⚡️ Home Charging Issues after Software Update? (Tracking Thread)

[nick729]

I doubt voltage is the issue here at least in my case. As i previously wrote, on the same charger at a different location where there were know issues with voltage spikes/dips the car has never failed to initiate charging.

However, since the update in November, i have not managed to get the car to charge even once without some trickery at my main home (even then it was 3-4 times, each time a different method was used, but i could never replicate it either one a second time). Also, i do not have any voltage spikes/dips here and they are well within the 230v +-10%.

Anyways, the engineers have already flown in and they are preparing a test vehicle at the dealer (downgrading the Software). So, hopefully tomorrow there will be some news as to what is the issue and hopefully a fix shortly after

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[lee999]

I’m quoting myself here because after this flippant remark, I went to my garage and, after weeks of my 220v Tesla charger giving errors every time I tried to charge, and having to use the 110v “switcheroo” procedure to charge at home, I plugged in to the Tesla wall charger this evening and — it started charging right away.

So, 1) It’s healed itself, or 2) a magical OTA update has been pushed into the car (least likely), or 3) some condition (voltage, current, temperature, barometric pressure, etc. or combination thereof) has changed to allow this to happen.

Not sending my 110v voltage regulator back just yet.

Sandy

did it get warmer where you live?

 

[lukine]

it will depend on the voltage - it's NOT the charger that's the problem - it's the voltage from the grid that is causing the problem - it's not the charging hardware - it's the power supply being fed to the charging hardware…

so it may or may not work depending on the grid voltage at the time you plug in.

_THIS_ is the problem with this issue for all updates Macan's - even if your Macan is working at your home - it's no longer a reasonable assumption that when charging away from home that will actually function…grid voltage can vary by neighbor hood - you might be able to charge at home, but not at work, or not at the hotel 200 miles away from your home on a simple road trip…

this has taken simply, easy and straight forward 240V/L2 charging and made it a crap shoot as to if it will work - it's a serious problem…

grid voltage varies - it's like the weather - it's an environmental factor

the bottom line is that as long as this "bug" is out there you may or may not be able to charge an updated Macan EV at any 240V/L2 AC EVSE in North America…it's now "random" as to if charging will function for any given location…good luck!

I alluded to this in post #288 - https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/-home-charging-issues-after-software-update-tracking-thread.24560/page-16#post-373818

as long as this bug persists you can no longer travel with a Macan EV to locations in North America and make the reasonable assumption that 240V/L2 charging will function…which will strand you someplace next to a functional 240V/L2 EVSE - but your Macan will fail to initiate a charging session because the grid voltage at the moment in time is 0.5 volts "too high" for the new software - which is something you as the owner of the Vehicle can do _N O T H I N G_ about…I hope you have enough battery left to drive someplace else to attempt to charge … or can wait 10+ hours to see if the voltage changes and lets you charge again÷

For the most part, it seems to only affect at home L2 charging. As most commercial services are at 220V, I think charging at hotels would be fine, and DC fast chargers also work for me. But not leaving at 100% charge is definitely inconvenient.

 

[Tom905]

I just got the latest update on Friday, and it has been cold over the last day, fortunately our home and work chargers, both level 2, and both tend to be around 251V, worked fine. I understand they had an update 2 weeks ago in NA for some sort of voltage tolerance issue. Anyways, seems to be working, the latest update...

 

[annwills]

For the most part, it seems to only affect at home L2 charging. As most commercial services are at 220V, I think charging at hotels would be fine, and DC fast chargers also work for me. But not leaving at 100% charge is definitely inconvenient.

I'm unable to charge at home with L1 and L2. In other words, for me it's all AC charging that was ruined by the update.

 

[lukine]

I'm unable to charge at home with L1 and L2. In other words, for me it's all AC charging that was ruined by the update.

For me as well, I was just too lazy to name L1, as I think most ppl just leave settings at L2 if they have it. But generally, just at home charging.

 

[nick729]

So, small update after the Porsche engineer visit.

Spent half a day logging everything at my home, both with my car and another test Macan without the update. As expected, the pre-update Macan charged with no issues.

One unexpected resolution was found by accident during testing - after plugging the car to charge and during the initial clicking of the wallbox, switching on a high power appliance bumps up the baseline (don't know which parameter) and the car starts charging. In my case an air compressor was used for this purpose multiple times, also, switching on the central vacuum system worked on the test Macan. Not sure how reliable this is, I will test this more in upcoming days - as the car is charging now

Long story short: Porsche will now analyze the data collected and are confident that the solution will be found shortly.

 

[SandyHaus]

did it get warmer where you live?

Sorry, just saw this question. Two answers: Here in Denver, Colorado it’s been unseasonably warm most of the winter and especially for the last several weeks. So I assume that could have various effects on house voltage etc. If you were wondering if the car itself was cold, my home garage where the car and charger live is heated to about 65 degrees F.

Sandy

 

[lukine]

So, small update after the Porsche engineer visit.

