Charge Overrunning

[MelanieMoxon]

I use the scheduled charging on my Zappi to only charge between 00:30 and 05:30. However, I have noticed after a long drive it starts at the correct time but the car seems to be able to override the finish time until it reaches the battery %age desired (whether that is 80% for day to day or 100% for long distances) I checked the zappi app last week the day after getting back from Brighton, the battery was at around 30% ish when I got back and it had overrun by about an hour. You can see a dip in the charge at 05:30 where the charger started to ramp down and then it picked up again immediately.

I have tested the Zappi App stop button and that does halt any in progress charging. The charger is in eco+, it has the latest firmware and has been fine most of the year (odd occasion where it keeps charging but for the most part cut off at the correct time).

Somehow the car is able to get the charger to carry on (annoying as it goes from 8.5p to 29p or whatever the day rate is), has anybody else seen this and if so how did you fix it?

 

[Rolfe]

All I know is that my Zappi isn't doing this. I have no idea what I'm doing right. I don't have any scheduled charge set in the car though.

 

[MelanieMoxon]

I haven't set the charge schedule in the car, the charge schedule is set in the Zappi.

 

[Rolfe]

That's the same as me then. But I plug in when I get home, the car starts to charge at the set time, then stops at 05.30. I just ignore it (unless I actually need to take the car out), and it starts again the next evening and charges till it's done.

 

[MelanieMoxon]

That's the same as me then. But I plug in when I get home, the car starts to charge at the set time, then stops at 05.30. I just ignore it (unless I actually need to take the car out), and it starts again the next evening and charges till it's done.

That is what it used to do.

 

[Rolfe]

You might need to talk to people with LR batteries about this, because it might be something to do with the ability to set the maximum charge in the app, which I don't have on the SR.

 

[Diggsy]

This is an odd one. Suggest you ask on the Myenergi forum. They’re very helpful and quick to respond

I have an SE SR and a Zappi and it never once has allowed the charge to continue beyond the scheduled time, regardless as to how much charge the battery has.

 

[APMG]

You might need to talk to people with LR batteries about this, because it might be something to do with the ability to set the maximum charge in the app, which I don't have on the SR.

Have you ever looked into the home assistant integration? I do wonder if they expose it in that but not in their app.

 

[Rolfe]

This is an odd one. Suggest you ask on the Myenergi forum. They’re very helpful and quick to respond

I have an SE SR and a Zappi and it never once has allowed the charge to continue beyond the scheduled time, regardless as to how much charge the battery has.

That's true. They've helped me a couple of times. Also, I had to call their helpline once, and the guy was really good.

Have you ever looked into the home assistant integration? I do wonder if they expose it in that but not in their app.

I haven't looked at that at all. I'm trying not to get into it in that sort of depth.

 

[APMG]

I haven't looked at that at all. I'm trying not to get into it in that sort of depth.

Yea my nerdy brain went down the rabbit hole now control it all via the home assistant app instead of the iSmart. The target SOC is what I have set to 80 or 100 for full. Really sucks they stopped the SE doing it

 

[Rolfe]

The SR, not the SE. The SE LR still does it because it has an NMC battery. The LFP battery in the SR really doesn't take significant harm by being charged to 100%, and it's more dependent on frequent balancing at 100% than the NMC is.

 

[APMG]

The SR, not the SE. The SE LR still does it because it has an NMC battery. The LFP battery in the SR really doesn't take significant harm by being charged to 100%, and it's more dependent on frequent balancing at 100% than the NMC is.

Ah yes of course makes sense

 

[Rolfe]

There's a guy with a YouTube channel trying to spin a line that LFP batteries should only be run between 30% and 50% (or something like that, maybe I'm exaggerating but it's pretty restrictive) and criticising manufacturers for advising owners to charge to 100%, but honestly, the battery is going to outlast the car as it is, why put yourself through that?

 

[Jomarkh]

I use the scheduled charging on my Zappi to only charge between 00:30 and 05:30. However, I have noticed after a long drive it starts at the correct time but the car seems to be able to override the finish time until it reaches the battery %age desired (whether that is 80% for day to day or 100% for long distances) I checked the zappi app last week the day after getting back from Brighton, the battery was at around 30% ish when I got back and it had overrun by about an hour. You can see a dip in the charge at 05:30 where the charger started to ramp down and then it picked up again immediately.

I have tested the Zappi App stop button and that does halt any in progress charging. The charger is in eco+, it has the latest firmware and has been fine most of the year (odd occasion where it keeps charging but for the most part cut off at the correct time).

Somehow the car is able to get the charger to carry on (annoying as it goes from 8.5p to 29p or whatever the day rate is), has anybody else seen this and if so how did you fix it?

Can you post a picture of your Zappi schedule?

 

[Tight Git]

OP - which tariff are you on?

 

[Ian Key]

As with most things electrical turn it off and on again. Turn the Zappi off at the fuse box then wait a couple of minutes before turning it back on again. This will force the Zappi to reboot as opposed to just restarting.

 

[pollenface]

There's a guy with a YouTube channel trying to spin a line that LFP batteries should only be run between 30% and 50% (or something like that, maybe I'm exaggerating but it's pretty restrictive) and criticising manufacturers for advising owners to charge to 100%, but honestly, the battery is going to outlast the car as it is, why put yourself through that?

I read an article a few months ago stating LFP is less stressed under 75% SOC. I will go hunting for the link....

Edit: this might be it

https://www.batterytechonline.com/ev-batteries/new-study-raises-questions-about-lfp-battery-charging-habits

 

[Rolfe]

It has a link to the video I mentioned, yes. Note the caveats that the actual magnitude of the effect may be relatively insignificant, and the video points out that the paper itself references another study that found the exact opposite.

 

[dawson2099]

OP - which tariff are you on?

I use ZAPPI with no issues - car set to 80% right now and no schedule - ZAPPI has no active schedule set - I'm on Octopus EV GO which only charges between 23.30-05.30 UNLESS there is spare capacity on the grid in which case it charges during the day (right now) at the off peak rate (7p). I'd suggest EV GO if you haven't already looked at it.

 

[Tight Git]

I use ZAPPI with no issues - car set to 80% right now and no schedule - ZAPPI has no active schedule set - I'm on Octopus EV GO which only charges between 23.30-05.30 UNLESS there is spare capacity on the grid in which case it charges during the day (right now) at the off peak rate (7p). I'd suggest EV GO if you haven't already looked at it.

I assume you mean Intelligent Octopus Go as those charging times are not for standard Go?

If you are on Intelligent the Zappi takes control of the timings depending on the % to add and finish time set on the Octopus app. No schedules should be set anywhere else or Octopus cannot control the charging time as required by them (setting a % max in the car is fine).