I have asked my Blink EVSE to be removed

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shrink

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 8, 2011
Messages
360
Location
Phoenix, AZ
After repeated problems with my Blink EVSE I have asked out of the EV Project and for my Blink to be removed.

I bought an orphan LEAF in 8/2011, then had the Blink EVSE installed in mid September. Ever since it was installed, the unit would only charge intermittently. I never set up a charge timer on the Blink, but did use the one on the LEAF so I could charge off peak to 80%. There was never an issue with either the stock EVSE or the EVSE upgrade. Ever. It always charged perfectly.

Once I started using the Blink (which has the 1.7 firmware), I would frequently get the following message: "Not Charging. Please check the status of your vehicle." Sometimes I could get the charge to start by unplugging and plugging in the Blink or by using the manual timer override on the LEAF, but quite frankly it was unpredictable. I called Blink tech support about every 7-10 days for help and they would take me through the various resets and other procedures. Oddly, it would sometimes resolve, but as with any intermittent problem, it was simply unpredictable. It's quite hard to rely on an electric car if you don't know if it will charge each night.

Blink contractors finally came to the house last Friday - about 10 days after the Blink stopped charging altogether. The contractors troubleshooted with Blink for about 2 hours and the charge was still intermittent (at least the electricians got it to charge intermittently). Blink then tried to blame the car. They claimed it might not be reading the higher voltage of a Level 2 charge or that something was wrong with the charge port. I did not mention I had the upgraded EVSE fearing they might blame that, but they requested I take the car to Nissan to test the port. I proceeded later that afternoon to go to three L2 public charges in the neighborhood, two Blinks and one Aerovironment at Nissan, and the car charged as expected without any issue. I reported each successful charge to Blink that same day. Blink said Friday afternoon that an engineer suggested testing the ground, a new connector, and a new Blink unit - finally- and that they would authorize the contractors to get back out early next week.

I called Blink this morning and there was no movement on my trouble ticket. The tech started wondering if there was anything I could do on my own to troubleshoot at which point I asked how exactly am I to test a new connector or new unit on my own? I had also called the contractor and they said they had heard nothing from Blink.

I'm fed up. I told them since they can't fix it, are incorrectly blaming the car, and are wasting my time that I want out of the EV project and to remove the unit.

The upgraded EVSE is working just fine.
 
I don't blame you, as asking for the removal of my Blink was going to be my next move also. I have had three "failure to charge" incidents. Blink wanted to add a ground rod to my main service panel but backed off of that when I told them I already had two ground rods.

I am now scheduled to get a new Blink this Friday. If I have problems with it I will probably ask for its removal. "Failure to charge" just doesn't work for me.

I don't have the upgraded EVSE but will definitely get it if I remove the Blink.
 
That's funny that they blame your car with the LONG list of documented Blink EVSE failures.

You stay classy guys !!!

If this Blink in my house does another "fail to charge", I think I'm done, too. I have the EVSEupgrade, but I prefer to leave that in the car, and just buy something from Lowes or Home Depot.
 
Just curious but how is your Blink connected to the network? Are you using the built in WiFi? I personally had nothing but problems with my Blink unit using the built in wireless but I have since been using an external WiFi to ethernet bridge without issue and will eventually run wired ethernet. I know it sounds odd that the built in WiFi would cause charging problems but it did for me.
 
Spies said:
Just curious but how is your Blink connected to the network? Are you using the built in WiFi? I personally had nothing but problems with my Blink unit using the built in wireless but I have since been using an external WiFi to ethernet bridge without issue and will eventually run wired ethernet. I know it sounds odd that the built in WiFi would cause charging problems but it did for me.

It's Wi-Fi but only about 20 feet away. The connection has always been solid. One of the troubleshooting steps the electricians did was to hook it up via Ethernet and we still had the same issue. I remember staring at the car plugged into the Blink with the timer bypass button on and it still was not charging. The Blink was hooked up via Ethernet to my router at the time.

Wouldn't internet connectivity affect data transmission only? I don't see why that would affect charging, but who knows with this thing.

I really need just need a reliable charge, which the Blink is not providing and which Blink has been slow to troubleshoot. I'm just annoyed they blamed the car and that I have to take more of my time to try to get this fixed. It's more of a hassle than its worth.
 
you have an upgraded EVSE from Phil and you even care about the Blink? i think the ONLY reason i would like that is not having to pack the cable when i want to use it on the road (about 5 times in 9 months and nearly 10,000 miles) but other than that, the EVSE mod works flawlessly for me.

sorry the Blink is not working for you and i am sure that they can get it working for you. but when is that going to happen and you have already contacted them half a dozen times?. i think its time to move on
 
Don't be crazy. Just unplug the Blink and use your upgraded EVSE. When the EV project ends sell the Blink.
 
