Why am I limited to 16amps with my 7kw wall charger?

Spiderstu · 02-04-2022, 06:36 PM

Hi

I’ve got a teathered pod point 7kw wall charger installed. My first charge appeared to pull 30amps and the car charges up quickly. However since then I appear to only be getting 16amps and I can’t work out why. I thought I should get up to 32amps.

Things I’ve checked:

- BMW App says 16amps while charging
- Dashboard says 16amps while charging
- I’ve checked the AC limit is at the maximum 32amps
- The charging window is set to 00:00 to 23:59 but is unchecked ie I’m able to charge day and night
- There don’t appear to be any errors showing anywhere on the car or in the pod point app
- The outside temperature has been up to around 11°c. The car has been left on charge for long periods but doesn’t seem to get any faster

I’m convinced I’m doing something wrong. Any ideas?

R_Soul · 02-05-2022, 01:36 AM

Are you sure you got 32 amps the first time?

It sounds like everything is setup OK, so it’s either the car limiting it or the wall charger. My wall charger has settings which are set by the installer and depend on the main fuse size of the house supply.

I think only houses with a 100 amp fuse will get a charger set to 32 amp.

I’m not an electrician or installer, this is just what I read on the installation manual for my charger.

ggla · 02-05-2022, 02:59 AM

This thread has some good points to think about:

https://www.speakev.com/threads/podp...r-slow.160867/

Spiderstu · 02-05-2022, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggla

This thread has some good points to think about:

https://www.speakev.com/threads/podp...r-slow.160867/

Thank you. Looks like I’ll be getting in touch with podpoint.

Spiderstu · 02-05-2022, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R_Soul

Are you sure you got 32 amps the first time?

It sounds like everything is setup OK, so it’s either the car limiting it or the wall charger. My wall charger has settings which are set by the installer and depend on the main fuse size of the house supply.

I think only houses with a 100 amp fuse will get a charger set to 32 amp.

I’m not an electrician or installer, this is just what I read on the installation manual for my charger.

It seemed I was getting 30 amps which seemed odd as I was expecting 32, but wasn’t worried about the missing 2 amps. I have a 100amp fuse. I’m going to have to contact pod point I think.

Spiderstu · 02-07-2022, 04:22 AM

I called Pod Point this morning and sure enough it was something to do with the way the charge point was configured. They reset it and I’m now back to pulling 6.8kwh / 30 amps. Still not sure why that isn’t 32 amps but I’m not too worried about that.

supersebbo · 02-07-2022, 07:17 AM

I had the exact same issue with my PodPoint, my installer configured it to be 7.2kW but when Pod-Point remotely comissioned it and updated the software they reset it to 3.6kW. Took a call to Pod-Point to get it set back to 7.2kW.

the_ape · 02-08-2022, 03:33 PM

Most of them have load monitors upstream, if you only have a 60amp main fuse then it's probably limiting you to protect the fuse due to other draw, it's designed to try leave headroom for spike draw types like ovens drier and washing machines etc

Spiderstu · 02-09-2022, 05:25 AM

I asked them the question about 30 v 32 amps. This is the response:

Configuring he unit to 32A has many implications:

1. Most MCB/RCBO manufacturers specify an 80% de-rating factor to prevent unintentional tripping where the the consumer unit is fully loaded (heat adjacent devices produces a reduced rating), the trip limit of a 40A may fall to 32A.

2. EV's are allowed to exceed the maximum rate of charge by 10% (32A EV could charge at 35A), this pushes the Relay rating we use (35A) to the limit and the cable feeding the EVSE in some cases.

3. The Heat Losses in cables increase.

4. Lastly, BS7671 states a maximum rating of 32A for a socket outlet in a domestic environment, if it is known we will be exceeding this limit I believe planning permission must be granted.

The Pod Point chargers have proven reliable at 30A unlike other major manufacturers of EVSE in the UK who have in the past used 32A settings. (their relays have failed dangerously), also the mains voltage difference between Europe and the UK does result in the overall charging rate of UK units being higher! (Europe 220V x 32A = 7.04kW, UK 240V x 30A = 7.2kW). The unit to 32A has many implications:

1. Most MCB/RCBO manufacturers specify an 80% de-rating factor to prevent unintentional tripping where the the consumer unit is fully loaded (heat adjacent devices produces a reduced rating), the trip limit of a 40A may fall to 32A.

2. EV's are allowed to exceed the maximum rate of charge by 10% (32A EV could charge at 35A), this pushes the Relay rating we use (35A) to the limit and the cable feeding the EVSE in some cases.

3. The Heat Losses in cables increase.

4. Lastly, BS7671 states a maximum rating of 32A for a socket outlet in a domestic environment, if it is known we will be exceeding this limit I believe planning permission must be granted.

The Pod Point chargers have proven reliable at 30A unlike other major manufacturers of EVSE in the UK who have in the past used 32A settings. (their relays have failed dangerously), also the mains voltage difference between Europe and the UK does result in the overall charging rate of UK units being higher! (Europe 220V x 32A = 7.04kW, UK 240V x 30A = 7.2kW).

GDEvans · 02-09-2022, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiderstu

The Pod Point chargers have proven reliable at 30A unlike other major manufacturers of EVSE in the UK who have in the past used 32A settings. (their relays have failed dangerously), also the mains voltage difference between Europe and the UK does result in the overall charging rate of UK units being higher! (Europe 220V x 32A = 7.04kW, UK 240V x 30A = 7.2kW).

I thought nominal voltage across the EU was harmonised to 230V about 20 years ago. Obviously it fluctuates slightly, both by country and time of day.

