Octopus Go..Waste of time??

[mj224]

Octopus Go does not do it for me..

I have an EO Mini Pro 2 home charger, which was installed by Octopus 3 years ago. But the tariff only allows 4 hours cheap (9p/kw) charging for my MG ZS EV.

The Intelligent Octopus Go is not available for the charger I have.

The 12:30- 04:30 cheap rate timing is not good for the car, but useful for dishwashers etc. My workaround is to stay up late on the nights/mornings when I want to charge the car, and switch on the charger manually. Not that I am bothered, but it thus does a 100% charge and balance.

Firstly, the 9p/kw is not the cheapest around, secondly, 4 hours is a bit mean, and thirdly, the times are not friendly to me without some automation in timers. Kitchen appliances all have timers, but the car charger does not...

What has brought this on, was that looking at my recent electricity bill, the cheap rate accounted for less than 10% of the total amount. I have considered a home battery, but this is a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

So maybe a change in fuel suppliers is coming. Or any other good ideas welcome...

 

[mystreet]

Have you the EO Smart Home App?

In there, you set the off peak charging time, works every time for me.

 

[mj224]

I do, but it has never worked for me due to thick walls blocking the internet.

But I might be able to fix that, thanks for the info...

Right...

First fall is that the QR code on the EO Charger has faded, so unusable.

The App says use the Smart home hub. I assume that to be the router/wifi. Having scanned that, the message is invalid code.

I have contacted the EO people and have left a message. so awaiting a reply from them...

 

[Robf]

I do, but it has never worked for me due to thick walls blocking the internet.

But I might be able to fix that, thanks for the info...

Mine works perfectly too.

Kitchen appliances all have timers, but the car charger does not...
Why are you not using the car timer if the app doesnt work for you?

 

[mj224]

Aaah, I did not know that the car had a timer.

I will look it up min the manual. The car is the ZS EV Mk1...

Thanks for that...

 

[mystreet]

Aaah, I did not know that the car had a timer.

I will look it up min the manual. The car is the ZS EV Mk1...

Thanks for that...

No timer in the mk1

 

[mj224]

Yes, just read the manual, no mention of that...

Never mind, I will await the EO people for advice, and maybe a new QR code.....

 

[mystreet]

Right...

First fall is that the QR code on the EO Charger has faded, so unusable.

If you search for WiFi near the charger, look for a WiFi EO-miniNNNNNN

The NNNNNN is the charger serial number EM-NNNNN. May help the help desk

 

[mj224]

If you search for WiFi near the charger, look for a WiFi EO-miniNNNNNN

The NNNNNN is the charger serial number EM-NNNNN. May help the help desk

Many thanks. Will try...

 

[pjmmk]

Dunno if it affects the version 2 unit but the original EO Mini Pro is no longer supported. They switched off the servers so it can no longer connect. It now only works as a dumb charger so the app is useless. You have to control it from the car.
I have one just a few years old and I'm really annoyed about this, but there's nothing you can do apart from replacing the charger with a new one. I won't be going with EO again, that's for sure,

 

[FormerOctavia]

Have you the EO Smart Home App?

In there, you set the off peak charging time, works every time for me.

Probably worth getting a new charger, a bit galling I know, but the install should be easy as the wiring will all be in place

 

[jollyman]

Octopus Go does not do it for me..

I have an EO Mini Pro 2 home charger, which was installed by Octopus 3 years ago. But the tariff only allows 4 hours cheap (9p/kw) charging for my MG ZS EV.

The Intelligent Octopus Go is not available for the charger I have.

The 12:30- 04:30 cheap rate timing is not good for the car, but useful for dishwashers etc. My workaround is to stay up late on the nights/mornings when I want to charge the car, and switch on the charger manually. Not that I am bothered, but it thus does a 100% charge and balance.

Firstly, the 9p/kw is not the cheapest around, secondly, 4 hours is a bit mean, and thirdly, the times are not friendly to me without some automation in timers. Kitchen appliances all have timers, but the car charger does not...

What has brought this on, was that looking at my recent electricity bill, the cheap rate accounted for less than 10% of the total amount. I have considered a home battery, but this is a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

So maybe a change in fuel suppliers is coming. Or any other good ideas welcome...

