Home Level 2 Charger Issues

[Shayne]

This type of troubleshooting that owners have been doing just to get the very basics of an EV working is most likely not what most thought we were buying into. Who cares if paak does not work when they gave you a fob. I think anyone that has owned this vehicle now for 2 months knows the state of the software when they got it. I have to say it has gotten better in 2 months (1.5) for sure. Now just throw a switch and get peoples home charging working like it should so they can get back to the good about this vehicle and start to enjoy it not troubleshoot it.

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[CHeil402]

I saw some reference to smart meters, Are there any advanced consumer side designs that allow the power company to signal to the end user device itself, when it is okay to charge? Could Ford have built some kind of advanced feature like that into the software, where it thinks the utility is saying, it is not okay to charge now? If that were the case, maybe Illinois is doing some preliminary implementation, but the system is not functional yet (wild guess territory). Or, Illinois is using the system, and Ford coded the feature wrong.

There is a smart grid demand response implemented in some places and on some appliances that does just this... however, I would have to believe that it would also apply to 120 V charging. Although now that I think of it, supposedly 120 V charging ignores charge scheduling. ?

https://www.energy.gov/oe/activitie...-modernization-and-smart-grid/demand-response

 

[prius2pony]

The day I got my car home (the day after my HomeFlex was installed), it all worked. Next charge attempt was 10 days later—no luck for several days. I followed one poster’s recommendation: plug the mobille charger in to 120v, then try again with the HomeFlex. Some voodoo, but it worked! 10 days have passed, and I tried to charge today- no luck. Did fine at 3 different public chargers near home, but not working at home, even after multiple changes to schedule & eliminating schedule. Tomorrow, I’m going to try that mobile charger thing again. I do chalk All this up to MME software bug, and look forward to a fix coming- soon, I hope!

Well, crap. Tackling the project today...plugging the mobile charger into my garage 120v outlet, everything works fine. Still can’t get the car To take a charge from the HomeFlex. :-(

 

[prius2pony]

For those with chargepoint flex, most likely set to 40A (50A outlet) or 48A (hardwired). If not working (especially Illinois), using the smartphone chargepoint App, it might be worth re-configuring the chargepoint flex for a 20A circuit breaker just to see if that works (16A charging). The configuration options only show in the App when the charge plug is in the wall station, otherwise they are greyed out.

The 20A chargepoint flex station setting is only a software setting that limits the charge current the MME can ask for to 16A (by the pilot signal from chargepoint flex to MME), and does not need any wiring changes. To see the 20A option, select hardwired. It does no matter if you are using a 50A receptacle for this test.

Also, for those chargepoint flex that work occasionally, or not at all, (especially outside of Illinois) double check that you did not accidentally turn on scheduling on the chargepoint app (unlikely, just another thing to double check).

I thought I’d give this a try today, but my plugged-in ChargePoint HomeFlex configurations only offer 40A or 50A breaker choices. No 20A breaker choice available. (Yes, the charger is docked in the wall unit.).

 

[generaltso]

I thought I’d give this a try today, but my plugged-in ChargePoint HomeFlex configurations only offer 40A or 50A breaker choices. No 20A breaker choice available. (Yes, the charger is docked in the wall unit.).

Just change the Power Source in the app to hard-wired and it will allow you to change the breaker to 20A.

 

[prius2pony]

Well, crap. Tackling the project today...plugging the mobile charger into my garage 120v outlet, everything works fine. Still can’t get the car To take a charge from the HomeFlex. :-(

UPDATE: Minutes after writing this, the other MME owner in my neighborhood contacted me to say his dealer (different than mine--still in NW chicago suburbs) was at his home with a regional tech from Ford, checking out his issues with all the same equipment I’ve got. The tech was downloading diagnostics while connecting mobile charger at 120 & 240, and also his HomeFlex. They invited me to bring my car over and did all the diagnostics on mine as well. Ford tech said theyre focused on some aspect of the ComEd grid supply to homes in the region, and are working to adjust how the car balks at 240 charging (though it will sporadically work at times). Well, we did our part for science. It’s frustrating for me, but I’m retired- my neighbor has a substantial commute and has to dc fast charge away from home a few times a week.

