V circuit.

In my case, since I knew that there was more than one thing on the circuit and I would have to add a new circuit anyways, adding a dedicated 240V circuit for charging was a no brainer.

 

[RickMachE]

Orange light when there is a charging errors. Blue light when functioning properly. Yes, charges fine after unplug/repugnant cycle(s). Sometimes it shows error immediately, and sometimes mid-charge...which is the worst, because I miss out on overnight charges. Thanks!

Unplug, examine the outlet. Remove pigtail, examine connectors. Plug pigtail back in, ensuring it is all the way in. Retry.

 

[Tampamike]

Unplug, examine the outlet. Remove pigtail, examine connectors. Plug pigtail back in, ensuring it is all the way in. Retry.

I’ll echo Rick on the pigtail. Make sure it is all the way in the charger block. If you haven’t experienced it yet, it can look fully inserted when it is not. Make sure you push it with good force until it seats fully. You will feel it click in.

 

[4sallypat]

Put a fan on the charger as any warm temps will cause the flaky mobile charger to fault.

Also, check ground connection - that usually causes a fault.

Or better yet, just get a real EVSE...

 

[McQueen]

Anything else plugged into the circuit that could kick on and cause an issue? My brother had to unplug his refrigerator in the garage

When you get the "Charging Error" alert and go to the car, is it nonetheless still charging (i.e., the blue oval still is blinking in the correct quadrant)? I still get them occasionally now, but without any amber discolored oval or interruption of the charging. I've come to the conclusion, in my case (and IMO), that it's not the car or the Ford supplied mobile charger I've been using exclusively since July 2024; but the circuit being over-taxed and experiencing a drop in voltage(?).

 

[Dnwhite13]

Wow! This forum is great! Practical advice and no b.s. Thank you all.
My issue is definitely with my circuit having a freezer on it. I will be moving forward with plans to run 240v to the carport and get a "real" charger.
BTW, we love our Mach E!

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