Check the charging cable
This article gives some hints to locate if a problem is related to your charging cable.
To check if the charging cable of your electric vehicle (EV) is working, you can follow these steps:
- Visually inspect the cable:
Check the cable for any visible signs of damage, such as frayed wires, exposed connectors, or bent pins. If you notice any damage, do not attempt to use the cable as it may pose a safety risk.
- Test with another charging cable.
Make sure you have the correct cable, there are 1-phase and 3-phase cables.
- Slowly move the cable during the session to determine if the session will intermit.
When using a charger that has a fixed charging cable, in case of doubt a service request should be considered.
- Test with another charging station:
If possible, try connecting your charging cable to a different charging station. This helps determine if the issue lies with the cable or the original charging station. If the cable works with the alternative charging station, it suggests that the original charging station may have a problem.
- Test with another EV (if available):
If you have access to another compatible EV, try using your charging cable to charge that vehicle. This test helps determine if the issue is specific to your EV or the charging cable itself.
- Check the charging indicators:
Many EV charging cables and stations have indicators to show whether charging is in progress. When you connect the cable to the EV and charging station, check if the charging indicators on both the cable and the station light up or display the appropriate status. If there are no indications of charging activity, it could indicate a problem.
- Monitor the charging process:
If the cable appears to be connected and the charging indicators are active, leave the cable connected to the vehicle for a while and monitor if the charging process initiates. Some EVs may have a delay before charging begins. If the charging process doesn't start after a reasonable time, there might be an issue.
- Check the cable using a multimeter:
Warning!
Ensure the cable has been disconnected on both sides and ensure neither can be reinstated for safety reasons.
If you have the means, connect the multimeter probes to the appropriate pins of the charging cable's connector. CP, Neutral, PE, L1, L2 and L3 can be measured from one side of the cable to the other side.
PP cannot be measured from side to side, this is a resistance contact directly on the connector side only.
Take each wire individually. With an ohm meter you should have zero ohm or short circuit (some meter might give a beep sound). Please check the table on this page. If the multimeter displays the expected ohm value, it indicates that the specific wire is ok. If you lose resistance while measuring, it is possible that you have a defect in your cable and it needs to be replaced. While measuring provides a good indication, accurate testing might prove tricky. An easier way would be to use a different cable as a test to make sure your cable is not the cause of the issue.
A Type 2 connector has 7 pins:- Phase L1
- Phase L2
- Phase L3
- Neutral (N)
- Protective Earth (PE)
- Control Pilot (CP)
- Proximity Pin (PP)
To measure the PP:
Locate the PP and PE, an ohm’s value should be measured between the two contacts according to the table mentioned below.
Max. Current Approximately Resistance 13A 1500 Ohms 20A 680 Ohms 32A 200 Ohms 64A 100 Ohms 