Can't get scheduled charging to work

[SMLMcKenzie]

We got our MG4 last week and are pulling our hair out trying to get scheduled charging to work.

When I set the timer in the car nothing happens at the scheduled time. I have tried with both the MG granny charger and my pod point charger but the car doesn't start charging at the set times with either.

There are no schedules set on the pod point and unfortunately I can't seem to connect the pod point to WiFi to use that to set a schedule.

Both the pod point and granny charger work if you plug them in and tell the car to start charging now so they are both working ok.

It seems like the cars software is at fault.

I have read all the other threads and can't find a solution. We are seriously thinking of returning the car because charge scheduling is an essential feature for an EV as far as we are concerned.

 

[PeteC]

I used to have the same problem with my pod point charger. The only way I got my car to follow the schedule was to set it on the car, plug the cable in, start the charge manually on the battery screen and then stop it again straight away, lock the car and leave it. When I did that, it would start the scheduled charge. If I didn't do that, it would either ignore the schedule and start charging straight away or not do the charge at all.

I have since fitted a Shelly switch in my pod point as my son who lives with us has bought an MG5 that has no scheduled charging available. So now I do all my scheduling with the Shelly app and it works totally reliably.

 

[Martinonline]

I use the the car's schedule and it has only has failed once when I changed settings in iSmart and failed to Save the new settings which appeared to switch off the schedule.

@SMLMcKenzie, can you set out what you actually do to set and use scheduled charging. (Similar to the way @PeteC describes.)

Are you using the app or the car to set the schedule?

Have you tried an test schedule during the day, a little time ahead?

 

[SMLMcKenzie]

I use the the car's schedule and it has only has failed once when I changed settings in iSmart and failed to Save the new settings which appeared to switch off the schedule.

@SMLMcKenzie, can you set out what you actually do to set and use scheduled charging. (Similar to the way @PeteC describes.)

Are you using the app or the car to set the schedule?

Have you tried an test schedule during the day, a little time ahead?

I have tried everything.

I've made sure there is no schedule on the pod point, sat in the car and set the timer through the touch screen, then before locking the car with the car still turned on plugged it in, then locked it. Charge didn't start.

I have also done the above using the granny charger with no luck.

I have been setting the timer about 20 minutes into the future so I could see if it works quickly.

I plugged the car in with it still on making sure there was no timer set in the car. Then locked the car then set the timer using the app. That didn't work. Tried the above with both the granny charger and pod point.

I can't think of any other things to try and besides it shouldn't be this difficult. A charge timer needs to be simple and just work. I can't afford to wake up and find that the car hasnt charged.

 

[SMLMcKenzie]

Ok so I might have figured it out. I have managed to get the car to charge three times in a row at the scheduled time by doing the following:

Get in car.

Set desired charge times on the touchscreen.

Open charging flap.

Insert charger.

Lock car.

Exactly as you would expect it to work! I think where I was going wrong is that there seems to be a 3 minute delay from the charging time you set to when it actually starts charging. I think I was just assuming it wasn't going to charge when it didn't start at the requested time.

I also made sure not to open the mg app once the timer was set because I think that can mess it up.

Hopefully that is it working ok now.

 

[Alb]

I think that delay is quite normal.

 

[SMLMcKenzie]

I think that delay is quite normal.

Yes it seems like the delay is exactly 3 minutes. I've managed to start a scheduled charge 4 times in a row now, so the issue seems resolved. Phew!

 

[Martinonline]

Well done. That's good news.

With my schedule charge starting past midnight if I set up the car to charge and then access the app before that time the car starts to charge. But I can stop the charge in the app and it goes back to waiting.

 

[SMLMcKenzie]

Well done. That's good news.

With my schedule charge starting past midnight if I set up the car to charge and then access the app before that time the car starts to charge. But I can stop the charge in the app and it goes back to waiting.

Yeah the software on the MG4 leaves a lot to be desired. Do you know what happens if you open the phone app to check charging progress whilst the car is in the middle of a scheduled charge? I'm scared to do it in case it ends the charge prematurely.

 

[GaryMG4]

Yeah the software on the MG4 leaves a lot to be desired. Do you know what happens if you open the phone app to check charging progress whilst the car is in the middle of a scheduled charge? I'm scared to do it in case it ends the charge prematurely.

The latest version of the app seems ok, I can check the charge and it doesn't seem to disturb the charge. Previous versions would disrupt the %age charge request almost every time. I can now even restart an aborted charge from the app.

 

[gazza487]

Not sure if the car has been made to follow the same rules but when they updated the charger (well EVSE) regs, they introduced a random time to begin charging up to 5 mins as I recall. All to do with not putting a big surge on the local area if everybody is charging off peak etc at the same time.

 

[mGizmo]

Not sure if the car has been made to follow the same rules but when they updated the charger (well EVSE) regs, they introduced a random time to begin charging up to 5 mins as I recall. All to do with not putting a big surge on the local area if everybody is charging off peak etc at the same time.

10 minutes: https://assets.publishing.service.g...494a/Guide-to-evscp-regulations-2021-V2.1.pdf