shrink
Well-known member
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 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.