In this article, we address the recent charging issues reported by BMW iX3/i4/iX1 owners using myenergi's zappi charging system. These issues primarily occur when attempting to charge from surplus PV generation. Although these issues are not related to the zappi device itself, it is important to identify the root cause and potential solutions.
Overview
Recently, we have received multiple reports from customers who are unable to charge their BMW iX3/i4/iX1 vehicles using surplus PV generation. The zappi charger displays a "Charge Delayed" message under these circumstances.
Symptoms
The following symptoms have been observed:
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Charge Delayed Message: When the PV inverter is active, the zappi is unable to deliver a charge.
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Weather-Dependent Charging: Charging is possible at night or during poor weather conditions when the PV inverter is not generating power.
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Interference with PV Inverter: Charging functions correctly when the PV inverter is turned off.
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Verification with Alternative Charger: The customer tested with a "granny" three-pin charger, which also failed, confirming that the issue does not lie with the zappi unit.
Possible Solution
The issue seems to be related to electrical noise on the house mains, particularly when drawing power from PVs or batteries. A test case revealed that:
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PV Inverter Adjustment: The PV engineer adjusted a “low noise” setting on the inverter from 15 kHz to 20 kHz, which resolved the problem.
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Noise Sensitivity: It appears that BMW vehicles may be sensitive to noise on the mains, as indicated by failed charging attempts with another iX3 vehicle exhibiting the same issue.
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Inverter Model: The test case involved a customer using a Sunsynk hybrid inverter, which was contributing to the noise issue.
This situation highlights the importance of ensuring that the PV system settings are optimised to avoid interference with the vehicle's charging requirements. Customers experiencing similar issues should consider consulting their PV supplier to review and adjust the inverter settings accordingly.
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