 

[louibluey]

I thought I’d give this a try today, but my plugged-in ChargePoint HomeFlex configurations only offer 40A or 50A breaker choices. No 20A breaker choice available. (Yes, the charger is docked in the wall unit.).

Just change the Power Source in the app to hard-wired and it will allow you to change the breaker to 20A.

yes, later if you get a minute, please try the 20A setting, just select hardwired first. It does not matter if you are plugged into a 50A outlet. The 20A circuit breaker will just prevent MME from asking for more than 16A.

First report said No/Go, but it would be great to get another data point.

 

[Curt]

UPDATE: Minutes after writing this, the other MME owner in my neighborhood contacted me to say his dealer (different than mine--still in NW chicago suburbs) was at his home with a regional tech from Ford, checking out his issues with all the same equipment I’ve got. The tech was downloading diagnostics while connecting mobile charger at 120 & 240, and also his HomeFlex. They invited me to bring my car over and did all the diagnostics on mine as well. Ford tech said theyre focused on some aspect of the ComEd grid supply to homes in the region, and are working to adjust how the car balks at 240 charging (though it will sporadically work at times). Well, we did our part for science. It’s frustrating for me, but I’m retired- my neighbor has a substantial commute and has to dc fast charge away from home a few times a week.

Glad someone is getting some response. I hope they know the issue is beyond ComEd as there are others in Florida, Colorado, Maryland having the exact same issues. Crossing fingers that a software update fixes this issue magically because I'm at ground zero with my dealer.

 

[louibluey]

There is quite a bit out there on "demand side management" (see previous @CHeil402 post), including states on the previous list. In some versions, the power company can shut off 240V devices as controlled by the power company. However, there is usually a specially equipped device, or a separate power company installed switch.

Still a long shot, but if Ford implemented a demand side management receiver "switch" either by design, or by accident, it should only be OFF during certain periods of the day and/or during times of high demand.

Has anyone affected tried to charge, starting at say 1am, 2am or maybe 4am?

 

[eStang]

I decided to try 240V (ChargePoint HomeFlex) today at 1 PM Central (Glenview IL) and... It worked. And has been working since. At 8:30 PM My car just hit 100% and ramped down to zero draw, as observed in the ChargePoint app.

I'm encouraged, however I have no idea what, if anything, has changed. The main coincidence is that I also had a period of successful charging last week on Thursday at roughly 1-4 pm (when I took the car off the charger to go drive, so maybe it would have kept working until 8:30 then too).

 

[Ponypower50]

Holy cow! My FE is charging on 240 volts with the Grizzl e for the first time. With the update to the Ford Pass last night that must have changed the app to allow me to charge.

 

[Garbone]

Holy cow! My FE is charging on 240 volts with the Grizzl e for the first time. With the update to the Ford Pass last night that must have changed the app to allow me to charge.

Mine did not trip my Grizzl-E red last night. I had been consistently doing so 20 minutes into charging, I would reset the Grizzl-E and all would be fine. Waited for "Plugged in but not charging" last night but it never happened.

 

[prius2pony]

yes, later if you get a minute, please try the 20A setting, just select hardwired first. It does not matter if you are plugged into a 50A outlet. The 20A circuit breaker will just prevent MME from asking for more than 16A.

First report said No/Go, but it would be great to get another data point.

I’ll try that when I get home. Right now, I’m charging at my dealer.
im also going to keep trying at different times of day as other posters suggested. I’ve experimented with as late as 9:30p and as early as 5:30p, but I’m also guessing there are too many variables for a lucky event to occur at the same time every day (?)

 

[Ponypower50]

Update, 5:00 pm Friday, Got home and plugged in the 240 Grizzl e charger and it is working great. I am thinking my problem was the Ford App. Currently I have the car set to charge Monday thru Friday from 1:00 am to 11:00pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. (I set the schedule up in the car and not from the App) I will keep everyone posted as to what happens over the weekend.
Thanks

 

[Rumin8Raps]

Update -
I checked the Ford pass app and noticed that an OTA software update had been completed on the car.

Also saw there was an app update. Updated that....

Charging STILL won't work. Shows plugged in but not charging. And the charge to 100% button is still greyed out.

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