V2L discharge and lock up car over night

[MGZSEVDOWNUNDER]

I have successfully provided power to the back of my house from the car V2L. Managed to wash a basket of clothes and tumble dry, all while fridge, freezer and kettle were connected to same powerboard. Boiled water while on soak cycle of course. I used 6 kwh over 5 hours. I'd like to keep these appliances plugged into my V2L 16 hours/day (night mainly), and off of my grid (solar mainly) the other 8 hours.

Trouble is, the car seems to have to stay in ready mode, so I can't lock the car, and I can't even turn off all of the headlights. When I tried to lock the car, v2l shut down within 1 minute. Seems the engineers programmed the electrics just like ICE cars to avoid overdrawing the 12 volt battery, so that it would have enough cranking amps. They forgot the zs ev is electric, with a massive energy reserve.

Do I need to update software in my car? How often does MG update the onboard software? Do I need to take car to a service centre, or somehow drive to location that the data sim can access a cell tower?

 

[TassieDi]

There have been a number of threads in the forum on using V2L, try searching for them. I'm pretty sure others have been able to lock their cars while using the function for long periods.

Re your last paragraph - sadly it seems pretty hard to get software updates. MG are not doing over the air updates and I've found my local nominated service centre seems reluctant to do them - they told me they will only do them at the regular warranty services (every 2 years!!!!).

 

[charlie bravo]

There have been a number of threads in the forum on using V2L, try searching for them. I'm pretty sure others have been able to lock their cars while using the function for long periods.

Re your last paragraph - sadly it seems pretty hard to get software updates. MG are not doing over the air updates and I've found my local nominated service centre seems reluctant to do them - they told me they will only do them at the regular warranty services (every 2 years!!!!).

My trophy is at R33, can leave V2L on all night with car locked all switched off ready for heater in morning,

 

[TassieDi]

I think @charlie bravo is saying that his system version is R33(??). For what it's worth, this is the system version my Australian SR vehicle had at delivery and still has:

MPU SWI91-29958-1100R04
MCU 91.1.0.1

 

[charlie bravo]

I think @charlie bravo is saying that his system version is R33(??). For what it's worth, this is the system version my Australian SR vehicle had at delivery and still has:

MPU SWI91-29958-1100R04
MCU 91.1.0.1

I believe the trophy r33 and SR R setting are different maybe you’re R04 is the same?

 

[MGZSEVDOWNUNDER]

My trophy is at R33, can leave V2L on all night with car locked all switched off ready for heater in morning,

Good to know. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I might need to read through other threads like TassieDi is saying to figure it out.

 

[Lovemyev]

There is a dealer applied software upgrade available in the U.K. that will allow you to lock your car and still have the V2L still in operation after you lock it.
I had it done on my car a few months ago.
An easy way to tell if your car has it.
Put the car into ready mode and start the discharge process, leave the car and lock it with the fob.
If the discharge stops as soon as you lock the car, then you don’t have the software upgrade.

 

[drmcw]

There is a dealer applied software upgrade available in the U.K. that will allow you to lock your car and still have the V2L still in operation after you lock it.
I had it done on my car a few months ago.
An easy way to tell if your car has it.
Put the car into ready mode and start the discharge process, leave the car and lock it with the fob.
If the discharge stops as soon as you lock the car, then you don’t have the software upgrade.

Have yet to try this on mine; @Lovemyev can you confirm that the car still needs to be on though to maintain the V2L, so DRLs etc still on? Handy update but still slightly annoying if that's the case.

 

[drmcw]

Well just had a 3 phase smart meter installed and while the power was off decided to try the V2L to keep the fridge freezer in the garage going. Worked flawlessly and nice to know I must have the update as was able to turn the car off and lock the doors and still provide power. Very happy with that

 

[fatgit]

There is a dealer applied software upgrade available in the U.K. that will allow you to lock your car and still have the V2L still in operation after you lock it.
I had it done on my car a few months ago.
An easy way to tell if your car has it.
Put the car into ready mode and start the discharge process, leave the car and lock it with the fob.
If the discharge stops as soon as you lock the car, then you don’t have the software upgrade.

Chorley MG Burnley said that there wasn't one when I took my SR Trophy in for updates, they even contacted MG who said you can't use V2L and lock the car.
What software versions do you have?

 

[Lovemyev]

Chorley MG Burnley said that there wasn't one when I took my SR Trophy in for updates, they even contacted MG who said you can't use V2L and lock the car.
What software versions do you have?

