Issues with ChargePoint Flex

[BadgerGreg]

Well, I got the new WiFi router (WiFi 6, latest tech), and that didn't solve it. However, my data download/upload speeds are off the charts, so that's a positive thing! ChargePoint unit #3 is on the way via FedEx. Let's hope this solves the problem.

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[Texas-E]

Good luck with the 3rd one. I suppose there could be a flaw/unlucky, but it seems like something else is going on. Do you happen to know the software version you are on? Mine is 5.3.4.33 and was last updated on 5/25/21.

I probably have a bit of a different situation than you, but my wifi gateway/router is around 5 feet from my ChargePoint (through a wall). My UniFi home network has access points throughout my home, but I enabled wifi on my gateway/router for a couple of devices that it was closer to.

Long way to get to this, but if you have hotspot capabilities on your phone, have you thought about testing with it in close proximity to your ChargePoint? I suspect it will do the same thing, but it might be worth a try just to rule that out.

 

[BadgerGreg]

Long way to get to this, but if you have hotspot capabilities on your phone, have you thought about testing with it in close proximity to your ChargePoint? I suspect it will do the same thing, but it might be worth a try just to rule that out.

Good idea - I might try that option too.

 

[T_to the_A]

Gotta love this forum!
I am having the same problem with my ChargePoint Home Flex.
Charges just fine, no issues — but it dropped off the wifi 2 weeks ago.
I’ve tried resetting, power cycling, router unplugging etc.
Nothing.
Guess I’ll spend some time on the phone with a tech and hope for a miracle.

 

[BadgerGreg]

Gotta love this forum!
I am having the same problem with my ChargePoint Home Flex.
Charges just fine, no issues — but it dropped off the wifi 2 weeks ago.
I’ve tried resetting, power cycling, router unplugging etc.
Nothing.
Guess I’ll spend some time on the phone with a tech and hope for a miracle.

You and I can start a support group
I have to say the ChargePoint techs are easy to reach and very friendly. I thoroughly stumped them with my situation. Hopefully yours turns out better. If you have success, PLEASE post to this thread so I can follow in your footsteps.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Try changing your WiFi password to one that doesn't' have any special characters (try letters only). Sometimes poor programing will cause compatibility issues with certain special characters. Same may be true for your SSID if it has special characters.

Make sure the router is set up with separate 2.4 and 5 GHz SSIDs. Band steering can sometimes cause issues. Update the firmware on your router to the latest version and reboot it.

Last, make sure you have a clean RF environment between your garage and router. If you or your neighbor recently installed a wireless camera/doorbell that can crowd the spectrum. You might need to try switching channels.

My hunch is they changed the software a few weeks ago and created an incompatibility with your SSID or password after your charger updated itself. That or else there's a bad batch of units that all have the same issue (which I find less likely than a software bug).

I have a $20 basic 2.4 GHz router I use for WiFi testing, I've run into some issues where devices wouldn't connect to my main router but would connect to the cheap router. After much frustration turns it was because they didn't support a specific special character in my password. Removing that character from my password fixed the issue instantly.

 

[BadgerGreg]

Try changing your WiFi password to one that doesn't' have any special characters (try letters only). Sometimes poor programing will cause compatibility issues with certain special characters. Same may be true for your SSID if it has special characters.

Make sure the router is set up with separate 2.4 and 5 GHz SSIDs. Band steering can sometimes cause issues. Update the firmware on your router to the latest version and reboot it.

Last, make sure you have a clean RF environment between your garage and router. If you or your neighbor recently installed a wireless camera/doorbell that can crowd the spectrum. You might need to try switching channels.

My hunch is they changed the software a few weeks ago and created an incompatibility with your SSID or password after your charger updated itself. That or else there's a bad batch of units that all have the same issue (which I find less likely than a software bug).

I have a $20 basic 2.4 GHz router I use for WiFi testing, I've run into some issues where devices wouldn't connect to my main router but would connect to the cheap router. After much frustration turns it was because they didn't support a specific special character in my password. Removing that character from my password fixed the issue instantly.

