Are you frustrated with your Pod Point charger tripping repeatedly, even when using a standard PowerPoint outlet?
- Here is a solution of: why does my pod point charger keep tripping-you can adapt yourself.
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Step 1: Understand the Problem
When your Pod Point charger trips and shows a red light, it indicates a fault in the charging system. This fault can arise from various issues, such as voltage problems, electrical overload, or synchronization issues with newly installed solar panels in home.
Step 2: Initial Inspection
- Check the Charger Light Status:
- Red Light: Indicates a fault in the charging system. Charging cannot start or has been interrupted.
- Blue Light: Typically indicates the charger is in standby mode and ready to charge.
- Connection Check:
- Ensure the charging cable is securely connected to both the charger and your electric vehicle.
- Inspect the cable for any visible damage.
Step 3: Reset the Pod Point Charger
- Unplug the Charger:
- Disconnect the charger from the power source.
- Wait for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Power Cycle:
- Plug the charger back into the power source.
- Observe if the red light persists or changes to green or blue.
Step 4: Synchronization with Solar Panels
If you’ve recently installed a solar panel system, it might not be properly synced with your Pod Point charger, causing it to trip.
- Contact Customer Support:
- Call Pod Point customer services to assist with syncing the solar panel system to the charger.
- Explain that the charger started tripping after the solar panel installation.
- Re-Syncing Process:
- Follow the instructions provided by customer support to ensure the solar panels and the charger are synchronized correctly.
Step 5: Voltage and Electrical Load Check
- Voltage Check:
- Use a multimeter to check the supply voltage. It should be within the standard limits (typically 230-240V in the UK).
- If the voltage is too high or unstable, it can cause the charger to trip.
- Reduce Electrical Load:
- Ensure other high-power devices are not running on the same circuit.
- Try charging your EV when other major appliances are turned off.
Step 6: Test Charging with Reduced Load
- Disconnect Other Appliances:
- Unplug other devices sharing the same circuit to reduce the load.
- Attempt Charging:
- Reconnect the charging cable to your EV.
- Monitor the charger to see if it stays green (charging) or turns red again.
Step 7: Monitor and Maintain
- Continuous Monitoring:
- Once the charger is green, monitor it for a few minutes to ensure it doesn’t trip again.
- Regular Maintenance:
- Keep the charger clean and check for any signs of wear and tear regularly.
- Schedule regular electrical inspections to ensure the stability and safety of your charging setup.
Step 8: Use Alternative Charging Methods
- 3-Pin Plug Cable:
- Use a 3-pin plug cable as a temporary solution while troubleshooting your Pod Point charger.
- Public Charging Stations:
Why Does My Pod Point Charger Keep Tripping the Breaker?
Lack of Synchronization between Your Solar Panels & Pod Point Charger:
A common reason why these breakers may get tripped with the Pod Point chargers is the fact that your home’s recently installed solar panel may not be in harmony with the charger.
Here’s why it happens:
- Incompatibility or incorrect configuration:
Some of Pod Point chargers have built-in configurations that allow them to be integrated with solar PV systems but later cause errors.
This is due to solar and EV charging incompatibility and could cause a fluctuation of power that will affect the charger, tripping the breaker.
- Power fluctuations from solar panels:
If the solar panels are connected incorrectly, voltage spikes may occur, which require the charger to draw more power than the breakers can handle and cause tripping.
Pod Point App’s User Interface (UI):
Pod Point chargers located in locations accessible to the public are free of charge, and since the chargers work through the app, it is important to understand the Pod Point app UI.
Here’s what you need to know:
- User authorization within the app:
Some chargers require users to authorize charging within the Pod Point app to initiate and continue the EV charging process.
Failure to do so may mistakenly lead users to believe that the Pod Point charger is malfunctioning when it simply requires app interaction for free charging.
- “Plug and Play” activation:
The electric car chargers available in the US market, like ClipperCreek and Tesla, are designed to activate automatically without the need for user authorization.
