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Seeking Feedback - How Interested Would You Be In Roadtesting an EV Charger Checker Tool Kit?

rscasny

imageGiven the interest and growth of electric vehicles (EVs), it was just a matter of time for one of our suppliers to begin offering tool kits specifically for EVs. One of our suppliers, Megger, is interested in having the element14 Community roadtest this kit. This product is designed to check the safety and operation of EV charger points.

I'd like to get your thoughts about this tool kit. If you have the time, please vote in the poll below.

Let me tell you a few things about this tool:

The new EVCC300 introduces a new and convenient way of checking electric vehicle (EV) charge points. A simple all in one concept provides an easy to use solution to check both the safety and operation of mode 2 and single phase mode 3 (level 1 and two phase level 2) EV chargers. The instrument is ideal for those wishing to perform a fault finding check on an EV charger following manufacture or repair, or just part of a maintenance schedule/inspection.

Here are some features:

  • Checks mode 2 and single-phase mode 3 (level 1 and two phase level 2) chargers
  • Checks chargers with SAE J1772 Type 1 and Type 2 connectors
  • Performs four EV charger safety checks
  • Performs four EV charger operation checks
  • Checks to see if nuisance tripping or RCD/GFCI is likely to occur
  • Reads control pilot state response from EV Charger to IEC61852-1

Here are some technical documents:

Datasheet:
Quick Start Guide: 
User Guide: 

For More Information



Parents

  • I’m guessing it’s a bit like the outlet testers you can get for outlets at home?

    If so, it would make a lot of sense for an EV owner to routinely quick-test before charging their car - you’d hate for an old, worn, or generally faulty EV charger to damage your EV.

    I don’t have an EV at this point, which is why I voted no.

    image

Reply

  • I’m guessing it’s a bit like the outlet testers you can get for outlets at home?

    If so, it would make a lot of sense for an EV owner to routinely quick-test before charging their car - you’d hate for an old, worn, or generally faulty EV charger to damage your EV.

    I don’t have an EV at this point, which is why I voted no.

    image

Children
  • in reply to ntewinkel

    As far as I can tell, it's actually a lot more sophisticated than that, but it's mostly concerned about checking the EVSE (charging equipment)'s safety protective mechanisms are correctly functioning rather than whether it's correctly wired or might cause damage to an EV.

    It checks that there is an Earth connection and the connection resistance. Mash this together with some additional checks on charger-vehicle communications as well (as that's needed to get the charging going). Then, you can think of it more like the test button for your RCD/GFCI to see that it will trip in case of Earth leakage, but also that it trips in time. But in the case of an EVSE, this has to happen on AC and DC.

    I wonder if EVSE's are designed to automatically clear earth leakage trips, or whether this could become a "weapon" to disable EVSEs at will :\

    - Gough