Problems with AC charging

[boychap]

Hi all. Just picked up a 2015 SEL Premium a few days ago. The first two nights, plugged in the car and charged as planned. Last night, despite plugging it in, the car would start charging and then stop on its own after a few minutes. The light would change from slow flashing green to yellow. Any thoughts? Is it my outlet? or some software problem with the car?

I don't have departure delay activated or anything...

 

[miimura]

Which EVSE are you using? The included 120V charge cord? Are there any lights illuminated on the EVSE? Are there any messages on the dashboard after it stops charging? Does the car still recognize that it is plugged in, as indicated by the plug icon on the dashboard?

 

[boychap]

I am just using the included 120V charge cord. The power and charging lights are illuminated on the EVSE. The dashboard says its still connected but not actively charging. Thanks for your thoughts. I'll unplug it and plug it back in and it'll charge for a couple minutes and then stop.

 

[JoulesThief]

How many miles showing in the lower right handcorner of the multi function indicator in the dashboard? Is the gas nozzle icon showing? I get a maximum of 126 to 129 miles range showing on mine, if I've been driving with AC and everything else off, and I am doing 5.5 kwh or better on the last recharge /electron fillup of the battery.

 

[dublectric]

You mentioned that the "Charging" light on the EVSE stays lit - do I assume correctly that even that LED will go out about a minute after the car's charge port LED turns yellow? If so, that sounds like exactly the same problem I was having with the Delphi EVSE:
http://www.myvwegolf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=482&start=0

My theory is that the line voltage is over some threshold. If you have the capability to measure the voltage at that outlet where you plug in the EVSE, can you tell us what it is? If my guess is right, I'd say it's on the high side of 120v.

I have some unsubstantiated speculation as to what might be happening there, but I won't bore you all with that.

 

[boychap]

I think my problem is exactly what you described. So no outlets are your home worked?

 

[JoulesThief]

I think my problem is exactly what you described. So no outlets are your home worked?

Borrow a volt meter, or in lieu of that, borrow a 25 foot 14 gauge extension cord, used by most folks in construction, and plug the extension in, then plug the ESEV unit into the extension, and then plug the handle into your car, and see if that makes it work. If it does, your voltage is high.

 

[boychap]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I plugged the Delphi EVSE into a 25 ft 14 gauge extension cord like you all suggested and... so far so good!

Can't wait for my level 2 to be installed in a couple weeks...

 

[JoulesThief]

You mentioned that the "Charging" light on the EVSE stays lit - do I assume correctly that even that LED will go out about a minute after the car's charge port LED turns yellow? If so, that sounds like exactly the same problem I was having with the Delphi EVSE:
http://www.myvwegolf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=482&start=0

My theory is that the line voltage is over some threshold. If you have the capability to measure the voltage at that outlet where you plug in the EVSE, can you tell us what it is? If my guess is right, I'd say it's on the high side of 120v.

I have some unsubstantiated speculation as to what might be happening there, but I won't bore you all with that.

Regulation Voltage on the Delphi PCS 15 trickle EVSE unit is 85-132V, I believe.

 

[miimura]

Regulation Voltage on the Delphi PCS 15 trickle EVSE unit is 85-132V, I believe.

I don't think the voltage tolerance of the Delphi EVSE makes much difference and I don't think it was even showing any error in the case described in this thread. If the car stopped charging, it was because of the voltage tolerance of the car's on-board charger.

 

[JoulesThief]

Regulation Voltage on the Delphi PCS 15 trickle EVSE unit is 85-132V, I believe.

I don't think the voltage tolerance of the Delphi EVSE makes much difference and I don't think it was even showing any error in the case described in this thread. If the car stopped charging, it was because of the voltage tolerance of the car's on-board charger.

If you'd be so kind as to put that into laymen's terms, what exactly the on-board charger would be having problems with that it is not charging. That the EVSE was passing through a voltage too high for the on board charger to accept, so it defaulted out? What is the regulation voltage, then, for the on board chargers?

 

[miimura]

Regulation Voltage on the Delphi PCS 15 trickle EVSE unit is 85-132V, I believe.

I don't think the voltage tolerance of the Delphi EVSE makes much difference and I don't think it was even showing any error in the case described in this thread. If the car stopped charging, it was because of the voltage tolerance of the car's on-board charger.

If you'd be so kind as to put that into laymen's terms, what exactly the on-board charger would be having problems with that it is not charging. That the EVSE was passing through a voltage too high for the on board charger to accept, so it defaulted out? What is the regulation voltage, then, for the on board chargers?

The EVSE is basically a safety relay to pass AC power through to the car. There are some circuits inside that have certain voltage requirements. The EVSE is also testing for proper grounding and proper signalling from the car. The two people who posted in this thread had a problem with the car charging for a short time and then stopping. There was no error indication on the EVSE.

The on-board charger is the device that is actually taking the AC power from the utility and rectifying it to the proper DC voltage and modulating the current to charge the battery. Those circuits and the processors and firmware controlling them have tolerances for what they consider to be proper input. The engineers may have figured that if the 120V power was outside of what they considered to be acceptable tolerance, they should make the car stop charging. IMHO, that kind of condition should trigger an error message display for the driver's benefit.

The people who have had this problem should report it to VW Customer Service with any data they have available. Also, if you have a digital utility meter that displays the voltage (mine does) and you think it reads high, you should call your utility and find out what their allowable service voltage range is. Anything in your house wiring will only lower the voltage available at an appliance or outlet, not raise it. So, if the car is seeing a high voltage, it's likely even higher at the meter.