That is very strange, as my updates were done at the same time, of our first service at MG Burley, which was an almost 200 mile round trip for us.
Our car is a mid March 22 delivery and is the Trophy ? Long Range version.
I am not sure if it would be different between SR and LR models, due to the battery type ?????.
I definitely know something was done ref updating the BMC ( body control module ) because I did try using the V2L cable before the car was updated and if I locked the doors while it was discharging, it it would just stop !.
Post update(s) it is now able to continue discharging while the car is powered down and fully locked.
I have no facility to investigate the software version number of the car sorry, the software version you can access in the head unit, only relates to the head unit software and not the drive control unit software.
There was a running software released, about two weeks after we collected our car.
It was released for the early models ( like ours ) and it was intended to reduce the risk of the car “bricking” when using certain D/C rapid charges.
Maybe the V2L config was part of this package ????.
I did speak to Miles prior to our appointment to ensure that the dealer did understand that we had travelled a good distance to get these updates done correctly.
Later cars MAY have the updated software as standard ??.
When the car is plugged into the diag computer, it is matched to the MG server.
This is what decides if your car requires any updates or not, is my understanding.

 

[fatgit]

That is very strange, as my updates were done at the same time, of our first service at MG Burley, which was an almost 200 mile round trip for us.
Our car is a mid March 22 delivery and is the Trophy ? Long Range version.
I am not sure if it would be different between SR and LR models, due to the battery type ?????.
I definitely know something was done ref updating the BMC ( body control module ) because I did try using the V2L cable before the car was updated and if I locked the doors while it was discharging, it it would just stop !.
Post update(s) it is now able to continue discharging while the car is powered down and fully locked.
I have no facility to investigate the software version number of the car sorry, the software version you can access in the head unit, only relates to the head unit software and not the drive control unit software.
There was a running software released, about two weeks after we collected our car.
It was released for the early models ( like ours ) and it was intended to reduce the risk of the car “bricking” when using certain D/C rapid charges.
Maybe the V2L config was part of this package ????.
I did speak to Miles prior to our appointment to ensure that the dealer did understand that we had travelled a good distance to get these updates done correctly.
Later cars MAY have the updated software as standard ??.
When the car is plugged into the diag computer, it is matched to the MG server.
This is what decides if your car requires any updates or not, is my understanding.

They had the car for a full day and contacted MG who said there wasn't any update at all that allowed the ZS to operate the V2L while locked or powered down, and the system showed no updates available.

It is possible that the update is only for the LR models.
It would be really handy to be able to at least lock the car while using V2L!

 

[Lovemyev]

It is possible that the update is only for the LR models.
It would be really handy to be able to at least lock the car while using V2L!

It’s possible I guess ?.
Is there anybody out there, who has a standard range Gen2 face lift model, that can use the V2L cable in discharge mode, with the car powered down AND locked ? please ??????.
You’re right, it is handy because otherwise you need the car in ready mode to discharge.
Not ideal really as the front DRL’s are engaged of course.
I was not even aware that it could be corrected until after watching one of the Monday night pod casts, when the subject was brought up in the comments section.
Miles announced that one of his friends ( who has a black LR ) had indeed received a software adjustment.

 

[fatgit]

It’s possible I guess ?.
Is there anybody out there, who has a standard range Gen2 face lift model, that can use the V2L cable in discharge mode, with the car powered down AND locked ? please ??????.
You’re right, it is handy because otherwise you need the car in ready mode to discharge.
Not ideal really as the front DRL’s are engaged of course.
I was not even aware that it could be corrected until after watching one of the Monday night pod casts, when the subject was brought up in the comments section.
Miles announced that one of his friends ( who has a black LR ) had indeed received a software adjustment.

That's the exact reason I asked for updates on mine.
I did explain why I had taken it in and that Miles had mentioned it in the podcast.

 

[Anf800]

I have a gen 2 SR. I bought one of those small adaptors from eBay and can confirm that it works even once the doors are locked.

 

[Susanna]

I also have a facelift SR ZS, and the V2L adapter from eBay, but I haven’t had the update to allow discharging when the car is off and locked. I did ask the supplying dealer to ensure this update was done before I collected the car last November, but I was told (on collection day) that there was no such update. Annoying, when I knew there was, but not the end of the world. It will be done at first service.