DaveinOlyWA said:
you have an upgraded EVSE from Phil and you even care about the Blink? i think the ONLY reason i would like that is not having to pack the cable when i want to use it on the road

Since I bought an orphan, the Blink was installed about a month after I got the car. I already had a 220 outlet in my garage, so I bought the EVSE upgrade to get L2 charging while I waited for the Blink. Even though the EVSE upgrade was working just fine, I figured the Blink was free, I qualified, so why not? The ability to keep the cable in the bag and in the car all the time was nice piece of mind as a I adjusted to the car and range anxiety (which is now nonexistent by the way).

SanDust said:
Don't be crazy. Just unplug the Blink and use your upgraded EVSE. When the EV project ends sell the Blink.

That's exactly what I've been doing. I unplugged the Blink and am using the EVSE upgrade. Selling is a thought, but I wouldn't want to sell this unit to anyone else. However, your post also jarred my memory - I would rather NOT pay the $700 back for the quick charge port option. I had not thought of that previously. So, I think your suggestion will be my solution. If Blink complains that I'm not sending them data, I will tell them to install a working unit.
 
I agree with give it a try once a week. No worky then why bother calling to have it fixed. Let them figure it out from data collection that I doubt they even verify.
In the mean time use the modified L1.
 
shrink said:
Spies said:
Just curious but how is your Blink connected to the network? Are you using the built in WiFi? I personally had nothing but problems with my Blink unit using the built in wireless but I have since been using an external WiFi to ethernet bridge without issue and will eventually run wired ethernet. I know it sounds odd that the built in WiFi would cause charging problems but it did for me.

It's Wi-Fi but only about 20 feet away. The connection has always been solid. One of the troubleshooting steps the electricians did was to hook it up via Ethernet and we still had the same issue. I remember staring at the car plugged into the Blink with the timer bypass button on and it still was not charging. The Blink was hooked up via Ethernet to my router at the time.

Wouldn't internet connectivity affect data transmission only? I don't see why that would affect charging, but who knows with this thing.

I really need just need a reliable charge, which the Blink is not providing and which Blink has been slow to troubleshoot. I'm just annoyed they blamed the car and that I have to take more of my time to try to get this fixed. It's more of a hassle than its worth.

Assuming the Blink charger isn't defective and your Wifi router isn't the culprit either, here's what I'd recommend to try:

Use WEP security. Set your router's DHCP to renew client IP addresses every couple of hours.

This doesn't interfere with any of your existing clients connected.

In any case, I would persist with the Blink (since it is free anyways) and work with ECOtality until it gets resolved. IF I had paid out of my own pocket for it, it's a different story.
 
My blink fails to charge 40% of the time. I am used to it. I just have to unplug it and plug it in again... then go to my car and unplug the charger handle and plug it back in to the port and it works. The software is a disaster and it freezes every few days. I just don't use a timer.
 
shrink said:
Wouldn't internet connectivity affect data transmission only? I don't see why that would affect charging, but who knows with this thing.

You are correct. Early on, when it was having problems connecting to the WiFi, I used it anyway, and it never failed to charge, but they and I had no data. Even with all the errors, auto reboots, etc., it has never failed to charge.
As to SanDust's idea, it has to be connected or they would probably come and get it anyway. At least that is what the agreement says that we signed.
 
shrink said:
Selling is a thought, but I wouldn't want to sell this unit to anyone else. However, your post also jarred my memory - I would rather NOT pay the $700 back for the quick charge port option
Good thinking about the possibility of having to pay for the QC. Forgot about that though I did remember something about paying back some incurred costs if you dropped back. Probably nothing would come of this given your reasons for withdrawing but leaving the Blink won't hurt anything.

Keep in mind the Blink definitely has market value. I'd buy it at the right price since the chargers are ungodly expensive. Not to kill a good deal, but I doubt it's the unit per se. The Blink's seem more sensitive than needed or desired. It's likely your power in combination with the Blink.
 
Has anyone tried setting a static IP address instead of using DHCP? I've done that. However, I've only had the Blink for a few days; I haven't had any problems but it's too early to tell.
 
DoxyLover said:
Has anyone tried setting a static IP address instead of using DHCP? I've done that. However, I've only had the Blink for a few days; I haven't had any problems but it's too early to tell.
I've only ever used a static IP. Didn't change the wifi situation at all, I think it's purely a signal strength issue.
 
I had to use a static ip because it would get the wrong address from the router. It assigned itself an ip address of 192.168.0.107 where it should have been 192.168.1.X. After I did the static assignment, I've had no more problems in about 3 months of use.
 
I'm going to chime in here with another possibility. I had my A/V unit removed and replaced with the Blink when I was accepted into the EV Project. They did not install a plug but hardwired the unit to the 220v that was installed with the original A/V unit. I have not had one problem with my Blink except for during the last firmware upgrade I had to reboot it to get it off the "welcome" screen, but it has yet to fail to charge my car. Just my 2 cents....
 
As long as you have an alternative I would not go out of my way to figure out their problems.
One phone call and I would just use the alternate charging until they came out and said it was fixed.
Repete as needed.
 
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