Simpcharge Always Proximity triggered

[ev340]

Hi all
Hoping someone can help with a head scratch I’m having.

Simpcharge is connected to the proximity pin on my charge socket. (Pin2)
As I understand it:
When the plug is inserted the proximity pin should then tell simpcharge the plug is in.

Simpcharge then outputs 12v on (pin7) to tell Simpbms that the plug is inserted.

However the output on pin7 is constantly on 12v unless I disconnect the wire from the socket to the simpcharge.

I have made sure that the socket and the simpcharge share the same Ground.
The resistance from simpcharge pin2 to ground is: 2.68 kohms
The resistance from simpcharge pin2 to the proximity pin in the socket is: 0.5 ohm
The resistance from the pin to ground is: 2.68 kohms

Where should I be looking to try to fix this?
What could have caused this?

[tom91]

What charge socket you got? Type 1 or Type 2?

Also can you measure Charge Port Proximity to ground with out anything connected to the charge port on both side. I believe there might be a resistor in the charge port.

[ev340]

What charge socket you got? Type 1 or Type 2?

Also can you measure Charge Port Proximity to ground with out anything connected to the charge port on both side. I believe there might be a resistor in the charge port.

Hi Tom

Thank you for the reply!
I did double check for stray solder this time

It’s a type 2 from a Tesla model X

I have measured from the tip of the pin to where the ground is screwed to the charger chassis. That was 2.68k ohms. The wire to simpcharge was disconnected at that time.
Do you mean disconnect the live 123 neutral and pilot lines and measure then?

Or have I misunderstood?

(I just grounded the wire that should go to simpcharge from proximity pin on port and the reading from proximity pin to ground changed from 2.68k ohms to 0.5ohms with the wire to simpcharge touching ground.)

[ev340]

Through more messing I have found:
The resistance to ground from proximity Wire (to simpcharge but disconnected from simpcharge)
Changes from 2.68kohms without the plug in to 542 ohms with the plug in.

So I guess the question boils down to what does simpcharge expect to see as a resistance on that pin? To allow it to register a connected plug?

[tom91]

The SimpCharge is setup to work without any resistance in the connector only in the Charge Plug.

There should be a way to make it work with the resistor in the plug though. Let me have a quick think/do some math.

Can you measure the voltage at the pilot pin to ground with SimpCharge plugged in and connected to the charge port. This would be around 6V or half of the VCC into SimpCharge

The SimpCharge has a standard 2.7kOhm pull up to VCC. So to compensate you need to add a few ohms to the Proximity to ground, so I would start with like 500 ohms, the voltage at "idle" at the Proximity pin should be above 6.5V ideally.

[ev340]

The SimpCharge is setup to work without any resistance in the connector only in the Charge Plug.

There should be a way to make it work with the resistor in the plug though. Let me have a quick think/do some math.

Can you measure the voltage at the pilot pin to ground with SimpCharge plugged in and connected to the charge port. This would be around 6V or half of the VCC into SimpCharge

The SimpCharge has a standard 2.7kOhm pull up to VCC. So to compensate you need to add a few ohms to the Proximity to ground, so I would start with like 500 ohms, the voltage at "idle" at the Proximity pin should be above 6.5V ideally.

I will get onto this in the next few hours and let you know what the readings are.
Thank you for your help!!!

[ev340]

So with the port empty, plugged into simpcharge and all powered up the proximity pin is at 6.04v.
To ground.

With the charger plug in the port it’s at 2.07v

I don’t have the mains plugged in though I don’t think that should make a difference?

With the charger plugged in to the port the resistance from proximity pin at simpcharge to the ground pin on the Plug / wall socket is 0ohms. So I don’t think the type 2 plug has a resistor in it?
And for the whole time the BMS is set to ‘charge’

Tomorrow night I could put a variable resistor inline on the proximity and twiddle that see if it has an effect?

[tom91]

Please have the variable resistor between Proximity and ground. Increase the resistance until the output goes low when nothing is plugged in.

[ev340]

Please have the variable resistor between Proximity and ground. Increase the resistance until the output goes low when nothing is plugged in.

Will do! Thank you!
I’ll report back my findings

Out of curiosity:
Any idea what has caused this? I haven’t found any other posts with this so I assume it’s not common?

[ev340]

Please have the variable resistor between Proximity and ground. Increase the resistance until the output goes low when nothing is plugged in.

As so often happens life got in the way so I wasn’t able to test as soon as I had hoped.

I braved getting bitten to death by flies this evening, but forgot that you said to put the resistor between proximity and ground.

I instead put the resistor between proximity and simpcharge which on my initial tests has worked!

I adjusted it until it clicked to ‘ready’ with nothing plugged in.

Then I plugged in the plug and adjusted it more slowly until it clicked to charge.
Then by removing the plug and very slowly adjusting the resistor until it clicked to ready again I found the sweet spot where when the plug is inserted it is detected!

2.3k ohms!

Im not sure what you meant for me to do but I think this way will work?

Full tests tomorrow night if not next weekend!

[tom91]

The main question will be will it work with all plugs. Can you measure the resistance of your plug from Proximity to ground?

[ev340]

The main question will be will it work with all plugs. Can you measure the resistance of your plug from Proximity to ground?

Hmm that is short sighted of me!

The resistance was 0ohms from plug Proximity to ground pin on wall plug.

I am not above having a ‘drop in’ resistor for different plugs to start but ideally I’d like a permanent fix.

What is the standard value for type 2 plugs are they not normally 0ohm?

[tom91]

Here is a graphic with all the info on the resistances allowed on the type 2 proximity to ground.

[ev340]

my first charge!!!!
Boy am I relieved!
I managed 0.5amps for 1 minute before I chickened out!

Thank you for your help!