Hence why the single phase chargers are rated at 7.4kW (230V x 32A = 7.36kW).

supersebbo · 02-09-2022, 08:04 AM

Harmonized on paper to make standards easier, but actually not in practice. UK voltages sit on the high side (230-240V) while EU voltages sit on the low side (220-230V).

I believe electricians are allowed to use the harmonized value of 230V in their calculations but have to apply a margin to it.

02-04-2022, 06:36 PM	#1
Spiderstu New Member 2 Rep 14 Posts Drives: X3 30d > iX3 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: U.K. iTrader: (0)	Why am I limited to 16amps with my 7kw wall charger? Hi I’ve got a teathered pod point 7kw wall charger installed. My first charge appeared to pull 30amps and the car charges up quickly. However since then I appear to only be getting 16amps and I can’t work out why. I thought I should get up to 32amps. Things I’ve checked: - BMW App says 16amps while charging - Dashboard says 16amps while charging - I’ve checked the AC limit is at the maximum 32amps - The charging window is set to 00:00 to 23:59 but is unchecked ie I’m able to charge day and night - There don’t appear to be any errors showing anywhere on the car or in the pod point app - The outside temperature has been up to around 11°c. The car has been left on charge for long periods but doesn’t seem to get any faster I’m convinced I’m doing something wrong. Any ideas?
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02-05-2022, 01:36 AM	#2
R_Soul Private 6 Rep 65 Posts Drives: iX3 Premier Pro Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Are you sure you got 32 amps the first time? It sounds like everything is setup OK, so it’s either the car limiting it or the wall charger. My wall charger has settings which are set by the installer and depend on the main fuse size of the house supply. I think only houses with a 100 amp fuse will get a charger set to 32 amp. I’m not an electrician or installer, this is just what I read on the installation manual for my charger.
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02-05-2022, 02:59 AM	#3
ggla Private First Class 32 Rep 121 Posts Drives: BMW X3 G01 MSport Plus Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	This thread has some good points to think about: https://www.speakev.com/threads/podp...r-slow.160867/
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02-07-2022, 04:22 AM	#6
Spiderstu New Member 2 Rep 14 Posts Drives: X3 30d > iX3 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: U.K. iTrader: (0)	I called Pod Point this morning and sure enough it was something to do with the way the charge point was configured. They reset it and I’m now back to pulling 6.8kwh / 30 amps. Still not sure why that isn’t 32 amps but I’m not too worried about that.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-07-2022, 07:17 AM	#7
supersebbo First Lieutenant 234 Rep 366 Posts Drives: iX3 Premier Pro (Dec 21) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I had the exact same issue with my PodPoint, my installer configured it to be 7.2kW but when Pod-Point remotely comissioned it and updated the software they reset it to 3.6kW. Took a call to Pod-Point to get it set back to 7.2kW.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-08-2022, 03:33 PM	#8
the_ape Captain 102 Rep 601 Posts Drives: 225xe / iX3 Premier Pro Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Warwickshire, UK iTrader: (0)	Most of them have load monitors upstream, if you only have a 60amp main fuse then it's probably limiting you to protect the fuse due to other draw, it's designed to try leave headroom for spike draw types like ovens drier and washing machines etc
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-09-2022, 05:25 AM	#9
Spiderstu New Member 2 Rep 14 Posts Drives: X3 30d > iX3 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: U.K. iTrader: (0)	I asked them the question about 30 v 32 amps. This is the response: Configuring he unit to 32A has many implications: 1. Most MCB/RCBO manufacturers specify an 80% de-rating factor to prevent unintentional tripping where the the consumer unit is fully loaded (heat adjacent devices produces a reduced rating), the trip limit of a 40A may fall to 32A. 2. EV's are allowed to exceed the maximum rate of charge by 10% (32A EV could charge at 35A), this pushes the Relay rating we use (35A) to the limit and the cable feeding the EVSE in some cases. 3. The Heat Losses in cables increase. 4. Lastly, BS7671 states a maximum rating of 32A for a socket outlet in a domestic environment, if it is known we will be exceeding this limit I believe planning permission must be granted. The Pod Point chargers have proven reliable at 30A unlike other major manufacturers of EVSE in the UK who have in the past used 32A settings. (their relays have failed dangerously), also the mains voltage difference between Europe and the UK does result in the overall charging rate of UK units being higher! (Europe 220V x 32A = 7.04kW, UK 240V x 30A = 7.2kW). The unit to 32A has many implications: 1. Most MCB/RCBO manufacturers specify an 80% de-rating factor to prevent unintentional tripping where the the consumer unit is fully loaded (heat adjacent devices produces a reduced rating), the trip limit of a 40A may fall to 32A. 2. EV's are allowed to exceed the maximum rate of charge by 10% (32A EV could charge at 35A), this pushes the Relay rating we use (35A) to the limit and the cable feeding the EVSE in some cases. 3. The Heat Losses in cables increase. 4. Lastly, BS7671 states a maximum rating of 32A for a socket outlet in a domestic environment, if it is known we will be exceeding this limit I believe planning permission must be granted. The Pod Point chargers have proven reliable at 30A unlike other major manufacturers of EVSE in the UK who have in the past used 32A settings. (their relays have failed dangerously), also the mains voltage difference between Europe and the UK does result in the overall charging rate of UK units being higher! (Europe 220V x 32A = 7.04kW, UK 240V x 30A = 7.2kW).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-09-2022, 08:04 AM	#11
supersebbo First Lieutenant 234 Rep 366 Posts Drives: iX3 Premier Pro (Dec 21) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Harmonized on paper to make standards easier, but actually not in practice. UK voltages sit on the high side (230-240V) while EU voltages sit on the low side (220-230V). I believe electricians are allowed to use the harmonized value of 230V in their calculations but have to apply a margin to it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote