Scheduled charging

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abucksdiver

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So, I have finally persuaded my energy provider to move onto an EV tariff with 5 hours of cheap electricity overnight.
This means it's now in my interest to set a schedule for the car charging.
I have a Podpoint charger, and ZS Trophy Connect LR - so should I use the schedule feature on the car, or on the charger (and why🤣)
I look forward to the responses.
 
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I have a podpoint and use Octopus Go and set the schedule on the podpoint for the same reason jonhb80 mentions.
 
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abucksdiver said:
So, I have finally persuaded my energy provider to move onto an EV tariff with 5 hours of cheap electricity overnight.
This means it's now in my interest to set a schedule for the car charging.
I have a Podpoint charger, and ZS Trophy Connect LR - so should I use the schedule feature on the car, or on the charger (and why🤣)
I look forward to the responses.
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Set it on the charger. Saves cancelling schedule in car when charging out and about.
 
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I'm of the complete opposite opinion to those above - I set using the car then there is one fewer point at which a data connection can be lost. Switching off the schedule if you're out and about is not a huge deal, unless you forget and come back to a car which hasn't charged at all...
 
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Pimbers said:
I'm of the complete opposite opinion to those above - I set using the car then there is one fewer point at which a data connection can be lost. Switching off the schedule if you're out and about is not a huge deal, unless you forget and come back to a car which hasn't charged at all...
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What data connection would be an issue?
 
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johnb80 said:
What data connection would be an issue?
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The connection from the charge point to its server? I'm of the view that it reduces the number of potential failure points if the car just talks straight to the charger without the need for any internet connection.

I'm no IT expert and I've seen both viewpoints put forward. Also being in a rental place with a dumb (or rather I have no app or connection) charge point eliminates that possibility for me, although previous experience with a BP Pulse point in our old house showed their system was dire compared to what I could do from the car.

I accept there will be nuances to this, particularly if you have an Ohme/Zappi linked to Intelligent Octopus etc...
 
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Pimbers said:
The connection from the charge point to its server? I'm of the view that it reduces the number of potential failure points if the car just talks straight to the charger without the need for any internet connection.
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Not all chargers need a data connection to run a schedule (my Zappi doesn't for example) so that kind of negates that reason?

Pimbers said:
I'm no IT expert and I've seen both viewpoints put forward. Also being in a rental place with a dumb (or rather I have no app or connection) charge point eliminates that possibility for me, although previous experience with a BP Pulse point in our old house showed their system was dire compared to what I could do from the car.
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Yup, fair point, some wallboxes arent so good, that said, some cars dont do scheduling well either.

Pimbers said:
I accept there will be nuances to this, particularly if you have an Ohme/Zappi linked to Intelligent Octopus etc...
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Aye, thats where I am, Zappi and Octopus Intelligent GO.
 
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Well, as you know from previous threads, I can do scheduled charging using a timer and my old podpoint, and that all works fine without having to purchase a new more intelligent charger.
 
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Tim Green said:
Well, as you know from previous threads, I can do scheduled charging using a timer and my old podpoint, and that all works fine without having to purchase a new more intelligent charger.
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Absolutely it will, you just cant get on the best tariffs with a timer and an old podpoint though. Whatever meets your needs.
 
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Definitely the charger, 1 you wouldn't have to turn off schedule charging when elsewhere 2 it forgets your schedule when you cancel it so the schedule has to be manually input again
 
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Narrowgauge725 said:
Definitely the charger, 1 you wouldn't have to turn off schedule charging when elsewhere 2 it forgets your schedule when you cancel it so the schedule has to be manually input again
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You can always press the "Charge Now" button on the battery screen which doesn't affect the schedule.
 
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I seem to remember that someone on the forum helpfully calculated how long in car miles it would take to pay off a new pod point car charger and at my miles per year it was many years!
 
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I don't find the Podpoint timer very good, and on two occasions found it charging at peak times when only set for three 5 hour British Gas slot.
So for security reasons (I.e. it's outside my house and anyone could connect to it) I set the Podpoint from 11pm to 6am, and the car from midnight to 5am.
In 5 months of ownership, I've never had the need to charge anywhere but at home, as the most miles I do are about 100 miles to the airport and back, easily achieved on the LR model.
 
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This is a very relevant thread for me as I have just transferred to the British Gas EV Tariff. The rate is 8.95/kWh from 12 midnight to 05.00 am.
I do almost all my charging at home using the MG4 Granny Charger.
I was looking to buy a digital plug timer because the plug timer I have is in 30 minutes segments.

But I have now set up the Scheduled Charging using the MG4 app which is to the minute.
Hopefully it will work tonight.
 
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Buster72 said:
This is a very relevant thread for me as I have just transferred to the British Gas EV Tariff. The rate is 8.95/kWh from 12 midnight to 05.00 am.
I do almost all my charging at home using the MG4 Granny Charger.
I was looking to buy a digital plug timer because the plug timer I have is in 30 minutes segments.

But I have now set up the Scheduled Charging using the MG4 app which is to the minute.
Hopefully it will work tonight.
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I find the scheduling by the car is the best with my Podpoint, but I know others on this forum have differing opinions.
You don't think it's worth investing in a charger, to get the job done quicker? Or if you suddenly need a full charge to drive a longer distance?
 
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I usually set the schedule in the car. However, last night I remembered that I'd changed the start time, so I changed it back on the app. Did it charge on time? Did it heck! Fortunately, when I woke up in the early hours, I happened to check it and started it manually.

Moral of the story for me, always set the schedule in the car. :)

dspencer12345 said:
Or if you suddenly need a full charge to drive a longer distance?
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I usually use the granny charger, and if I need an emergency top up, I'll pop to one of the local rapids on the way.
 
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I settled on letting the car/MG App take control. Rolec charger works well but the .EV App is terrible. It charges outside the British Gas reduced rate of 00:00-05:00 even though the App is set for those times.
The car/MG App has never let me down. I haven't found it an issue when charging away from home
 
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