Unlocking Charging Port using J1772 plug

[Vintre]

Hello All,

I picked up my M3 on June 10, 2018 and VIN is 24,xxx. Running version 44.2 software.

I am going to do my best to describe what I am experiencing. This has been like this since I got the vehicle.

I am fortunate enough to charge at home and at work using Level 2 chargers. Both use the J1772 plug and I attach the Tesla converter. All the charging works well.

At work, my procedure is to open the driver rear door (that wakes up the car) and I push the release button on top of the J1772 plug. That immediately stops the charging and unlocks the charging port. I then remove the charger, door closes, etc.

However, at home it doesn't work that way. At home, I again, open the driver rear door to wake up the car and when I push the release button on top of the J1772 plug, the charge port stays locked. I have to get in the car or use the mobile app to unlock the port.

I would really like my home charger to behave like the work charger does.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Sincerley,

Vin

 

[Eno Deb]

Sounds like the release button in your J1772 connector at home isn't working properly (it's supposed to change the resistance of the PP circuit which allows the car to detect the button press and disengage). What kind of EVSE is it?

 

[Vintre]

Sounds like the release button in your J1772 connector at home isn't working properly (it's supposed to change the resistance of the PP circuit which allows the car to detect the button press and disengage). What kind of EVSE is it?

It is a Schneider Electric EVLink.

Any idea how to check that?

Thanks,

Vin

 

[Eno Deb]

It is a Schneider Electric EVLink.

Any idea how to check that?

If you have a multimeter you can disconnect the EVSE from power and measure the resistance between PP (pin 5) and Ground (pin 3). The resistance should drop by 330 Ohm when you press the button.

 

[Vintre]

If you have a multimeter you can disconnect the EVSE from power and measure the resistance between PP (pin 5) and Ground (pin 3). The resistance should drop by 330 Ohm when you press the button.

I do. I will check that tonight.

Thanks,

Vin

 

[Eno Deb]

I do. I will check that tonight.

Now that I think about it there may be an easier explanation: if you try to unplug the connector while the car is in sleep mode, it will not work. This is a known issue. Perhaps in your case that happens only at home (e.g. because the charging at work doesn't complete before you get back to the car). The only solution to this is to do something that wakes up the car (pressing a door handle or opening the app on your phone).

 

[Vintre]

Now that I think about it there may be an easier explanation.........The only solution to this is to do something that wakes up the car (pressing a door handle or opening the app on your phone).

Yes, I thought about that too.

That is why I open the driver rear door each time, to wake the car up.

Thanks again for the help.

Vin

 

[cpa]

Have you tried unlocking the charge port from either the touchscreen or your phone app? That has always worked for me, especially when I would fumble around to disconnect the J1772 plug at public charging stations and would stupidly leave the adapter stuck in the charge port.

 

[Stellavator]

Oh, this is such helpful information!

I have a JuiceBox J1772 charger at home, and use a ChargePiont J1772 at work. I don't use the Tesla charger unless I am traveling and need it.

Manual says you can push the button on the Tesla charger to stop and remove charger. But no mention of how to stop and unlock from the handle of the non-tesla charger. Only option, I thought, is to use the app, or the screen in the car.

Question: So is it acceptable method to press the latch on the J1772 handle, that attaches it to the Tesla charging adapter, as a method of stopping the charge and releasing the charge port lock? You would then disconnect the charger handle, and then have to take out the adapter.

 

[Eno Deb]

Question: So is it acceptable method to press the latch on the J1772 handle, that attaches it to the Tesla charging adapter, as a method of stopping the charge and releasing the charge port lock? You would then disconnect the charger handle, and then have to take out the adapter.

Yes, using the button is the best way to stop the charging and unlock the adapter (with the caveat that it only works as long as the car hasn't gone to sleep mode if the charging has already finished, otherwise you first have to wake up the car). The best method is to push the button to stop the charging, then release the button again to re-latch it to the adapter, and pull out the adapter with the plug (pulling out the adapter by itself is cumbersome).

 

[Stellavator]

Yes, using the button is the best way to stop the charging and unlock the adapter (with the caveat that it only works as long as the car hasn't gone to sleep mode if the charging has already finished, otherwise you first have to wake up the car). The best method is to push the button to stop the charging, then release the button again to re-latch it to the adapter, and pull out the adapter with the plug (pulling out the adapter by itself is cumbersome).

Very cool, thanks! So, how does pressing the non-tesla charger latch discontinue charging? Is it possible to do damage if the car is charging when you do this, or does it somehow stop charging? Is this a universal/standard function?

 

[Eno Deb]

Very cool, thanks! So, how does pressing the non-tesla charger latch discontinue charging? Is it possible to do damage if the car is charging when you do this, or does it somehow stop charging? Is this a universal/standard function?

Pushing the button stops the charging. The button closes a contact inside the plug which the car can detect (if it's awake).

 

[eprosenx]

Very cool, thanks! So, how does pressing the non-tesla charger latch discontinue charging? Is it possible to do damage if the car is charging when you do this, or does it somehow stop charging? Is this a universal/standard function?

It is safe and won’t damage anything. While J1772 does not lock in the connector like Tesla does, it Dow’s have a button for signaling to the car to stop pulling current so it can be safely disconnected.

Note that I have had the M3 close the charge port on the Tesla J1772 adapter and also lock the J1772 connector back into the car.

So for this reason, most recommend pushing the button on the J1772, then pulling out the adapter WITH the J1772 plug, and then don’t forget to remove the Tesla adapter from the J1772 station.

The charge port closing on the J1772 adapter is lame. Tesla should have thought a bit more about that when they decided we needed a motorized charging door.

I remain extremely skeptical. That thing is going to break. There is nothing wrong with a manual “gas flap” in my mind. (I do realize that the Tesla vision is automated supercharging probably where you don’t need to manually do anything - but I suspect the charge port cover is going to make my life miserable more often than it helps.

 

[Vintre]

If you have a multimeter you can disconnect the EVSE from power and measure the resistance between PP (pin 5) and Ground (pin 3). The resistance should drop by 330 Ohm when you press the button.

Ok, so I finally had some time to test this out.

With the EVSE unplugged, mulimeter set to 200K ohms, I got a reading of 145 Ohms.

When I pressed the release button, no change.

Vin

 

[davewill]

Ok, so I finally had some time to test this out.

With the EVSE unplugged, mulimeter set to 200K ohms, I got a reading of 145 Ohms.

When I pressed the release button, no change.

Vin

You've got either a broken switch or a broken wire/connection on the Proximity pin, then. I suppose it could also be a mechanical failure of the button, but if it still operates the latch, then probably not. It would be worth opening the J1772 handle to see what's up. You can test with the multimeter to find out where the problem is. Since the Proximity signal is low voltage, if it's a loose connection, a little wire and solder should be able to put it right. If it's a broken switch, you'd need to try and source a replacement. If you can't, then you might need a new handle. Unfortunately, a new handle is not a trivial fix. Landing the wires onto new pins requires special crimping tools and if it's done wrong, the connections will fail over time. An alternate would be to buy an entire plug and cable assembly.

Leaving it like this means that you're susceptible to arcing on the power pins if you unplug while the car is charging, so you really want to get it fixed.

P.S. Need I say that you should kill power to the EVSE before opening the handle?

 

[Vintre]

Hello All,

Follow up here. A personal Pet Peeve of mine is when threads are left open.

As Eno Deb and others have said, my charger handle was not working the way it was supposed to be.

I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me a replacement.

I installed it today and it works as it should! When I press the release button, the charge port on the car unlocks and I can remove the charger from the car.

Thanks to all for their help!

Sincerely,

Vin