Uk InstaVolt issue at 80%

[ct4s]

A weekend in Wales - great.
At Rhug Estate Shop and want to DC charge to 100% because of the lack of chargers in central and northern Wales.
However, no matter what I do, charging stops at 80%.
- Tried 3 machines, 4 credit cards, the app etc. Always stops at 80%.
- Car has DC on.
- Tried a profile to 100%.
- Phoned InstaVolt support.
Same issue each time.
GridServe a few weeks ago was flawless and went to 95% with no issues.

(Worth adding that the car was at 80%when I got to the charging station. Wanted to get to 100% due to lack of chargers over next 4 days.)

Any suggestions?
Car, user or InstVolt issue?

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[W1NGE]

A weekend in Wales - great.
At Rhug Estate Shop and want to DC charge to 100% because of the lack of chargers in central and northern Wales.
However, no matter what I do, charging stops at 80%.
- Tried 3 machines, 4 credit cards, the app etc. Always stops at 80%.
- Car has DC on.
- Tried a profile to 100%.
- Phoned InstaVolt support.
Same issue each time.
GridServe a few weeks ago was flawless and went to 95% with no issues.

(Worth adding that the car was at 80%when I got to the charging station. Wanted to get to 100% due to lack of chargers over next 4 days.)

Any suggestions?
Car, user or InstVolt issue?

The DC option is not related to DC (Direct Current) charging. The former relates to 'Direct Charge' and is relevant only when AC charging (to override any active Timers / Profiles which would limit the level of max charging).

Profiles and Timers are ignored when DC (Direct Current) charging and are only relevant when AC charging.

I believe there are 8 x 120kW DC EVSEs there but possibly some AC units too - did you use an AC unit by mistake (the timer / profile if active would have impacted but would have been overidden if Direct Charge was activated)?

Only restriction I can think of would be that Instavolt limit the maximum charge to be dispensed to no more than 80% of the available battery capacity.

 

[f1eng]

A weekend in Wales - great.
At Rhug Estate Shop and want to DC charge to 100% because of the lack of chargers in central and northern Wales.
However, no matter what I do, charging stops at 80%.
- Tried 3 machines, 4 credit cards, the app etc. Always stops at 80%.
- Car has DC on.
- Tried a profile to 100%.
- Phoned InstaVolt support.
Same issue each time.
GridServe a few weeks ago was flawless and went to 95% with no issues.

(Worth adding that the car was at 80%when I got to the charging station. Wanted to get to 100% due to lack of chargers over next 4 days.)

Any suggestions?
Car, user or InstVolt issue?

I stop there on my way to my daughter's house on Anglesey to get a good top up before the few chargers (fastest 50kW) on the island. I usually have lunch there and have always had over 80% by the time I leave the restaurant (though never 100% I haven't tried that).

I will be there next week and hope it isn't the chargers!

 

[ct4s]

The DC option is not related to DC (Direct Current) charging. The former relates to 'Direct Charge' and is relevant only when AC charging (to override any active Timers / Profiles which would limit the level of max charging).

Profiles and Timers are ignored when DC (Direct Current) charging and are only relevant when AC charging.

I believe there are 8 x 120kW DC EVSEs there but possibly some AC units too - did you use an AC unit by mistake (the timer / profile if active would have impacted but would have been overidden if Direct Charge was activated)?

Only restriction I can think of would be that Instavolt limit the maximum charge to be dispensed to no more than 80% of the available battery capacity.

Hi.
Definitely DC charger and DC socket on the car.
InstaVolt support even remote started a session, but that failed too.
Baffling.
Only my 2nd public charge, so frustrating and wasted 30 mins.

 

[ct4s]

 

[W1NGE]

Hmm potentially an issue with the charge port on the car. Try another DC EVSE at some point and charge to 100%. If that works then it may suggest an issue with Instavolt EVSE rather than the car.

 

[f1eng]

Hi.
Definitely DC charger and DC socket on the car.
InstaVolt support even remote started a session, but that failed too.
Baffling.
Only my 2nd public charge, so frustrating and wasted 30 mins.

I haven't charged away from home often either, but had no problem here.
The only real problem I had was my first attempt at an Ionity station which turned out to be due to my plug and charge not working, so I had to switch it off and use the rfid card - I think it had sort of timed out since I hadn't used plug and charge for months.

Anyway the person on the help line kept making sure somebody was pushing the connector well home and to try a different charge stand, so my guess is that poor connection for the handshake between charger and car can be a problem, whether this is worn connector or what I don't know. In fact that was not my problem but it probably often is based on the help line.

 

[Scandinavian]

Anyway the person on the help line kept making sure somebody was pushing the connector well home and to try a different charge stand, so my guess is that poor connection for the handshake between charger and car can be a problem, whether this is worn connector or what I don't know. In fact that was not my problem but it probably often is based on the help line.

That is a well known problems with the heavy charging cable with CCS2 connectors. There is always advice from Ionity to make sure the plug is well inserted and the communication contacts in the connector are well connected.

This advice is given by Ionity

Sounds easy but can be a two person job as you need to hold the plug firmly and at the same time tap your card on the card reader.

 

[f1eng]

That is a well known problems with the heavy charging cable with CCS2 connectors. There is always advice from Ionity to make sure the plug is well inserted and the communication contacts in the connector are well connected.

This advice is given by Ionity

Sounds easy but can be a two person job as you need to hold the plug firmly and at the same time tap your card on the card reader.

How very deeply unimpressive!

Didn't they test the connector design before making it a standard?

Wow

 

[W1NGE]

How very deeply unimpressive!

Didn't they test the connector design before making it a standard?

Wow

Not had this issue at Ionity yet. Sometimes a struggle to extract but not to insert and start charging.

 

[Scandinavian]

How very deeply unimpressive!

Didn't they test the connector design before making it a standard?

Wow

Guess they did the standard before we saw all of these High Power Chargers with liquid cooled cables. For instance Tesla Superchargers with 250 kW capacity, have very much lighter cables. And they do get a little warmer by the power delivery, but still not very hot. And the Tesla connectors do not show the same issue at all. Much lighter cables and connectors.

 

[f1eng]

Not had this issue at Ionity yet. Sometimes a struggle to extract but not to insert and start charging.

Indeed, that wasn't my problem either but from the response of the Ionity help line it is a common reason for a charge not to start.

 

[ct4s]

Thanks for your replies.
I made the return journey today, so thought I’d try again.
Thankfully, it charged perfectly first time ?
So, my best guess is that something in the car was stopping it charging once it go to 80%.
Today I was charging from a low percentage and only needed a small charge to get me home, so I have no idea if it would have stopped at 80% again.
I have a 270 mile drive on Tue, so fingers crossed it was a one-off quirk.

 

[f1eng]

I'll be there on Thursday getting "filled up" before visiting the barren (of very fast chargers) island of Anglesey.
I'll let you know if it stops at 80%, unless all posts taken I'll leave mine on charge until I have finished lunch, normally up around 90%.

 

[f1eng]

I’m at Rhug Instavolt now. It charged okay up to 85% then threw an error charging not possible. I don’t need more but in the past have got over 90% here without error. I am the only car on the charger

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