MG Chargehub Firmware

[Trooper]

Thanks @Trooper . Did you set up ChargeHQ to run in 'Start and Stop Card' or 'Billing Card' mode?
The Charge HQ doco (MG ChargeHub Configuration for EV Solar Charging) shows 'Billing Card' mode in the Picture, but states 'Start and Stop Card' in the text underneath.
If you use 'Start and Stop Card', can you override any Charge HQ settings by using the RFID cards?

Yes,“Start Stop Card” is the best of both worlds.

The ChargeHQ instructions did originally say “Billing Card”, but that would leave you unable to charge if for some reason the charger can’t reach the OCPP server to get the charge amps setting or schedule setting (e.g. if there’s a WiFi / internet / ChargeHQ outage).

But “Start & Stop Card” supports OCPP plus allows you to use the provided RFID cards if you wish, so when I found that worked I contacted ChargeHQ to let them know but I guess they just changed the text and not the screenshot.

(Edit: Just realised I said earlier “I do only use ChargeHQ for scheduling” .. but what I meant is I don’t use the iSMART app scheduler. I do also use ChargeHQ’s Solar Plan feature to vary the charge amps according to solar production ?)

 

[minniek]

I recently purchased a ZS EV Long Range and had the recommended 7kw MG charger installed at home. I plug in car when I arrive home at around 7pm and have scheduled charge time set for 10pm on car and in MG ismart app but the charge doesn't kick in at the scheduled time. Any hints on troubleshooting the issue please?

 

[Gadget Geek]

MG software can be a bit flakey. Use either the infotainment screen or the app, don't use both as that might confuse the car. Check that the charge limit on the battery screen is set above your current state of charge, or it won't charge.

Also, if you ever disengage scheduled charging, check the times set when you re-engage it. Mine shows the times I've set, but uses the default settings to start the charge. I have to reset the times to my off peak tariff.

 

[Lovemyev]

What do you have your upper charging level percentage set too ?.
Is it higher than the present charge level of the traction battery ??.
Use the head unit in the car to preset your required off peak times, rather than the phone App.
When you plug in the cable and lock the car, if you look through the drivers window, you should be able to see that a delayed charge has been requested on the screen.
The wall box may briefly indicate a green light, suggesting the car is charging straight away !.
But after about 30 seconds, the wall box will return to standby mode ( blue light ) and the lights in the charging port will go out, after another 30 seconds ( ish ).

 

[fred12345]

I recently purchased a ZS EV Long Range and had the recommended 7kw MG charger installed at home. I plug in car when I arrive home at around 7pm and have scheduled charge time set for 10pm on car and in MG ismart app but the charge doesn't kick in at the scheduled time. Any hints on troubleshooting the issue please?

what charger is it? can you set charging schedule on the charger and then you don't need to fiddle withe the car (I do it that way).

Another question, why start at 22:00, is that your off-peak tariff? Mine is from midnight to 5:00 and most others I know of are at about that time of the night too ... you don't have to plug every night unless you drive quite a lot and you should ideally charge up to 80% with LR
(EDIT: just realised you are in Australia so obviously different off-peak times...)

 

[minniek]

what charger is it? can you set charging schedule on the charger and then you don't need to fiddle withe the car (I do it that way).

Another question, why start at 22:00, is that your off-peak tariff? Mine is from midnight to 5:00 and most others I know of are at about that time of the night too ... you don't have to plug every night unless you drive quite a lot and you should ideally charge up to 80% with LR
(EDIT: just realised you are in Australia so obviously different off-peak times...)

Yes, off-peak is from 22:00. I drive 200kms a day to get to work and back so need to charge overnight.

The charger is an MG charge hub. https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws...u/mgmotor/charging-solutions/ChargeHubAU2.pdf

MG software can be a bit flakey. Use either the infotainment screen or the app, don't use both as that might confuse the car. Check that the charge limit on the battery screen is set above your current state of charge, or it won't charge.

Also, if you ever disengage scheduled charging, check the times set when you re-engage it. Mine shows the times I've set, but uses the default settings to start the charge. I have to reset the times to my off peak tariff.

I don't understand what you mean by the charge limit. I haven't seen anything like that.

Both the car and the ismart app show the same start and stop times. Just that the car won't start charging at the start time.

Originally I thought it was because the salesman still had his phone on 'bind' with the car. He 'unbinded' and I have now 'binded' with the car. I can do all the remote control functions via the app. It is just the Charging Management that isn't working.

