OpenEVSE - Open Source Charging Station

[Bob]

Well, there is a story behind that. I bought the EVSE-RS from an EBAY seller who stated that he had bought an extra one for work but never installed it. I thought $750 was a good deal as they were $900 at the time. When it broke, I contacted Aerovironment, and they said the warrantee was only good from original purchase date for purchase direct from them. I made the argument that the Nissan branded unit came with a manual that specifically stated warranty was from date of original installation. Then they responded that my S/N had been stolen from them and they had already written it off. I'm assuming there is no warrantee protection from stolen property, but I just realized, maybe I should check with EBay and PayPal regarding their protections.[/quote]


It is really valuable to contact ebay and Paypal. In the very least, it will get this seller blacklisted so others won't get screwed by them.

It may or may not get your money back. I'll bet that ebay and Paypal have terms in their contracts that say that you don't get any protection if you file your claim too much later than the sale date.

Bob

[chris1howell]

There has been a ton or action the last few weeks with OpenEVSE development.

The photo above is information from several sources sent to the Open Energy Project server emoncms.org.

I currently have implemented:
AC voltage (Open Energy node)
Current (OpenEVSE)
Temperature (OpenEnergy Node)
Future
SOC (Tesla REST API, Leaf Carwings)

I have made my dashboard Public. The dashboard can be viewed here:
http://emoncms.org/chris1howell/

[VegasBrad]

Well, there is a story behind that. I bought the EVSE-RS from an EBAY seller who stated that he had bought an extra one for work but never installed it. I thought $750 was a good deal as they were $900 at the time. When it broke, I contacted Aerovironment, and they said the warrantee was only good from original purchase date for purchase direct from them. I made the argument that the Nissan branded unit came with a manual that specifically stated warranty was from date of original installation. Then they responded that my S/N had been stolen from them and they had already written it off. I'm assuming there is no warrantee protection from stolen property, but I just realized, maybe I should check with EBay and PayPal regarding their protections.

It is really valuable to contact ebay and Paypal. In the very least, it will get this seller blacklisted so others won't get screwed by them.

It may or may not get your money back. I'll bet that ebay and Paypal have terms in their contracts that say that you don't get any protection if you file your claim too much later than the sale date.

Bob[/quote]
I believe PayPal's current period for disputes for any payment you make using them is 6 months. Sorry to here of your trouble.

[VegasBrad]

There has been a ton or action the last few weeks with OpenEVSE development.

The photo above is information from several sources sent to the Open Energy Project server emoncms.org.

I currently have implemented:
AC voltage (Open Energy node)
Current (OpenEVSE)
Temperature (OpenEnergy Node)
Future
SOC (Tesla REST API, Leaf Carwings)

I have made my dashboard Public. The dashboard can be viewed here:
http://emoncms.org/chris1howell/

That's very cool looking!

[chris1howell]

I wrote a little code in python to read the live current from OpenEVSE Via RAPI then upload the data to the Open Energy Monitor website http://emoncms.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.



Here is my live dashboard with input from OpenEVSE and Open Energy Monitor:

http://emoncms.org/chris1howell/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



The code runs great on a OpenWRT router, Raspberry pi or any other device that supports Python



Basic steps...

Setup account at emoncms.org

copy write API key

edit python code to insert your read/write API key



setup OpenWRT router on network
connect router to OpenEVSE with a serial TTL cable

setup python
opkg update
opkg install python
opkg install pyserial

upload python file to router via ftp or http
ensure OpenEVSE has firmware with RAPI enabled
run python file

set up a dashboard on emoncms.org



Every 10 seconds the current will be read and sent. This is the expected output:


Send RAPI>>$GG*B2
OpenEVSE>>$OK 16
POST OpenEVSE current to emoncms.org
Recieved HTTP Response

Here is the source code. Note the API Key below has been modified, please do not forget to insert your key.

