Voltec 240v EVSE Flashing Fault (!) Indicator

fishhawk · Jul 19, 2011

I bought a Voltec 240 EVSE from SPX and installed it mid-April. I use delayed charging, and generally the unit works fine, except on two occasions (first one about 6 weeks ago, and again tonight) the right indicator (!) is flashing red. According to the manual, this indicates a charge station fault. There were no messages in the car; the car's flashing green light was off, so as far as the car was concerned, it wasn't plugged in. I don't remember if the car beeped twice when I plugged it in when I got home tonight. I just happened to go into the garage later and discovered the blinking red light.

I unplugged the charge station from the car; the charge station flashing indicator went green. I plugged the J1772 connector back in, the Volt beeped twice, and the dash light started blinking. It's been an hour, and it still seems OK. I hope it works tonight, because the first time it happened I didn't catch it and ended up with just enough EV miles to get me to and from work.

Anyone know if there is something I should check? From the charge station manual, it says this is a charge station fault, and to reset the station at the circuit breaker. But all I had to do was unplug/re-plug the car, and it works. Makes me wonder if the charge station is about to fail. I did a self-install using 10-2 w/g on a separate circuit with a 20a breaker, so I think that should be OK. Nothing unusual was going on; in fact, it's about 10 degrees cooler today than it has been, nor is the garage as hot from our other car.

taminatorv · Jul 19, 2011

The same thing occasionally happens to our Volt with the ChargePoint CT500 EVSE, with the station displaying a GFCI fault. It left me with an uncharged battery for the morning. When I unplug it and plug it back in, it works fine. I called ChargePoint to ask about the it and they said it's a know problem with their EVSEs and Chevy Volts. They are working with GM to fix it.

In the meantime, I set the schedule to start charging at 11pm. I check on it before I go to bed.

fishhawk · Jul 19, 2011

Thanks. I would have thought a charge station fault would be a problem with the charging station, not the car. Yes, I will have to start checking on it before going to bed.

fishhawk · Aug 29, 2011

Just an update, in case others are experiencing this.

I had the same fault a couple of days ago. No messages in the car; it acted as if it got unplugged. Car had charged for a little while, adding about 7 miles. Simple unplugging/replugging the car fixed it.

Beginning to wonder if I have a defective 240v Voltec charge station.

solar_dave · Aug 29, 2011

I had my 240 charger fault once, the latch was not properly seated on the car connection. the LED flashlight was out and the car started charging, but later that day I checked and it was not charging. I wiggled the connector and could hear it "snap" closed. It started charging again. Now I always give it a little wiggle just to make sure.

fishhawk · Aug 29, 2011

Thanks. Maybe that's happening, but I'm always (usually) careful to make sure it "snaps". I'll be more careful, and see if the problem returns.

AgaaguV · Jan 31, 2013

I also have a self installed Voltec L2 charger. It's mounted outside and this morning I had a single red flashing led too, the light on the right side of the unit. There was some message on the dash regarding some charging error. I reset the Voltec breaker and re-seated the j1772 and it was green lights everywhere!

It was windy the night before? Perhaps it wasn't seated all the way. The charger handle was slightly warm indicating that the current was recently flowing due to the remote start I had initiated during breakfast. Perhaps it was a fluke?

fishhawk · Feb 1, 2013

I'd stay on top of this if I were you. Turns out my unit failed after 13 months, so I was out of warranty. I ended up getting a new one courtesy of my credit card warranty company, but it took several months and a lot of hassle (SPX couldn't product a document that made the credit card company happy it was not repairable). If I had called SPX and logged an issue, maybe SPX would have covered it.

So, if you are still in warranty, be sure to call SPX and tell them what you have experienced so it gets logged in their tech support database. That way, if it fails after a year, you can point back to that log and hopefully it will help you with a warranty replacement. Keep records of all your calls, and every time you have an error light.

Chevrolet Customer Svc · Feb 1, 2013

AgaaguV,

If it still occurs please call SPX and inform them. They may be able to assist with Tech Support.

-Ian Chevrolet Volt Customer Service

AZ-Volt · Feb 27, 2013

Thanks for the post. I have now had this happen twice on my #2 Voltec charger. Once about a month ago and again last evening. My #1 charger is now 1.5 years in use and never an issue. I will call and reports since this one is still under its one year warranty.

fishhawk · Feb 27, 2013

Does your #2 240v Voltec charge station have a black or red coiled cord? The reason I ask is I'm wondering if the failed units all have the same colored cord. I noticed when I compared my replacement to the one that failed, the cord was a different color, and the circuit board inside was also different (had a daugterboard in the middle instead of a potted module).

fishhawk · Feb 27, 2013

Rats.

I was hoping red cords were the ones failing, so my replacement would be "immune". Oh well, at least I know I can rebuild it using OpenEVSE if it ever fails.

Steverino, looks like you are a long way from Illinois

AZ-Volt · Feb 27, 2013

Update:

I spoke with SPX and logged my charger failure(s).

Ben, the service rep I spoke with, pointed out that my error indicator (solid right LED RED) indicates a bad connection.

Possibly a not fully engaged or dirty connection. Ben suggested I be sure both the plug and receptacle are clean and that I hear the click when engaged and the appropriate horn honk. I honestly don’t recall for sure hearing the honk. I could easily have not noticed that.

I did note that the manual for the charger only shows the reasons for BLINKING LEDS left or right and not the solid right one as was my case.

Chevrolet Customer Svc · Feb 27, 2013

AZ-Volt,
Have you tried charging since speaking with Ben?

-Ian Chevrolet Volt Customer Service

AZ-Volt · Feb 27, 2013

Actually I replugged in as soon as I discovered this issue this morning. Soon as I plugged back in it began charging normally. I took my Wife's Volt (she's working from home these days) and subsequently mine reached full charge about 3 hours later (checked via phone). So it may very well have been a less than solid plugin on my part the afternoon before. I hope!

Voltec 240v EVSE Flashing Fault (!) Indicator

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