What do you have your upper charging level percentage set too ?.
Is it higher than the present charge level of the traction battery ??.
Use the head unit in the car to preset your required off peak times, rather than the phone App.
When you plug in the cable and lock the car, if you look through the drivers window, you should be able to see that a delayed charge has been requested on the screen.
The wall box may briefly indicate a green light, suggesting the car is charging straight away !.
But after about 30 seconds, the wall box will return to standby mode ( blue light ) and the lights in the charging port will go out, after another 30 seconds ( ish ).

Would you mind sending me screenshots explaining what I'm looking for?

I haven't seen anything about an upper charging level on the car.

 

[fred12345]

Yes, off-peak is from 22:00. I drive 200kms a day to get to work and back so need to charge overnight.

The charger is an MG charge hub. https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws...u/mgmotor/charging-solutions/ChargeHubAU2.pdf

(maybe this could be joined to the other thread?)

see if you can find something here:

MG Chargehub Firmware

Hi all, Does anybody know of or have access to firmware updates for the MG Chargehub? I’m running 1.0.0.0.7b107 - is this the latest? Scheduled charging with my Chargehub/ZS EV simply doesn’t work properly, and through trial and error, I think it comes down to some kind of fault with the...

www.mgevs.com

 

[Alb]

(maybe this could be joined to the other thread?)

Good idea and now done

 

[Lovemyev]

Yes, off-peak is from 22:00. I drive 200kms a day to get to work and back so need to charge overnight.

The charger is an MG charge hub. https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws...u/mgmotor/charging-solutions/ChargeHubAU2.pdf


I don't understand what you mean by the charge limit. I haven't seen anything like that.

Both the car and the ismart app show the same start and stop times. Just that the car won't start charging at the start time.

Originally I thought it was because the salesman still had his phone on 'bind' with the car. He 'unbinded' and I have now 'binded' with the car. I can do all the remote control functions via the app. It is just the Charging Management that isn't working.


Would you mind sending me screenshots explaining what I'm looking for?

I haven't seen anything about an upper charging level on the car.

Have a look through this brief video that is intended for a MG4 but the system is pretty much the same on the ZS EV.
Set your charging times in the head unit and then turn off scheduled charging in the App.
Plug in the car, lock it and see what happens then.

 

[Trooper]

Anyone been brave enough to install the new firmware 2.1.0.8 for the MG Chargehub that appeared this month on the website? I'm sort of in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mindset as mine's working perfectly with scheduling and solar integration via ChargeHQ, but just curious to see what might have improved for anyone who previously had issues.

 

[callifo]

I have, not huge difference but I'm using my mine with Home Assistant. They have stuffed up the version number though... In the webpage it's shown as 1.1.0.8. It's good it's been released though as I bugged MG quite for a while for a new release and they originally told me May 2024, so September isn't bad.

• MG logo has returned after Starcharge appeared on the last update
• Fixed some unsupported messages. Previously one startup message would not be responded to and cause a timeout in the OCPP messages. Now the charger correctly responds despite still no support, 'Rejected'. Doesn't time out anymore.

Yet to see if it fixes my other many problems.

• Charging but indicating status as not charging (power consumption at meter shows power draw, as does vehicle)
• Says it's charging but not (no power consumption)
• Charging but supplying the wrong amount of power, e.g. set to 10A but drawing 11A.

I've got a lot of scripting built around monitoring the charger and applying corrective actions because it's so buggy. Time will tell if any of these have been fixed.

 

[Trooper]

Hmm, I don’t have those other issues so I think I might just leave it for now then in case it introduces unwanted behavior! Been stung before with that (Looking at you, Apple ? )

Yeah when looking inside the package and the assets folder, I noticed the MG logo was back, although not the original fancy scrolling backgrounds…
But the reason a seemingly minor thing like that bugged me when it was lost to generic Star Charge branding in the last update, was it showed MG made no effort to even look at that firmware before it was posted.

I don’t know if it’s SAIC being a closed vault and not sharing info freely with their various world markets, or just a lack of MG staff/resources… But their quality control and customer engagement is woeful compared to every other car brand I’ve owned.
I’ve had the car a year and they still haven’t released a simple fix or even responded to the local dealer about the broken steering wheel Star button settings? Seriously?
End rant.

 

[callifo]

I didn't mean to imply the issues above are from this firmware specifically, they have been present in the first two firmwares, hoping they are fixed this time ?

My charger gets a workout, when charging on solar, the charge rate is changed every 30 seconds to follow available solar.

 

[callifo]

After a couple of days, does look like a bit of a mess. Most prominent issue is you can't suspend the charger anymore.

