Anyone else have the Givenergy EVSE?

[Bam Bam]

Getting the Givenergy EVSE was one of my less good decisions.

Never got to be compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go.

Now it has got worse!

Apparently the EVSE is entirely cloud controlled and so if Givenergy (currently in administration) goes offline owners won't be able to control our chargers any more.

Nightmare!

"Speak to the Geek" has advised setting the charger to 'plug and charge' permanently so the unit continues to work even if the Givenergy systems do get shut down.

Luckily the MG4 can be controlled on a timer but I find it much easier to control using the charger.

Lost features?
What features are lost when putting it into 'plug and charge' mode?

For one thing would mean losing the solar divert option. And I've only just got that working after 2 years of doing without it after getting our installer back around to install the CT clamp for it!

The other thing that is lost is the option to use the battery (or not). You have to choose whether to have this setting on or not.

What do others think and plan to do?
Anyone else affected by this and want to share their plans for the settings?

 

[Bam Bam]

Just realised that our tags have not been registered with the device.

Will do that tonight so we've got the tag-charge option.

 

[Bam Bam]

Update from "Givenergy software" (spun off from the rest of the business)

I have heard that the GivEnergy EV Charger (EVC) won't function if it can't connect to the GivEnergy servers. How can I ensure it continues to work?​

There is currently no expectation of the EVC servers going offline. However, if you want to ensure that your GivEnergy EVC will still work even if it's disconnected you can do either of the following:

1. Register your id tag(s) to your EVC using the GivEnergy App or Portal and tap it on the EVC to start or stop a charge. This will continue to work even if the EVC is offline because the EVC itself keeps track of registered tags.

2. Create and enable a schedule on the EVC using the GivEnergy app or Portal that charges the car at the times you require. This will cause the EVC to start a charge at the scheduled time as long as a car is plugged in, regardless of whether the EVC is online, because schedules are stored on and executed by the EVC itself. If your vehicle supports setting a schedule, it is recommended to set a 24-hour schedule on the EVC and a more specific schedule on the vehicle.

Please note, Plug and Go (also known as Plug and Charge) will not function if the EVC is not online as this functionality is provided by the GivEnergy servers. You don't need to turn it off, but please be aware that plug and go will not activate if the EVC is offline. If you would like a charge to start as soon as your EV is plugged in, you can create a 24-hour schedule as described above.

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This was included in an email confirming that Givenergy are planning to offer a paid cloud service from May to keep their solar/inverter inverter servers running.

£4.99 per month I believe. First month free if you sign up relatively early.

Those who do not pay the subscription will get a free version of the app with more limited functionality.

 

[Rolfe]

I don't really mind paying if they actually make it work. The web portal has been reporting some absolute rubbish for a while.

The rest of that is gibberish to me.

Oh wait, I see this is the thread about the EV charger. I have a Zappi. As you were.

 

[Bam Bam]

I don't really mind paying if they actually make it work. The web portal has been reporting some absolute rubbish for a while.

The rest of that is gibberish to me.

Oh wait, I see this is the thread about the EV charger. I have a Zappi. As you were.

Yeah, sorry I added some general comments just to confirm that the above information was in an announcement about all that as well.

The inverter/battery stuff will probably be relevant to many more people.

I doubt many people got the EV charger unless they had the solar equipment, and many will have gone for zappi such as yourself.

 

[Rolfe]

I knew nothing. I just asked next door if they were happy with their system, and if so to put me in touch with their installer, and then asked him to do the same for me. He quoted for GivEnergy battery and inverter, but MyEnergi Zappi and Eddi. I just paid for it!

I think I had some knowledge that the Zappi would give me IOG, and I think he knew that too.

 

[Bam Bam]

I knew nothing. I just asked next door if they were happy with their system, and if so to put me in touch with their installer, and then asked him to do the same for me. He quoted for GivEnergy battery and inverter, but MyEnergi Zappi and Eddi. I just paid for it!

I think I had some knowledge that the Zappi would give me IOG, and I think he knew that too.

Those were good decisions, I think.

The Givenergy equipment will keep working, but support will be lost. Octopus will still be able to control the battery so the intelligent tariffs will remain available (not that you do this).

The inverter will probably fail around 12 years old and at that point you can connect your solar panels up to a better one anyway.

 

[Rolfe]

The problem is when the software has a little glitch. It had a little glitch last autumn, and someone answered the telephone helpline, applied a software update, and it was fixed. If that hadn't been fixed life would have been exceedingly annoying.

It's having a little glitch now, fortunately not so significant, and I can't get anyone to help. I may be stuck with that glitch forever, and what about the next glitch?

 

[Bam Bam]

The problem is when the software has a little glitch. It had a little glitch last autumn, and someone answered the telephone helpline, applied a software update, and it was fixed. If that hadn't been fixed life would have been exceedingly annoying.

It's having a little glitch now, fortunately not so significant, and I can't get anyone to help. I may be stuck with that glitch forever, and what about the next glitch?

Yeah, its a worry.

The new 'software' company is claiming that it is only providing the cloud services and not support for the devices so that is a worry as well. Pay £5 a month and you don't even get support for the device.

 

[Rolfe]

It's all still evolving though, so we'll have to wait and see what happens.