Porsche Wall Charger Connect -- grounding error message

[Bay Area Taycan]

Has anyone experienced error messages regarding grounding problems with Porsche's EV charger? I purchased a system directly from the Porsche Online Store and had a Diamond Certified electrical contractor install the system. As soon as the system was powered up, I got a message that a grounding issue exists and that the system cannot be used. I have had my electrical system tested and there are no issues. Anyone have similar experiences?

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[daveo4EV]

can't say specifically - to date no one has reported this exact problem with a Porsche wall charger - but porsche's mobile charger (the PMC+/PMCC) are known to be very sensitive to ground issues with no clear resolution.

Porsche's EVSE's are not the best products - would recommend an alternative EVSE for EV happiness…

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...uide-to-the-porsche-evse-pmc-pmcc-pwcc.13886/

could also be a defect with your particular unit, but to diagnose that would require a replacement unit to install on your circuit.

the only way to diagnose something like this is with another device installed on the same circuit - if your electrician can't find the issue it's a strong indication the device itself might be at fault or the install process/procedure - but they are pretty simple - two hot voltage wires and a ground.

other EVSE's from other manufacturers seem less finicky than Porsche's offerings.

good luck and sympathies for your troubles.

 

[Bay Area Taycan]

Thanks. That seems to be Porsche's take. They tell me it could be the unit or it could be the electrical system in my house but since I used my own contractor to install Porsche basically says it's up to me to figure it out and fix. Customer service keeps transferring me to different departments and external parties. No one that I've spoken to within Porsche has any idea how they support their own products. Worst customer service experience of my life.

 

[daveo4EV]

Thanks. That seems to be Porsche's take. They tell me it could be the unit or it could be the electrical system in my house but since I used my own contractor to install Porsche basically says it's up to me to figure it out and fix. Customer service keeps transferring me to different departments and external parties. No one that I've spoken to within Porsche has any idea how they support their own products. Worst customer service experience of my life.

I'll humbly suggest another EVSE will install easily and have zero issues. There are a range of choices for $800 or less…some could be overnighted from Amazon and installed tomorrow.

 

[Tooney]

Complete lack of after-sale support by Porsche for its branded EVSEs is just one more reason not to buy Porsche EVSEs. Many forum posts about problems with the devices themselves in North America.

You are using the wrong EVSE. Get a different (non-Porsche) one.

Good review site for EVSEs: https://www.youtube.com/@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney

Something to check when selecting an EVSE - what after-sale support is available.
I have a Wallbox. Needed support when I first installed it, and later when my Taycan had an AC charging problem. Both times, good, fast telephone support from US-based Wallbox support reps.

 

[Grover]

I had the exact same problem complicated by the totally nonhelpful Porsche USA from whom I purchased the charger. I used Qmerit to get my electricians as was requested. They did a great job of installation. Only problem was the grounding error on initial turn on. Electrician was told to call Qmerit, which began the circular firing squad of Porsche USA, my Porsche dealer and Qmerit. Usually nobody called back. The charger was installed, uninstalled and boxed, reinstalled again by the electricians. Meanwhile Porsche USA wanted me to ship charger back to them at my expense for inspection after which perhaps (!) another replacement could be shipped.

The electricians and I kept saying to just send a replacement unit and we would see what the problem was. After 34 days (and daily phone calls and emails) of this a replacement was received, plugged in, and it worked! I hate to think how much this must have cost Qmerit in electrician fees when it would have been so simple to send a new unit and see.

In the interim I had to spend $83.68 buying electricity and taking several hours waiting time. This is the worst customer service I have seen perhaps ever. As I pointed out in the survey I was sent asking how my installation went. It was close to making me hate my new Taycan!

Fortunately the charger has worked flawlessly now for a month.

 

[DougFrisk]

Has anyone experienced error messages regarding grounding problems with Porsche's EV charger? I purchased a system directly from the Porsche Online Store and had a Diamond Certified electrical contractor install the system. As soon as the system was powered up, I got a message that a grounding issue exists and that the system cannot be used. I have had my electrical system tested and there are no issues. Anyone have similar experiences?

Looking at the manual for the wall charger, it uses 2 hots, and a ground wire (240 volt full phase), or one hot, one neutral and a ground (120 volt half phase).

There is a pair of DIP switches (labeled 2 in the photo) that configure the charger. First thing to check is to turn off the breaker to disconnect power, pop the cover and see if those switches are in the right configuration.

If 240 volt, switch 1 should be on, switch 2 should be off.

If 120 volt, both switches should be off.

If you look at the wires coming in, in a 120 volt config, the black wire should be connected to the terminal marked 1, the white wire should be going to the terminal marked 2 and the green or bare copper wire should be going to the ground terminal 3.

If it's a 240 volt setup, you should see two black wires, or a black and red wire going to the 1 and 2 terminals. The ground 3 should still be green or bare copper. (It's possible that there's a wire with a white jacket connected to one of them but it should be marked as hot. That's done by marking the end of the insulating jacket with a black marker or wrapped with black electrical tape.)

