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Hi,
I’m new to electric cars (just bought a Zoe) and I’m wondering what is actually in an EV charger.
My mains charger states that it is 220-240V/10A in and out, so it doesn’t seem to do much.
But the installer of my 7kw home charger told me that the car controls the charger, regulating the current to reduce it towards the end, for example.
I suspect the mains charger is just a current limiter, with some added safety circuits, perhaps. But the 7kw charger might be more complicated. I do know that the car and the charger do some sort of hand shaking, but that’s only to initiate a charge, or not?Hi and Welcome,
Yep, what your installer told you is correct, Zoe has an on board charge controller, what sort of CP do you have? they are usually 16A or 30A.
The wallbox also has a simm to send info to OLEV.Come and join the club http://renaultzoeownersclub.webs.com/
Thanks for the reply. Does an ‘on board charge controller’ not suggest that the Zoe controls the charging? Why would it send instructions to an external charger to do so, and how does it control the mains charger then?
I don’t know what a CP is, but I have a ChargeMaster 7kw charger.
The charger agrees a maximum current with the ZOE through a fairly simple interface. Once it’s agreed, the power is switched on directly through a contactor (relay). As the charge approaches maximum, the ZOE slows down the charge rate (note that the charger does not control this reduction).
To reiterate: once the charger and ZOE agree on a maximum charge rate, 240Vac is switched directly to the ZOE and the charger has no further involvement in the charge rate.
My mains charger states that it is 220-240V/10A in and out, so it doesn’t seem to do much.
Note that the Granny EVSE lead has the same communication circuitry, but with the maximum current set to 10A.
CP = charge point, the Granny EVSE Andy mentions is a 13A lead with box of electronics like tis but with a 13Amp plug.
Aha, that makes it much clearer. The Zoe limits the charge, but after consulting the charger.
Thanks very much for taking the time to explain this to me.
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