EV Charging Cable 296900 Fault & Red Light

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cheves

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2021
Messages
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HI, I having a problem with a 2018 Leaf and/or its charger

At home it charges well with 110V or 220V.

At work only charges with 110V.

When I plug it to the Nema 14-50 at work it stays like charging for a couple of seconds and then the fault light goes off and the power light starts blinking nonstop.

The same Nema 14-50 at work is being used by other EV with no problems, we have 5 outlets and I have the same issue with all 5.

Those Nema 14-50 have a 50 amps breakers.

My charger is a model No. 296900.

:geek:


20210122-074304.jpg

20210122-074315.jpg

20210122-074332.jpg
 
Your work outlets will no doubt be 208v and the OEM Leaf EVSE is really the only one I know of that does not support 208v! Very stupid of Nissan IMO but it is what it is. Amazon is littered with other L2 EVSEs that gladly work on 208v, 30a models start around $300. 208v commercial power will still have 120v L1 which is why you can charge on L1 at work, IOW it's not half the L2 power(104v) like the power at your house would be(120v/240v)
An example, which I have no personal use of.
https://www.amazon.com/Charger-220V-240V-Portable-Electric-Charging/dp/B07VLFV715/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=32a+evse&qid=1611352829&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWjYzVEJVS09PTDdNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzU2ODkwWlM5QU1GU0VIS0E5JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NTU2OTVCNTMwV0hWUUlKQ1Qmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
 
LeftieBiker said:
I've corrected the title to remove a technical mistake (the charger is built into the car). The photo doesn't seem to show the red fault light lit.
Click to expand...

Here are the pictures with the fault light ON and the Power light blinking.

20210122-141712.jpg

20210122-141713.jpg
 
jjeff said:
Your work outlets will no doubt be 208v and the OEM Leaf EVSE is really the only one I know of that does not support 208v! Very stupid of Nissan IMO but it is what it is. Amazon is littered with other L2 EVSEs that gladly work on 208v, 30a models start around $300. 208v commercial power will still have 120v L1 which is why you can charge on L1 at work, IOW it's not half the L2 power(104v) like the power at your house would be(120v/240v)
An example, which I have no personal use of.
https://www.amazon.com/Charger-220V-240V-Portable-Electric-Charging/dp/B07VLFV715/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=32a+evse&qid=1611352829&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWjYzVEJVS09PTDdNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzU2ODkwWlM5QU1GU0VIS0E5JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NTU2OTVCNTMwV0hWUUlKQ1Qmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
Click to expand...


LeftieBiker said:
As suggested above, you likely have 208 volts at work, rather than 240.
Click to expand...

I will try to install a Buck & Boost Step-Up Transformer - 208V Primary - 240V Secondary at the work chargers and go from there.

Thanks!
 
Interesting idea, if it works. Make sure the setup can deal with the amperage. The Leaf's onboard charger can't use more than about 28 amps or so at 240 volts, but can take up to 30 or so at 208 volts.
 
The description and error lights match what I saw when I tested the Nissan EVSE that came with my 2019 SL Plus on 208V at my workshop garage. It appears to start charging for a few seconds before shutting down with the same combination of error lights. Clipper Creek EVSE's work well at 208 volts--I have an HCS-50P that plugs into my 14-50 receptacle. As a reminder, the Nissan EVSE will allow the car to draw up to 30 amperes and the car will actually draw at least 28 amperes if the voltage is a little below 240. To use a boost transformer, it will need to handle at least 28 amperes at 240 volts and at least 33 amperes at 208 volts continuously.
 
cheves said:
jjeff said:
Your work outlets will no doubt be 208v and the OEM Leaf EVSE is really the only one I know of that does not support 208v! Very stupid of Nissan IMO but it is what it is. Amazon is littered with other L2 EVSEs that gladly work on 208v, 30a models start around $300. 208v commercial power will still have 120v L1 which is why you can charge on L1 at work, IOW it's not half the L2 power(104v) like the power at your house would be(120v/240v)
An example, which I have no personal use of.
https://www.amazon.com/Charger-220V-240V-Portable-Electric-Charging/dp/B07VLFV715/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=32a+evse&qid=1611352829&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWjYzVEJVS09PTDdNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzU2ODkwWlM5QU1GU0VIS0E5JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NTU2OTVCNTMwV0hWUUlKQ1Qmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
Click to expand...


