V90 T8 charging question

[JonboyP]

Greetings.

I'm using a granny cable (genuine Volvo branded item) and a wifi socket on a timer to charge overnight on a cheap electricity rate.

I'm seeing more and more charge failures.

With the electric power off I am plugging the plug into the car and locking it with the remote and after a few seconds there is a mechanical sound which I presume is some sort of locking pin because I then can't pull the plug away from the car (it's supposed to do that, I know). I then switch the electric on and then I'm getting a red light instead of green.

So I unlock the car, remove and reinsert the plug into the car, hearing the mechanical sound and after a few tries I get a green light instead of red, and the car charges as it should.

Any pointers gratefully received.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by JonboyP

Greetings.

I'm using a granny cable (genuine Volvo branded item) and a wifi socket on a timer to charge overnight on a cheap electricity rate.

I'm seeing more and more charge failures.

With the electric power off I am plugging the plug into the car and locking it with the remote and after a few seconds there is a mechanical sound which I presume is some sort of locking pin because I then can't pull the plug away from the car (it's supposed to do that, I know). I then switch the electric on and then I'm getting a red light instead of green.

So I unlock the car, remove and reinsert the plug into the car, hearing the mechanical sound and after a few tries I get a green light instead of red, and the car charges as it should.

Any pointers gratefully received.

Have you tried plugging it in to the mains, switching on and then inserting the plug into the car?

I hold the plug into the car until I hear the mechanical pin activate and the relays flick in the Podpoint then I charges straight away.

[sk546]

Originally Posted by JonboyP

Greetings.

I'm using a granny cable (genuine Volvo branded item) and a wifi socket on a timer to charge overnight on a cheap electricity rate.

I'm seeing more and more charge failures.

With the electric power off I am plugging the plug into the car and locking it with the remote and after a few seconds there is a mechanical sound which I presume is some sort of locking pin because I then can't pull the plug away from the car (it's supposed to do that, I know). I then switch the electric on and then I'm getting a red light instead of green.

So I unlock the car, remove and reinsert the plug into the car, hearing the mechanical sound and after a few tries I get a green light instead of red, and the car charges as it should.

Any pointers gratefully received.

What year is your car?

As Philip suggests, try having the power on the charger before plugging into the car.
If the red light continues it will likely be either something related to the Wifi controlled socket or (more worryingly) something related to the onboard charging unit in the car.

[BleatingSheep]

Originally Posted by JonboyP

Greetings.

I'm using a granny cable (genuine Volvo branded item) and a wifi socket on a timer to charge overnight on a cheap electricity rate.

I'm seeing more and more charge failures.

Hello. I think your issue here may be the use of a WiFi socket on a timer. If this is not properly rated at 13A then the electronics in the car / cable will not accept it as a suitable supply.

If you want to use a timer, I recommend using the Volvo App instead. It works fine.

Hope that helps!

[sk546]

Originally Posted by BleatingSheep

Hello. I think your issue here may be the use of a WiFi socket on a timer. If this is not properly rated at 13A then the electronics in the car / cable will not accept it as a suitable supply.

If you want to use a timer, I recommend using the Volvo App instead. It works fine.

Hope that helps!

Depending on what operating system the OP has in his car will dictate if the charge timer in the app works or not.
Sensus: Volvo App Charge timer worked a treat (or at least it did when I had my previous XC60) and it was very useful indeed.
AAOS: Not so much, I've been waiting for Volvo to release the Charge Timer in the Volvo App on AAOS since I got my car in June and it made a short appearance towards the end of last year for about a week (but didn't work at all) and ever since not a thing so no charge timer on AAOS as yet.

Luckily for me, our smart charger wall box has its own charge timer (of sorts) but that brings with it other issues............
Come on Volvo, please bring the AAOS Car Volvo App at least up to speed with the Sensus cars Volvo App operability!!

[Past Master]

The instructions with the cable are confusing. The leaflet with the charging cable said to plug into the car before switching on the electric, but the instructions in the manual say the opposite. I always plug into the live socket first (with some difficulty, as the rubber plug can deform) then into the car second. The sequence of lights is: blue when I open the flap, dark green when I plug the cable in, click from the locking pin, flashing light green when charging. Has always worked so far. I don't bother with a timer - I just try to charge when the sun is out and the solar panels are doing their thing.

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by JonboyP

Greetings.

I'm using a granny cable (genuine Volvo branded item) and a wifi socket on a timer to charge overnight on a cheap electricity rate.

I'm seeing more and more charge failures.

With the electric power off I am plugging the plug into the car and locking it with the remote and after a few seconds there is a mechanical sound which I presume is some sort of locking pin because I then can't pull the plug away from the car (it's supposed to do that, I know). I then switch the electric on and then I'm getting a red light instead of green.

So I unlock the car, remove and reinsert the plug into the car, hearing the mechanical sound and after a few tries I get a green light instead of red, and the car charges as it should.

Any pointers gratefully received.

Try charging from a socket without the timer and if it works consistently from that socket then the problem is with the WiFi timer compatability or rating, the initial charge rate will be high and may cause the the problem.