Slow Charging on Clarity PHEV

Discussion in 'Clarity' started by SOS, Jun 5, 2019.

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  1. SOS

    SOS New Member

    I wanted to share my recent experience in the hope that it may help others. I charge using the 110V EVSE. I recently found my clarity was charging very slowly. Almost 24 hours to fully charge. I noticed that the charger was flashing orange, even though the charge door light was green.

    After reading the manual, I found that the orange flashing light on the EVSE is an indication that the plug is overheating. I reseated the plug into my 110 V outlet, and supported the EVSE/Charger so that is wasn't pulling on the plug. Now I can recharge in my normal 8-10 hour cycle.

    The manual indicated the flashing orange light indicates an issue but the car continues to charge at a slower rate. This is really bad imho, because everything on the charge door looks fine. Fully green light and nothing on the dash. So it's very easy to miss. If you find you are charging very slowly using the OEM EVSE/Charger, you should make sure the light is solid Orange and stays that way during the charging process.
     
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  3. Sthomasa

    Sthomasa Member

    Thank you! Had that problem for a few days now. About a mile added an hour of charge.
    Pretty sure this was problem. That's for RTFM.
     
  4. Mowcowbell

    Mowcowbell Well-Known Member

    Or, plug in the 110v EVSE into 240volts and watch the charge time drop from 8-10 hours to 4-5 hours. :)
     
  5. Kerbe

    Kerbe Well-Known Member

    Or install a 240V EVSE and watch the charge time drop from 8-10 hours to 2.5 hours... ;)
     
  6. Geor99

    Geor99 Active Member

    Thank you. About once every 2 weeks, I wake up to a half charged battery with the charger light blinking.

    Unplugging and replugging the charger fixes the light.

    I have been too busy/lazy to investigate it.

    Overheating, huh? Do you use an extension cord like I do?
     
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  8. I’d recommend checking the wiring at the outlet and the outlet itself. If possible (per electrical code) install a 20A breaker and outlet.

    Hire a pro if you are uncomfortable doing this type of work.
     
  9. Geor99

    Geor99 Active Member

    I dont see the point. When I get home from work, I plug in. When I wake up 12 hours later, the car is fully charged.

    Why spend the money to upgrade to the faster charging speeds when 99% of the time, 12 hours is fast enough.

    In the very rare event that I need to charge faster and cant, I will just drive a little using gas.

    That's the beauty of a PHEV.

    P.S. I'd guess that I burn a gallon every 2 or 3 months that could be erased if I had a faster charger.

    Subtracting the cost of electricity from the slightly higher gas cost per mile, tell me that the cost of upgrading will never be recovered.
     
    Walt R likes this.
  10. 2002

    2002 Well-Known Member

    If the plug was partially pulled out of the outlet that can definitely cause heating. From your description it sounds like this was caused by the weight of the EVSE pulling on the plug, which you have now remedied. You may also want to make sure the outlet is snug, if the plug feels a little loose you may want to replace the outlet especially if it is older, builders tend to put in the cheapest outlets possible.
     
  11. Walt R

    Walt R Active Member

    I also charge on the 110 EVSE that Honda supplied. I was uncomfortable hanging such a large weight from the outlet, so I went ahead and put some 1.5" small-head nails in my garage wall to support it using the molded rings. I recommend you do the same. It is a pain since you need small nails to be able to remove the EVSE without pulling the nails, but I've not had the poor-connection problems.

    I suppose if I were more of a woodworker I would just make a small shelf for the wall and lay the EVSE on it's back there.
     
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  13. MPower

    MPower Well-Known Member

    Put a cup hook in the wall and a zip tie through a hole in the EVSE and hang it from the hook. Unhook when needed. That's what I did with my 2012 Prius Plugin which only had one hole. With my fancy Clarity with a two hole EVSE, I took a tiny bungee cord put the two hooked ends into the hole and hung the bungee from the cup hook. Quick release EVSE!

    I posted a picture here: https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/tracking-power-consumption-miles-per-kwh-other-new-owner-questions.5212/#post-56895
     
  14. Level 2 charging is slightly more efficient in terms of electricity consumption per charge. A few studies have show them to be from 3-12% more efficient depending on conditions.

    On one of the Volt forums, owners reported consuming approximately 1 less kW per full charge using a L2 charger. That might only total a $1/wk, which isn’t much, but it does add up. A L2 charger could also prove to be convenient should your driving habits change over time. There may also be local or power company rebates available to offset some of the costs to install a L2 charger.

    I don’t ever expect to recover the cost of purchasing a new vehicle. Installing a L2 charger could help reduce the operating cost of the car while at the same time adding some convenience.
     
    Kerbe likes this.
  15. I recommend replacing the outlet. Just buy a new equivalent to the current outlet for the firmer retention and better connection. Easy to do, if you're at all handy with such stuff.
     
  16. I’m considering a switched outlet to eliminate plugging and unplugging every time.
     
  17. Plugging and unplugging arguably makes for a better connection assuming it doesn't weaken the outlet's grip on the blades.

    I can't see a switched outlet in any event. Just leave the EVSE plugged in. Does it draw anything measurable when it's idle?
     
  18. craze1cars

    craze1cars Well-Known Member

    A switch is just yet another contact point to spark and arc, this adding resistance to the circuit with repeated uses and time...
     
    AlanSqB likes this.
  19. Everything’s measurable.

    Do you unplug and plug in your toaster or coffee maker each time you use it, or flip a switch? Do you think arcing doesn’t occur each and every time the plug is inserted or removed? Could there be stress on the cord?

    I’ll take the durability of the switch over the plug and outlet for hundreds of cycles.
     
  20. I'd just leave it plugged in if it only draws a watt or two, 24 hrs a day.
     
  21. That’s certainly an option.

    Depending on where I am sometimes it’s plugging in at a carport and I don’t want to leave the cord out in the open when gone. Other times it’s in a garage where it could be left plugged in and powered up. Who knows how long it will last plugged in to hot power 24/7? Sometimes I may want to take it with me to use at my destination.

    When I do plug the cord in, I’d rather do it in a cold outlet. Hot stabbing is never good.

    At least there are choices available to accommodate each persons preferences.
     
  22. insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    My ClipperCreek EVSE is hard-wired to the power. I can't unplug it, but I doubt that will reduce it's useful life.
     
  23. MPower

    MPower Well-Known Member

    The 120v EVSE that came with my 2012 Prius Plugin was plugged in to hot power for 7 years (I may have unplugged it once or twice during that time. Now it is plugged in 24/7/365 at my daughter's. Still charging the Prius.
     

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