LeftieBiker said:
As suggested above, you likely have 208 volts at work, rather than 240.
Click to expand...

I will try to install a Buck & Boost Step-Up Transformer - 208V Primary - 240V Secondary at the work chargers and go from there.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Install where? you'd have to carry it around with you unless you could somehow leave it at work and a transformer capable of handling 30a @ 208v would have to be substantial(heavy, size) personally I'd rather just carry around a $300 EVSE capable of handling 208-240v but it's up to you. If you could get the transformer for free and didn't mind lugging it around, it's your prerogative. Note you are also going to get losses with the transformer but I guess if the power is free.
 
Buck boost transformer would work...But it is not cheap...as mentioned a new EVSE would be better, then you could leave your Nissan EVSE at home.

Example of Buck Boost price below....if installed on a Nema 14-50...it needs to handle 50 amps...not just 28 amps... for other users...aka Tesla

https://www.larsonelectronics.com/p...-amps-50-60hz-2-5-6-4-soow-whips-nema-l14-50p

36 lbs. I wouldn't want to drag this around.
 
I have the Nissan EVSE that came with my 2013 LEAF. It has been upgraded to also work with L2 by (the now defunct) evseupgrade.com.
Anybody know its voltage range ?

Oddly enough (or perhaps not), I have only used it a handful of times, and never as an L2.

Addendum: I found the answer courtesy of the wayback machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20180815150625/http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2
Note: This is the upgrade service for the unit supplied with 2013 and 2014 North American Nissan LEAF. It requires a minimum 30 amp 208-240 volt outlet for high-power charging!
If you only have 20A circuit available for charging, or have a different model, we have special options,
Click to expand...
 
Ok, this is what I did, I installed a couple of Buck & Boost Step-Up Transformer and now voltage is 240V steady, still not working.

Facts:

Leaf charging at home with L2 Nema 14-50 240V 50A.
Leaf not charging at work with L2 Nema 14-50 220V 50A.
Tesla charging at work with L2 Nema 14-50 220V 50A.
Buck & Boost Step-Up Transformer was installed.
Leaf still charging at home with L2 Nema 14-50 240V 50A.
Leaf not charging at work with L2 Nema 14-50 240V 50A.
Tesla charging at work with L2 Nema 14-50 240V 50A.

Here some pics.

20210128-085750.jpg" alt="20210128-085750

20210128-085755.jpg" alt="20210128-085755

20210128-085812.jpg" alt="20210128-085812

20210128-085837.jpg" alt="20210128-085837

20210128-085848.jpg" alt="20210128-085848

20210128-085857.jpg" alt="20210128-085857
 
SageBrush said:
I have the Nissan EVSE that came with my 2013 LEAF. It has been upgraded to also work with L2 by (the now defunct) evseupgrade.com.
Anybody know its voltage range ?

Oddly enough (or perhaps not), I have only used it a handful of times, and never as an L2.

Addendum: I found the answer courtesy of the wayback machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20180815150625/http://evseupgrade.com/?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2
Note: This is the upgrade service for the unit supplied with 2013 and 2014 North American Nissan LEAF. It requires a minimum 30 amp 208-240 volt outlet for high-power charging!
If you only have 20A circuit available for charging, or have a different model, we have special options,
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Should work fine. The EVSE I got with the car only works on 70% of outlets tested. EVSE Upgrade has worked on every outlet tested. I have same issues; won't charge on 208 with LEAF EVSE. Lot of heft for the value it provides.
 
there has to be a good ground path. The EVSSE does a ground check before activation, i.e. it will intentionally create a circuit path to leak a small current to ground, if it doesn't read within expectations it won't activate. The boost transformer is likely isolated from earth ground such that there is no path thru ground back to the secondary windings output.
 
Edited, after nlspace pointed out that the receptacle to the right of the 14-50R is in fact a 5-20R and not a 6-20R like I thought...

For about $300, you could get a portable EVSE that charges at full rate (6.6 kw rate). Something like this would work:

https://amzn.to/3j0txI3
 

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