The car does have scheduled charging I use it all the time on octopus go

 

[mj224]

The car does have scheduled charging I use it all the time on octopus go

I cannot find anything in the handbook about scheduled charging.

The car is the MG ZS EV mk1, I have owned it for 3 1/2 years. Great car as far as I am concerned. Just a bugger to get up and switch on charging at midnight...

Nonetheless, there is an app for my EO charger, a Mini Pro 2, but the QR code has faded, so I cannot use the app. EO Chargers in Tomo House, Stowmarket won't answer my emails, and block any phone contact with Support.

Now considering replacement of the charger....

 

[Scoobydoo]

Hi mj224, I have the exact same charger and am on the same Octopus tariff. Cheap rate is 00:30 to 04:30. It took a while for them to setup but works fine, saves a lot of money. I have the 2022 ZS facelift. Scheduled charging setup via MG app.

 

[mj224]

Many thanks for the info. My problem is that EO won't help me set up the charger, they won't answer email and phone won't help. It is now a dump v]charger, which means I have to switch it on at 12:30 am to get the best rates.

I am pricing up replacing the charger with one that can be programmed. Gonna cost I know, but will be much more convenient...

Mj

 

[pjmmk]

I'm in exactly the same boat, I'm not paying through the nose to replace my charger till it stops working completely though. The car's perfectly capable of handling its own charge via a dumb charger.

 

[mystreet]

Many thanks for the info. My problem is that EO won't help me set up the charger, they won't answer email and phone won't help. It is now a dump v]charger, which means I have to switch it on at 12:30 am to get the best rates.

I am pricing up replacing the charger with one that can be programmed. Gonna cost I know, but will be much more convenient...

Mj

Why not look at seeing if you can add a rolec mod to it so that you can switch it bypassing the EO App

 

[adiel]

Many thanks for the info. My problem is that EO won't help me set up the charger, they won't answer email and phone won't help. It is now a dump v]charger, which means I have to switch it on at 12:30 am to get the best rates.

I am pricing up replacing the charger with one that can be programmed. Gonna cost I know, but will be much more convenient...

Mj

Might be worth looking at an Ohme or other Intelligent Octopus Go compatible charger as a replacement as you would then qualify for 6 hours at 7.5p between 23:30 and 5:30am the following day. Our charger outputs 41 kWh during the 6-hour window which provides us with 140 to 160 miles of range for just over £3. Savings from having the extra 2 hours off-peak period and cheaper rate for EV charging and household electricity consumption may cover a large portion of the cost of the new charger over time.

 

[mj224]

Why not look at seeing if you can add a rolec mod to it so that you can switch it bypassing the EO App

Gosh, sounds a good idea, but alas I am not a competent electrician. Thanks for the research...

MJ

Might be worth looking at an Ohme or other Intelligent Octopus Go compatible charger as a replacement as you would then qualify for 6 hours at 7.5p between 23:30 and 5:30am the following day. Our charger outputs 41 kWh during the 6-hour window which provides us with 140 to 160 miles of range for just over £3. Savings from having the extra 2 hours off-peak period and cheaper rate for EV charging and household electricity consumption may cover a large portion of the cost of the new charger over time.

Yes, I will be looking at these. Many thanks for the reply...

 

[DBedford]

Octopus Go does not do it for me..

I have an EO Mini Pro 2 home charger, which was installed by Octopus 3 years ago. But the tariff only allows 4 hours cheap (9p/kw) charging for my MG ZS EV.

The Intelligent Octopus Go is not available for the charger I have.

The 12:30- 04:30 cheap rate timing is not good for the car, but useful for dishwashers etc. My workaround is to stay up late on the nights/mornings when I want to charge the car, and switch on the charger manually. Not that I am bothered, but it thus does a 100% charge and balance.

Firstly, the 9p/kw is not the cheapest around, secondly, 4 hours is a bit mean, and thirdly, the times are not friendly to me without some automation in timers. Kitchen appliances all have timers, but the car charger does not...

What has brought this on, was that looking at my recent electricity bill, the cheap rate accounted for less than 10% of the total amount. I have considered a home battery, but this is a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

So maybe a change in fuel suppliers is coming. Or any other good ideas welcome...

Have you tried the Hive app?