If the DIP switches are incorrect, or in a 120 volt system the hot and neutral are reversed, you'd potentially get the error message you've indicated.

The photos are from page 19 of the manual which can be found here:

Porsche Wall Charger Connect | PORSCHE SHOP

 

[r553]

OP do you have any friends in your local Porsche club might be able or willing to lend you a charger to see if is the charger or house wiring? Also the dealers are supposed to have a 240 volt socket in their shop to test charger issues like you are experiencing. Good luck. I switched to a Juicebox charger after the software update that reduced Porsche unit's charge rate. Good luck.

 

[daveo4EV]

OP do you have any friends in your local Porsche club might be able or willing to lend you a charger to see if is the charger or house wiring? Also the dealers are supposed to have a 240 volt socket in their shop to test charger issues like you are experiencing. Good luck. I switched to a Juicebox charger after the software update that reduced Porsche unit's charge rate. Good luck.

wall socket won't do it - Porsche Wall Charger is hardwired…

something like this however converts a "hardwired" EVSE to plug based - and would be useful for testing…

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084D28DTD/ref=twister_B08FXNQ1QB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[2P168S]

I had the same issue. I gave up and used another EVSE rather than devoting the time to resolve it.

This TSB mentions the ground fault interrupt circuits (GFCIs) can cause false positives for ground faults in the Porsche charging equipment. (Well that's not exactly what they say, but that's what it implies)

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10231403-0001.pdf

 

[Tooney]

I had the same issue. I gave up and used another EVSE rather than devoting the time to resolve it.

This TSB mentions the ground fault interrupt circuits (GFCIs) can cause false positives for ground faults in the Porsche charging equipment. (Well that's not exactly what they say, but that's what it implies)

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10231403-0001.pdf

That TSB - entitled 'Taycan: Troubleshooting Charging'
and described as

'documentation aims to assist Porsche Dealership service and support personnel with relevant and necessary information to assist customers with charging complaints'​

is mostly what to tell the customer about why there is nothing the dealer and Porsche can do, instead of how the dealer should troubleshoot problems with Porsche EVSEs.

 

[whitex]

Has anyone experienced error messages regarding grounding problems with Porsche's EV charger? I purchased a system directly from the Porsche Online Store and had a Diamond Certified electrical contractor install the system. As soon as the system was powered up, I got a message that a grounding issue exists and that the system cannot be used. I have had my electrical system tested and there are no issues. Anyone have similar experiences?

Was the message on the wall connector or in the car? Picture of the message?

 

[SteveTaycan101]

Has anyone experienced error messages regarding grounding problems with Porsche's EV charger? I purchased a system directly from the Porsche Online Store and had a Diamond Certified electrical contractor install the system. As soon as the system was powered up, I got a message that a grounding issue exists and that the system cannot be used. I have had my electrical system tested and there are no issues. Anyone have similar experiences?

Although I have had my Taycan and Porsche wall charger for 15 months, I experienced that same ground error last week (that was my first and only issue with the charger).. Just as I was about to call my electrician who installed my circuit and wall outlet, I tried unplugging the unit and reinserting the plug. That immediately cleared the error and I was able to charge.

 

[Bay Area Taycan]

Looking at the manual for the wall charger, it uses 2 hots, and a ground wire (240 volt full phase), or one hot, one neutral and a ground (120 volt half phase).

There is a pair of DIP switches (labeled 2 in the photo) that configure the charger. First thing to check is to turn off the breaker to disconnect power, pop the cover and see if those switches are in the right configuration.

If 240 volt, switch 1 should be on, switch 2 should be off.

If 120 volt, both switches should be off.

If you look at the wires coming in, in a 120 volt config, the black wire should be connected to the terminal marked 1, the white wire should be going to the terminal marked 2 and the green or bare copper wire should be going to the ground terminal 3.

If it's a 240 volt setup, you should see two black wires, or a black and red wire going to the 1 and 2 terminals. The ground 3 should still be green or bare copper. (It's possible that there's a wire with a white jacket connected to one of them but it should be marked as hot. That's done by marking the end of the insulating jacket with a black marker or wrapped with black electrical tape.)

If the DIP switches are incorrect, or in a 120 volt system the hot and neutral are reversed, you'd potentially get the error message you've indicated.

The photos are from page 19 of the manual which can be found here:

Porsche Wall Charger Connect | PORSCHE SHOP

thanks. this was one of the suggestions Porsche had. unfortunately it didn't work

 

[snstevens]

thanks. this was one of the suggestions Porsche had. unfortunately it didn't work

When a supplier ships me a defective product I will call and work with them to get a replacement. If they are a pain in the ass about it, or if they ask me to pay to ship them the defective device, then I tell them flat out that they are not going to be paid since I plan to contest the credit card charge - if they want the unit back they need to send me a FedEx or UPS label. In the meantime the device is going to be in my garage.

This works every time. Also, it reduces my stress level. They sure as hell aren't going to get to keep my money.

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