Troubleshooting Common EV Charger Issues
In this guide, we take a look at some of the most common charger issues and how to resolve them.
Driving an electric vehicle comes with many great benefits, including a smaller environmental footprint and the potential for lower costs compared to gas-powered cars. However, just like any other technology, your EV charger may encounter issues, meaning you'll need to be able to troubleshoot and resolve them before you can get a charge.
Learning the ins and outs of your EV's charger is essential so you can resolve minor issues independently rather than calling a repair shop - if you commute to work or rely on your car to run daily errands, you can’t afford the downtime a non-charging battery will create.
In this guide, we will examine some common charger issues, what causes them, and how you can get back on the road as quickly as possible without calling for help.
Why Is My EV Charger Not Working?
Your EV charger can stop working for a few common reasons, so it can be helpful to have some basic knowledge of the different possibilities causing the problem. Here are a few places to start:
- The Charger: The issue could be with the charger itself. Check for lights, unusual sounds, or a lack of power.
- The Wiring: The wiring delivers power from your electrical panel to the EV charger, and it may be cracked, split, or broken.
- The Vehicle: There might be a software glitch, a compatibility issue, or a fault in the charging port.
- The Grid: If the grid is down or there are voltage fluctuations, your charger may fail to start.
Understanding which part of the system is causing the issue can help you troubleshoot more efficiently or know when to call in a pro.
Common EV Charger Problems and How to Fix Them
Learning how to troubleshoot charging issues can save you time and money, especially since many problems tend to be rather straightforward. Below are a few things you can do to start the troubleshooting process when your charger isn’t working:
EV Charger Isn’t Powering On:
If your EV charger is not powering on, here are a few things to do:
- Check for a Tripped Breaker: Check your circuit panel and make sure the breaker hasn’t been tripped.
- Look for Loose Wiring: Trace the wiring from your charger to the outlet and check for cracks or slices.
- Make Sure Your Outlet Is Working: Test the outlet by unplugging and resetting.
While these may seem overly easy and obvious, you would be surprised how many times these issues are the root of the problem.
Charger Is On, But the Car Isn’t Charging
If the charger is on but the electric vehicle isn’t charging, it means power is reaching the unit, but something is preventing the connection between the charger and the car, which can include:
- Communication Errors: Communication errors mean there’s a problem exchanging data needed to start or continue charging, often due to software glitches, compatibility issues, or a faulty connection.
Tip: Unplug or replug and see if that fixes loose connections or resets communications with your electric car.
- Connector Not Fully Connected: The charging plug isn’t entirely or securely inserted into the vehicle’s port, preventing proper electrical contact and stopping the charging process.
Tip: Remove and reinsert the connector firmly until it clicks into place.
- Scheduling Issue: This means the vehicle or charger is set to begin charging later, so even though everything is plugged in and powered, charging won’t start until the scheduled time.
Tip: Check your vehicle’s app, dashboard settings, or the charger’s app to see if a delayed charging schedule is active. If you need to charge immediately, turn off the schedule or select “Charge Now” to override it.
Understanding these common charging interruptions can save you time and frustration—and get you back on the road faster.
Slow Charging Speeds
Slow charging speeds can be very frustrating, but there are a few things you can do to get things moving:
- Correct Outlet: Ensure the charger is plugged into the proper outlet and that you get a good power supply. For example, if you use a Level 1 charger, be sure you’re using a 120V outlet. On the other hand, if you’re using a Level 2 charger, be sure you’re plugged into a 240V outlet.
Tip: Verify that your charger is plugged into an outlet with the correct voltage.
- Low Amperage Settings: Your battery settings can increase or decrease your amperage. Your charger might have defaulted to a lower power setting, often preventing circuit overload or sharing power with other devices.
Tip: Check your charger’s app or settings menu to see if the amperage is lower than your vehicle can handle. If it's safe for your circuit, increase the amp setting to speed up charging.
- Weather: Extreme cold affects the speed of your charger.
Tip: In extreme cold, move your vehicle to a warmer location, like a garage, and allow the battery to warm up before charging. Cold temperatures can significantly slow charging speed.
Small adjustments to your setup or environment can make a big difference in charging speed and overall EV performance.
Blinking or Flashing Lights on Charger
Unusual blinking patterns on your charger can indicate problems. Here is a breakdown of what different blinking colors and patterns mean:
- Solid Green: Charging is active
- Blinking Blue: Charger is in standby mode
- Red Flashing or Blinking: Signals a fault or error, such as a grounding problem, overheating, or a bad connection.
Recognizing what these blinking lights mean can help you quickly diagnose issues and avoid unnecessary downtime.
Error Codes Displayed on Charger or App
Error codes can be helpful when diagnosing what's happening with your charger if it’s not working. There are a couple of codes to know to help:
- Fault Detected: The general code indicates the battery isn’t charging properly.
- Ground Fault: The condition indicates that you're leaking electrical current, and the charger shuts down for safety reasons.
- Overcurrent: The battery is drawing more power than the system allows.
- Connector Error: The plug isn’t fully seated, which means it’s not making the connection completely.
- Temperature Warning: Charging has stopped because it’s too hot or cold.
Tip: Look up the specific error code in your charger’s app or manual for detailed troubleshooting steps. You can resolve many of these issues by unplugging, waiting a few seconds, and reconnecting the charger securely.
Learning to interpret error codes gives you a head start on fixing issues without waiting for tech support.
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