Scheduled Charging Solution

[David1978]

Hi Folks,
I've had my MG 4 red Exclusive (Trophy) for 2.5 months. Absolutely love the car but for one annoyance - scheduling charging.
Tried all sorts to no avail so I called my MG dealer, they put me through to an engineer and problem solved.
He told me clear the cache in the app, log out/log in AND delete my zappi app!
The zappi app was conflicting between the app and the car.
Scheduled charging works just fine now.
David

 

[Rolfe]

That's interesting advice. I haven't tried to set a schedule in my car, but I think my Zappi may be conflicting with what I set in Octopus. That Zappi (MyEnergi) app seems to have a habit of taking over. It provides useful information, if only it would stay passive.

 

[Ian Key]

Hi Folks,
I've had my MG 4 red Exclusive (Trophy) for 2.5 months. Absolutely love the car but for one annoyance - scheduling charging.
Tried all sorts to no avail so I called my MG dealer, they put me through to an engineer and problem solved.
He told me clear the cache in the app, log out/log in AND delete my zappi app!
The zappi app was conflicting between the app and the car.
Scheduled charging works just fine now.
David

As otherrs have reported elsewhere only set a charging schedule on either the charger app or the iSmart app/car but NOT both.

I have both the iSmart app and the Zappi app installed on my phone but only set scheduled charging on the Zappi app and have no problems with charging.

 

[Rolfe]

I'm on Octopus Intelligent Go and want Octopus to take care of the charging schedule. The first (and so far only) time I tried to use it the car immediately started charging as soon as I plugged it in, and I had to force a stop through the app. It looked to me as if the Zappi app had taken control. However, when the Octopus schedule finished, putting in the 40% I had requested, the Zappi didn't try to put in any more. I don't quite get it.

 

[David1978]

That's interesting advice. I haven't tried to set a schedule in my car, but I think my Zappi may be conflicting with what I set in Octopus. That Zappi (MyEnergi) app seems to have a habit of taking over. It provides useful information, if only it would stay passive.

Big time, I thought the exact same. Just send the juice mr zappi, nothing to see here. Just do your thing please

As otherrs have reported elsewhere only set a charging schedule on either the charger app or the iSmart app/car but NOT both.

I have both the iSmart app and the Zappi app installed on my phone but only set scheduled charging on the Zappi app and have no problems with charging.

You're lucky Ian, I tried several times but no joy. I really don't need the zappi app and less apps I need to monitor I'm happy

 

[Rolfe]

I like the MyEnergi app because it shows me information I'm not getting elsewhere. But I don't want it to take control of the car's charging times.

 

[Moonraker244]

I always do it via the car display. just go to settings in the battery section and set up your charging time

 

[Deadly Doug]

Hi Folks,
I've had my MG 4 red Exclusive (Trophy) for 2.5 months. Absolutely love the car but for one annoyance - scheduling charging.
Tried all sorts to no avail so I called my MG dealer, they put me through to an engineer and problem solved.
He told me clear the cache in the app, log out/log in AND delete my zappi app!
The zappi app was conflicting between the app and the car.
Scheduled charging works just fine now.
David

Hi I am on Intelligent Octopus with a Wallbox Charger and have no issues set amount I want to charge and Octopus control the charger only charging when it is cheap rate so do not even need Wallbox app though use to monitor actual cost added bonus when not in use charger automatically locked if required I can overrule and instigate charge immediately if required but at higher day rate all in all a great system

 

[Richard P]

I'm on Octopus Intelligent Go and want Octopus to take care of the charging schedule. The first (and so far only) time I tried to use it the car immediately started charging as soon as I plugged it in, and I had to force a stop through the app. It looked to me as if the Zappi app had taken control. However, when the Octopus schedule finished, putting in the 40% I had requested, the Zappi didn't try to put in any more. I don't quite get it.

I thought with intelligent Octopus Go all car charging was at the preferential (10.5p for us) rate so long as you have a compatible charger? Mind you we switched to Agile and use the charger to top up when it's on plunge pricing.. .

 

[EV convert]

Folks,
I also only use the Zappi for scheduled charging (on Eon Next's Drive which gives cheap power between midnight and 7am) and it works fine - with one exception.

Zappy's scheduled charging setting is an extension to the solar charging option meaning Zappi only charges when there is excess power which it will only find when the solar panels are generating. At the scheduled charge time, Zappi ignores the need for excess power and will charge directly from the grid.

However, we also have a solar panels with a small (5.2kWh) domestic storage battery and if I plug the car in when the solar panels are exporting even a little energy, then Zappy triggers the charge which also then drains the storage battery (to its 10% cut off). When that happens we have to use premium price grid energy to cook in the evening - unthinkable!

Zappi does drain the storage battery during the normal overnight charge (a good use of excess solar) but the storage battery is scheduled to charge to a pre-set level before 7am (ie still on the cheap tariff) in order that we don't need to use premium priced electricity to cook breakfast etc before the solar gets to work again. In the depths of winter the domestic battery needs to be charged to 100% to see us through the day, in the summer 20% is more than adequate.

I hope that sheds a little more light on the subject.

 

[yellowking]

I'm on Octopus Intelligent Go and want Octopus to take care of the charging schedule. The first (and so far only) time I tried to use it the car immediately started charging as soon as I plugged it in, and I had to force a stop through the app. It looked to me as if the Zappi app had taken control. However, when the Octopus schedule finished, putting in the 40% I had requested, the Zappi didn't try to put in any more. I don't quite get it.

Don't worry I thought the same.

What happens is they take an initial charge this completes the pairing of the charger with your account.

After that you will see on your phone notifications a schedules of when they will charge your car to get to the desired % charge. You'll see potentially 4 or 5 charge slots. All this will be done at the 7.5p rate no matter this time.

The good thing is all your household electricity will be at the lower rate then as well as far as I'm aware.

 

[Starplots]

I'm on Octopus Intelligent Go and want Octopus to take care of the charging schedule. The first (and so far only) time I tried to use it the car immediately started charging as soon as I plugged it in, and I had to force a stop through the app. It looked to me as if the Zappi app had taken control. However, when the Octopus schedule finished, putting in the 40% I had requested, the Zappi didn't try to put in any more. I don't quite get it.

When you first plug in, the Zappi sometimes does a short “test charge” to verify the comm’s etc.
you don’t need to force stop it as it only charges for a minute or so then goes into standby.

 

[David1978]

Hi Folks,

Here's an update of my scheduling issue/saga!

I jumped the gun massively with my original post. I persevered thinking it was a Zappi issue. I couldn't fault the myenergy support staff. They insisted on installing a new zappi but this did not solve anything. A neighbour had done the same previous and it solved his same issue with his ID 4.

I also thought my inverter/battery/panels could have been causing a conflict. Currently not charging the solar battery from the grid.

I had avoided going back to my MG dealer (Frank Keane, Dublin) as had been put off by a lot of negative commentary around MG dealerships in forum chats and convinced myself my baby couldn't possibly be the problem lol.

However, my experience was excellent. Lovely staff. They reconfigured/reset six components and also updated the software to R59 with no arm twisting. Scheduling issue solved. The engineer told me he had good experience with the problem. I inhaled his confidence!

I set the schedule from only the car for my 2am - 6am EV rate. Zappi on fast mode. I don't go near the MG app when setting the schedule and unplug my dongle for auto car play!

 

[Rolfe]

<Rolfe experiences extreme jealousy of your dealer>