Spent half a day logging everything at my home, both with my car and another test Macan without the update. As expected, the pre-update Macan charged with no issues.

One unexpected resolution was found by accident during testing - after plugging the car to charge and during the initial clicking of the wallbox, switching on a high power appliance bumps up the baseline (don't know which parameter) and the car starts charging. In my case an air compressor was used for this purpose multiple times, also, switching on the central vacuum system worked on the test Macan. Not sure how reliable this is, I will test this more in upcoming days - as the car is charging now

Long story short: Porsche will now analyze the data collected and are confident that the solution will be found shortly.

Interesting. You're not located in NA like we are, so I'm curious what your location's grid voltages are like. Switching on high power appliances can cause voltage drop in the home. Which means, it lowers it enough that meets the car's threshold parameters.

 

[someTimesJoe]

I’ve noticed that too, that the air compressor starts up when I go from 110 charging and switch it to the 40amp charging right away. It stops after awhile but it does start up.

 

[nick729]

Yes, i am in Europe ~930miles away from Stuttgart.

It's not the voltage that is the issue, it's the other parameters that were measured and which are important like the harmonic distortion or frequency stability, etc... I am not sure which one or a combination of all, but the graphs I saw - mine were barely under the baseline tolerance. Switching on a high power device somehow bumps the baseline in the grid and that helps to get the car to start charging.

Not sure this will be of any use for you, but in my case the voltage across the 3 phases were: ~215-235v in each of the 3. The grid tolerance (from the supplier side and as far as i can tell all across the EU) is 230v+-10%, so well within the range. Also, i know this is not the issue, as i have previously mentioned a few times, in my other home the grid is very old and i saw voltages below 200v and above 260v, but the only issue that caused was that once it is lower than 207v or higher than 253v in any of the 3 phases it just pauses charging and resumes as soon as it is back to within the 230v+-10%. I have the exact same charger installed there too.

As far as i can tell this issue is rare in Europe and i was the closest one to fly to for data logging.

 

[nick729]

I’ve noticed that too, that the air compressor starts up when I go from 110 charging and switch it to the 40amp charging right away. It stops after awhile but it does start up.

To clarify - i meant that i switch on the 3kw air compressor (it is a portable one that i keep empty when not in use) to put a load on the grid as soon as i plug in the car and the relay clicks on the wallbox. Basically, just switching on something that draws a lot of power from the house grid seems to bump up the baseline of the house grid to get it within the specified tolerance required by the Macan.

 

[lukine]

Yes, i am in Europe ~930miles away from Stuttgart.

It's not the voltage that is the issue, it's the other parameters that were measured and which are important like the harmonic distortion or frequency stability, etc... I am not sure which one or a combination of all, but the graphs I saw - mine were barely under the baseline tolerance. Switching on a high power device somehow bumps the baseline in the grid and that helps to get the car to start charging.

Not sure this will be of any use for you, but in my case the voltage across the 3 phases were: ~215-235v in each of the 3. The grid tolerance (from the supplier side and as far as i can tell all across the EU) is 230v+-10%, so well within the range. Also, i know this is not the issue, as i have previously mentioned a few times, in my other home the grid is very old and i saw voltages below 200v and above 260v, but the only issue that caused was that once it is lower than 207v or higher than 253v in any of the 3 phases it just pauses charging and resumes as soon as it is back to within the 230v+-10%. I have the exact same charger installed there too.

As far as i can tell this issue is rare in Europe and i was the closest one to fly to for data logging.

But if the issue is not voltage and it's TDH, turning on appliances that are contributors to this, increases the TDH which makes it deviate from the ideal range, and that's not what we want. I'm assuming you want less TDH and more frequency stability.

 

[nick729]

But if the issue is not voltage and it's TDH, turning on appliances that are contributors to this, increases the TDH which makes it deviate from the ideal range, and that's not what we want. I'm assuming you want less TDH and more frequency stability.

I’m struggling to understand the logic by which turning something on would initiate charging; it doesn’t add up to me either but at least i now have a fully charged Macan and hopefully a work around until a proper fix is deployed.

The engineers were busy, so I did not bother them with my questions. Hopefully, the data collected will help to find a solution that works for everyone. Judging by the tone, engineers had an idea of what the issue was prior to flying in, but no real data to analyze and to find a solution. They now have the data and they were optimistic that the fix will be provided shortly.

 

[lukine]

I’m struggling to understand the logic by which turning something on would initiate charging; it doesn’t add up to me either but at least i now have a fully charged Macan and hopefully a work around until a proper fix is deployed.

The engineers were busy, so I did not bother them with my questions. Hopefully, the data collected will help to find a solution that works for everyone. Judging by the tone, engineers had an idea of what the issue was prior to flying in, but no real data to analyze and to find a solution. They now have the data and they were optimistic that the fix will be provided shortly.

You're so nice. I would have asked a lot of questions haha

I mean, it's rare to have an opportunity to pick the brains of Porsche's engineers, and a chance to ask why they do certain things or why they don't do things that seems like a good idea.

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