Turn on charger, set to 6A, charge for a bit, then set to 0A. Previously charger would stay running but show status as SuspendedEVSE. Now, charger turns off, charger status changes to Finishing.

Charger is now stuck, cannot be restarted. Try and turn it back on, and 'Rejected!'

2024-09-10T15:13:33.771+0900 [ocpp] [cppipe.c: 269] <=CSMS:[2,"35fc1ae3-0eee-4a38-9331-5a2bc5041a77","RemoteStartTransaction",{"idTag":"P84ILODNV4E75VZFZJST","connectorId":1}]
2024-09-10T15:13:33+0900 [ocpp] 0xA803-Prepare Connector Error
2024-09-10T15:13:33+0900 [ocpp] 0xA807-RemoteStartTransaction status Rejected
2024-09-10T15:13:33.822+0900 [ocpp] [cpStatus.c: 512] **connector [1] has transaction already**
2024-09-10T15:13:33.874+0900 [ocpp] [cs2Ocpp_app.c: 1444] Prepare_Connector error!!!
2024-09-10T15:13:33.925+0900 [ocpp] [cppipe.c: 137] =>CSMS:[3,"35fc1ae3-0eee-4a38-9331-5a2bc5041a77",{"status":"Rejected"}]

Charger logs show it thinks its still got an existing transaction open. Only way to fix seems to be to turn the breaker off in the switchboard. No way to get the charger to recover. Even unplugging and replugging doesn't help.

Edit: Further note, downgrades do not seem possible... argh!

 

[Blacksmith]

I have tried to apply the 1.0.8 ? latest firmware update, it failed a couple of times, and i may have modified another setting in the process, and now I can't connect or login to the charger.
Is there a hardware reset available (like a modem) or do I have to try my luck with MG somehow?

 

[der]

I have, not huge difference but I'm using my mine with Home Assistant. They have stuffed up the version number though... In the webpage it's shown as 1.1.0.8. It's good it's been released though as I bugged MG quite for a while for a new release and they originally told me May 2024, so September isn't bad.

• MG logo has returned after Starcharge appeared on the last update
• Fixed some unsupported messages. Previously one startup message would not be responded to and cause a timeout in the OCPP messages. Now the charger correctly responds despite still no support, 'Rejected'. Doesn't time out anymore.

Yet to see if it fixes my other many problems.

• Charging but indicating status as not charging (power consumption at meter shows power draw, as does vehicle)
• Says it's charging but not (no power consumption)
• Charging but supplying the wrong amount of power, e.g. set to 10A but drawing 11A.

I've got a lot of scripting built around monitoring the charger and applying corrective actions because it's so buggy. Time will tell if any of these have been fixed.

can you please explain how you added it to HA? thanks

 

[callifo]

OCPP integration from HACS, setup OCPP server then point the charger at it

 

[Trooper]

Turn on charger, set to 6A, charge for a bit, then set to 0A. Previously charger would stay running but show status as SuspendedEVSE. Now, charger turns off, charger status changes to Finishing.

Well for giggles I did end up installing the latest version… after my charger died (red light of death!) and got replaced with a new one with an old firmware.

So is this happening when it suspends due to low solar etc, and then won’t start up again? I should be able to replicate that with mine (albeit using Charge HQ instead of HA) and see if the same thing happens. The release notes do mention OCPP “improved support” but maybe they borked something too.

 

[callifo]

Yes it is due to low solar, but as mentioned its HA driving the charger amp setting. Just starting charging, and then setting the charger to 0A should suffice to test.

Previously I would set it to 6A, start it, and then set it to 0A, and the charger would remain as 'On' and '0A', and its status would change to SuspendedEVSE.

With the latest firmware this is not the case, and setting it to 6A, starting it and then setting it to 0A, results in the charging stopping, and the Charger Status changes to 'Finishing'. Previously firmwares when the charger changed to 'Finishing', it would quickly return to 'Preparing' which allowed you to start a new charging session. However now you cannot turn it back on again, its stuck on 'Finishing', unless you do an 'OCPP reset' command, or you turn it off at the MCB. The charger logging shows that the charger thinks there is an existing charging 'session' and therefore it denies creating a new one.

For now, I've worked around it, by removing the entire ability for using SuspendEVSE mode from my scripting.

I did get hold of the person responsible for the charger firmware at MG Australia, and they are doing some further testing, as well as I provided them a lot of logs.

 

[Trooper]

I did get hold of the person responsible for the charger firmware at MG Australia, and they are doing some further testing, as well as I provided them a lot of logs.

That’s an achievement in itself: successfully getting in touch with anyone at MG!