Thanks for the advice. I tried all of the above and none of that worked. I also tried connecting to my iPhone's WiFi hotspot and that didn't work either. When I talked to the ChargePoint tech earlier in the week, she had mentioned that the firmware was recently updated; I wonder if that introduced the problem. Given that another forum member (above) is having a similar issue with similar timing, and that my problem has repeated itself with two separate routers, I'm beginning to think that this is a ChargePoint issue. I should have my next replacement unit in a day or two, so I'll post an update when it's installed...

 

[BadgerGreg]

Another update on my futile efforts: given my weaker WiFi signal in the garage, I purchased and installed a dual band (2.4 gHz / 5.0 gHz) WiFi 6 extender to boost the signal. Now getting an excellent signal in the garage. Sadly, as with all other attempts, no dice. (*sad trombone*)

But at least I have killer reception with great download speeds in the garage, so I have that going for me, which is nice. At least the MME has a better WiFi signal to attach to, making future OTAs a bit easier.

I think I'm done troubleshooting on my end. Thanks for all of your suggestions along the way! Now just going to wait for the replacement EVSE...

 

[BadgerGreg]

FINAL update: I received my second replacement unit from ChargePoint today and installed it this evening. It connected to my WiFi network and connected to my account on the first try (finally, a green ring)!

I'm obviously happy that ChargePoint was great to work with and was so quick to send out a first (and then second) replacement unit. On the other hand, I'm a bit spooked that I had two faulty units in a row. In any case, I'm staying loyal to ChargePoint due to their responsiveness and friendliness of their support staff.

 

[mfbrown]

FINAL update: I received my second replacement unit from ChargePoint today and installed it this evening. It connected to my WiFi network and connected to my account on the first try (finally, a green ring)!

I'm obviously happy that ChargePoint was great to work with and was so quick to send out a first (and then second) replacement unit. On the other hand, I'm a bit spooked that I had two faulty units in a row. In any case, I'm staying loyal to ChargePoint due to their responsiveness and friendliness of their support staff.

I have a ChargePoint Flex installed and it has been green for 3 months waiting for a car to plug in to! It did lose connection once (I came home and found it red), but I pulled the plug (not hardwired) and plugged it back in and it connected. Not sure I had to do that, but when in doubt it is always a good strategy! If only I had a car...

 

[timbop]

I'm staying loyal to ChargePoint due to their responsiveness and friendliness of their support staff.

These days that is a rare commodity, often forgotten among the desire to save every penny.

 

[scoopman]

FINAL update: I received my second replacement unit from ChargePoint today and installed it this evening. It connected to my WiFi network and connected to my account on the first try (finally, a green ring)!

I'm obviously happy that ChargePoint was great to work with and was so quick to send out a first (and then second) replacement unit. On the other hand, I'm a bit spooked that I had two faulty units in a row. In any case, I'm staying loyal to ChargePoint due to their responsiveness and friendliness of their support staff.

Glad this finally worked out for you -- that's really rare that you had two hardware failures. Glad you figured it out in the end .... and you got a new router and faster WiFi in your garage for all of the OTAs Ford is promising us we will eventually get!

 

[Glen]

FINAL update: I received my second replacement unit from ChargePoint today and installed it this evening. It connected to my WiFi network and connected to my account on the first try (finally, a green ring)!

I'm obviously happy that ChargePoint was great to work with and was so quick to send out a first (and then second) replacement unit. On the other hand, I'm a bit spooked that I had two faulty units in a row. In any case, I'm staying loyal to ChargePoint due to their responsiveness and friendliness of their support staff.

Very glad it worked out for you. Did you mount it to the block wall using anchors or tapcons? I have to mount mine onto a block wall myself. Thanks.

 

[BadgerGreg]

Very glad it worked out for you. Did you mount it to the block wall using anchors or tapcons? I have to mount mine onto a block wall myself. Thanks.

Tapcons; although I didn't install the original unit (an electrician did). I did the reinstalls myself, as that was much more straightforward.

 

[T_to the_A]

Finally got around to installing the replacement unit that ChargePoint sent me (ironically, they accidentally sent 2 of them, separately).
After a few relatively easy wire connections, mine fired right up, connected to WiFi and seems to be working flawlessly. Now off to FedEx to send them back my faulty one AND the extra they sent!

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