Repair options for Nissan Portable EVSE 29690 3NA0A 3XB3?

My upgraded 2011 Nissan "portable" EVSE worked fine, but recently stopped working at all, failing a few days after getting left out charging in a storm. It shows no lights at all, and draws no power.

There's a sticker on this one reading "INPUT VOLTAGE AUTO-ADJUST 120V 12A-208/240V 16A-60hz", meaning it probably was upgraded by http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=index&cPath=1

I also see disassembly instructions at http://www.instructables.com/id/EVSE-LEVEL-1-TO-LEVEL-2-20/
And similar charger repair instructions at http://blog.coppelltvrepair.com/2014/05/repairing-chevy-volt-charging-station.html



Is there anyone who repairs Nissan EVSE units professionally?
I know the EVSE upgrade unit can have some software control on charging rates, how is this done?

Personally I'd email Phil at EVSEupgrade.com and see what he has to say.
When he learned my '12 upgraded EVSE had old firmware that output 20a @ 120v and no way to lower it, he offered to upgrade it to current specs for 1/2 the price of a normal upgrade. Now it's possible yours is beyond repair but to me I think it would be worth a shot sending it to him. Using a USPS prepaid box I think it's only about $10 shipping to CA, thats what it cost me a few years ago to send it to him.
Of course if your a DIY guy I suppose you could follow the instructions in your links, it's up to you.

If it doesn't work at all, I'd say try opening the housing and snapping a few photos. When I last had mine open, there wasn't anything in there particularly dangerous, providing that you don't have it plugged in while working on it. Worst case, you can always send the photos to the guy who did the upgrade and ask his opinion.

Normally anything water damaged is pretty easy to spot.

My EVSE failed in a similar way (no lights, wouldn't charge) due to the small transformer that creates the low voltage internal rails failing.

I'm told reliably that the power supply has turned out to be a weak point on the early units. It has probably given out.

jjeff said:

Using a USPS prepaid box I think it's only about $10 shipping to CA, thats what it cost me a few years ago to send it to him.
Of course if your a DIY guy I suppose you could follow the instructions in your links, it's up to you.

Click to expand...

Using my bicycle, it's about $0. He's less than a mile from my home.

brycenesbitt said:

jjeff said:

Using a USPS prepaid box I think it's only about $10 shipping to CA, thats what it cost me a few years ago to send it to him.
Of course if your a DIY guy I suppose you could follow the instructions in your links, it's up to you.

Click to expand...

Using my bicycle, it's about $0. He's less than a mile from my home.

Click to expand...

all the better! I don't know if it's true but when I had mine upgraded several years ago I remember Phil made it pretty clear that he didn't want local drop-offs. Something about it was taking up all his time chatting with all his customers, which I guess I can understand. Not that I'd have made the 2k+ mile trek to CA to save $10 in shipping but just something I remember reading back in the day.

I drilled the case, got the goop off the screws and opened it.

It was sopping wet inside, even after sitting inside for weeks and weeks.
The power converter between the white (110/220V) and yellow (20 volt?) wires is toasted.


But I hooked up a doorbell transformer (presumably 110V only) and it actually works.
The somewhat confusing guide at http://www.instructables.com/id/CONVERTING-A-LEAF-LEVEL-1-12AMP-CHARGER-TO-A-LEVEL/?ALLSTEPS helped.