ENIAC said:
I checked the J1772 handle and noticed it was connected but wasn't positively locked in. After dozens of attempts, I was able to recreate what had happened. There is a point on the connector where the car thinks it's plugged in but the EVSE doesn't. However, if the handle is firmly locked (you can't pull it out without pushing the release) then the EVSE also always believes it's plugged in.
Interesting. I may have experienced this last night, but not 100% sure.
I pulled up to the charging station (Nissan of Downtown LA) with 6 miles on the GOM. Plugged in, pushed the timer override button, checked that the light on the dash was blinking as expected, and then hurried off to my destination as I was running late. I would be gone for almost 3 hours, which would give me plenty of charge to get back home after the event.
When I returned and started the car, it showed 6 miles on the GOM. :shock:
It appears that no charging had occurred. So my friend (who drove separately) and I decided to have dinner in the area while I re-plugged in to get enough charge to get me home. This time I double and triple checked that it was really charging before heading off to find a restaurant. It did charge without incident, so I was able to get home after dinner.
I tried to reproduce the condition described above with my Panasonic EVSE, but couldn't quite do it - the car wouldn't recognize that it was plugged in until the handle clicked in, at which point both car and EVSE recognized the connection. However, I could then pull it back out just slightly, and then get the described condition where the car looks like it's plugged in but the EVSE doesn't see it. In this condition, when I press the timer override button, the green icon behind the steering wheel stays on solid, as does the middle blue dash light. I could swear I saw both blinking before leaving last night, but I concede I may have been checking too quickly since I was in a hurry and could have missed that they were solid.
I see two lessons learned here:
1. Take a few extra seconds to make sure the plug is secure and all charging indicators are blinking with the expected pattern.
2. While away from the car, use the smart phone app to check status, and if possible restart charging if it's not doing so. I actually thought about this multiple times while away, but kept thinking "no, it's charging, no need to check." Oops!
Those without smart phones can always use Autoflugel to do this via text message.