Code: Select all

#OpenEVSE RAPI current in Python


import time, httplib, urllib, serial


done = False

amp_ct = 0


# Setup for Serial Port

comm = serial.Serial()

comm.port='/dev/ttyUSB0'

comm.baudrate=115200

comm.open()


# Setup for Open Energy Monitor Emoncms.org

host = 'www.emoncms.org'

url_post = '/input/post.json?'

apikey = '&apikey=07abcd292c15e5222e4a4075b95e12345'

values = urllib.urlencode({'value' : '1234',}) headers = {

    'User-Agent': 'python',

    'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',

    'Accept': 'text/plain',

}

conn = httplib.HTTPConnection(host)

while not done:

 #read current from OpenEVSE and Post

    comm.write("$GG*B2\r")

    print (" ")

    print ("Send RAPI>>$GG*B2")

    time.sleep(1)

    out = ''

    while comm.inWaiting() > 0:

        out += comm.read(1)

    if out != '':

        print "OpenEVSE>>" + out

        if out != "$NK":

            amp_ct = out.replace("$OK ", "")

            input_amp = 'json={OpenEVSE:' + amp_ct + '}'

            url_amp_ct = url_post + input_amp + apikey

            conn.request("POST", url_amp_ct, values, headers)

            response = conn.getresponse()

            print "POST OpenEVSE current to emoncms.org"

            if response != '':

                print "Recieved HTTP Response"

    else:

        print "Serial Error: No response"

    if out == "$NK":

        print "OpenEVSE>> Error"

    time.sleep(9)

[chris1howell]

The OpenEVSE Team is thrilled to anounce a major firmware release.

https://github.com/lincomatic/open_evse/releases" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

• UL compliant safety checks, minor behavior changes to comply with UL lab results
• Temperature monitoring - Ambirnt and IR - stays quiet in the background but protects you automatically if all hell breaks loose - plus new RAPI command to poll the sensors. Anyone with the RGB LCD w/RTC from the OpenEVSE store will be able to benefit from this feature by only flashing new firmware. Adding MCP9808 and/or TMP007 IR breakout boards to I2C is simple and works automatically.
• Temprature throtteling - Charging current dynamicly reduced in several stages as ambient or spot IR tempratures reach critical levels.
• kWh metering on by default now if you have the current measurement CT on a v2.5 or v3 or OpenEVSE II
• Clock and Delaytimer menus are back where you can find them with the button, always available via RAPI
• Simpler compiling - no copying of files to libraries directory
• Improved Ground Monotoring - new firmware supports rectifier diodes 1N4004 on AC_test lines to support GMI in all use conditions
• New RAPI commands for temprature and setting or clearing the accumulated kWh. Use that in case the eeprom is cleared to 0 and you want your old accumulated kWh back again
• RAPI checksum options: arithmetic sum, XOR, and no checksum for interactive use.

[GlennD]

I have an OpenEVSE L1&L2 32A EVSE for sale for $300. PM me for details

[RedEnergy]

I just bought a 2013 Leaf and I'd really would love to build my own OpenEVSE. I have a question. Before disturbing you with this post I searched online and on this forum but I did not find the answer, or I did not understood it

Is there any benefit (or restriction) buing the "OpenEVSE - Level 2 Deluxe Charge Station Combo (50A max)" instead off the "OpenEVSE 30A Deluxe Charge Station Combo"? (choosing the "no solder" option, the 50A is even cheaper...)

Also: I'm very interested in having wifi capacity since I'd like to have a full online energy monitoring of my house. My understanding is that wifi option would be soon on sale. DO you think I can start building my openEVSE now and add the wifi when it will be available?


Thanks a lot to everyone. This will be my first open-project.

[davewill]

... Is there any benefit (or restriction) buing the "OpenEVSE - Level 2 Deluxe Charge Station Combo (50A max)" instead off the "OpenEVSE 30A Deluxe Charge Station Combo"? (choosing the "no solder" option, the 50A is even cheaper...) ...

I believe the 50a kit can't be used with a 120v (L1) input. So if you wanted an EVSE that could be plugged into 240v or 120v, you'd need the 30a kit. If that's not the case, you might as well get the 50a kit. It can be set to run a lower amperages so if you end up buying a 30a J1772 cable, for instance, no problem.

[RedEnergy]

Thanks for the very quick and clear answer!

Just a very (VERY) stupid question:
is the current set by the charger installed in the car or by the openEVSE? In the second case: do I need to set the EVSE to run to a lower current?