However, confusing UI design in the Pod Point app can distract the user and disturb the EV charger’s functionality.
Questions to consider:
Tripping After 5 Minutes:
If you just connected your Pod Point charger and the breaker (MCB) went off after around 5 minutes, then it may be a sign of a minor overload that does not necessitate a major repair.
How to Resolve Tripping Issues My Pod Point Charger?
In order to help eliminate this issue of your Pod Point charger tripping the breaker, we make four effective recommendations as follows.
Solution 1: Ensure Proper Configuration and Settings
- Review charger settings:
Explore the Pod Point charger’s settings to ensure that your desired charging settings match those of your electric car.
The Pod Point Level 2 charger comes with a user guidance manual that explains how to navigate or even unlock the settings via menu.
- Reset to defaults:
If the modifications have been made to the charger settings before then try to switch all the settings to default values in order to rule out the problem related to configuration.
Solution 2: Verify App Interaction for Free Charging
- Understand app requirements:
- Get to know more about the app that runs the Pod Point and the process that need to be followed to start a free charging session.
- Make sure that you complete the correct procedures to charge authorization within the application when using free Pod Point chargers for public domains use.
- Contact customer support:
- For any issues that may arise on the app, or anything you find rather unclear, it is wise to contact Pod Point’s customer service.
Solution 3: Replace the EV charging cable or outlet if necessary.
- Evaluate cable compatibility:
If you are using a third-party charging cable, think about switching to the Manufacturer’s provided cable or an identical cable from Pod Point.
Subsequently, using an incompatible cable implies high power loss and may result in breaker trips under overload conditions.
Consult an electrician:
If you are sure that your outlet or circuit breaker is not sufficient for the charging purpose consult a professional electrician for the modification of the electrical circuit.
How Do I Reset My Pod Point Charger After the Trip?
To get rid of the Pod Point charger tripping the circuit breaker (CB), a simple reset may help restore normal operation.
Follow these steps:
- Disconnect the charger from the power source (120V or 240V).
- Wait for at least 1 minute to allow any residual electricity to dissipate.
- Reconnect the charger’s receptacle to the 240V outlet.
- Check if the breaker is reset and the charger is functioning properly.
Does Pod Point Stop Charging When the Battery Is Full?
Yes, Pod Point chargers are equipped with smart charging capabilities that detect and stop taking more charging amps when your EV battery is full.
Once the battery reaches its maximum capacity, the electric car charger automatically stops supplying more amps (A) to the vehicle, preventing overcharging and optimizing energy efficiency.
FAQs:
How do I report a fault to Pod Point?
- To report a fault, one must visit the websites of Pod Point and access the support page for detailed procedures on how to do so.
Above are some guidelines to follow when handling your charger tripping issue to make the troubleshooting process easier:
Can poor connections in my house wiring cause Pod Point charger tripping?
- Yes, it is true that the problems in the house wiring may also lead to issues with the tripping of the breakers on your Pod Point charger.
This currents variability is affect the charger and cause the breaker tripping when the wiring is loose or faulty. Attention should be paid to consulting an experienced electrician to identify and address any wiring problems.
What should I do if I notice a smell after a Pod Point charger trip?
- In any case, if there are any strange odours after a Pod Point charger trip then the first thing to do is to minimize risks. In the event that your charger has become faulty, ensure that you unplug the charger from the power source and consult Pod Point customer service for further assistance.
It is strongly advised that do not be tempted to plugging the car charger until the problem has been fixed by a qualified technician.
Final Thoughts:
Having gone through all the details in this extensive guide, you are now in a position to identify and deal with instances of breaker tripping on your Pod Point charger.
One has to always put safety first, and in case of any difficulty, one should seek help from experts.
If you follow the detailed solution along with knowing the logical reasons behind the issue, you will be able to charge your Pod Point Car charger as smoothly as you wanted.
I hope you and your car have a great time charging your EV and travelling!
