Charging Delayed Start Scheduling Problem

[smkettner]

Just noticed last night that the start time updates after the vehicle is plugged in. (I'm still new at this). Before I had always just plugged in and walked away after noting the initial start time displayed when the RAV is turned off.

Start time(updated) said 1:13a and recieved the start email at 1:16a so it looks like it is right on. Unfortunately the time was 90+ minutes earlier than necessary.

If RAV calls out a time before midnight I will override/delay the departure time to keep in the 12a to 6a low TOU window.

 

[fooljoe]

Yup - after plugging in, the car reads the pilot and gives the actual start time it will use. But what the car doesn't do when plugging in (and the Leaf and other EVs do) is sample the voltage. You know how the leaf will close the relay then open it back up again momentarily? That's the voltage check. Without this, the car is completely in the dark as far as what sort of power is available, and from what I've gathered it seems to assume ~140v if the pilot signal is greater than 20a and ~110v if <=20a. Why they used this number I have no idea - maybe they meant to type in 240v but fat-fingered a 1 instead of a 2?

This means if your power supply is actually 240v, the car will always overestimate the time to charge by a little more than 70%. You can account for this by moving your departure time later than you really want, but then if you start charging from a high SOC it might end up doing some charging after 6am. You can also do the manual check you described to guard against charging before midnight from a low SOC, or when that gets tiresome you can just use RavCharge.

 

[smkettner]

Does the phone need to be on for RavCharge to work? I turn on my phone about twice a month.
Otherwise the 7a departure time keeps the vehicle in the 12a to 6a window for charging 2 bars to 10 bars maybe 11 and that covers most of my normal use. I can easily adjust for a deeper cycle or extended range.

 

[fooljoe]

Does the phone need to be on for RavCharge to work?

Nope, you can just set it and forget it. Your charging schedule is stored on the RavCharge servers and all Entune commands are sent from there. In fact you don't even need a phone at all (unlike Entune); while the interface is mobile-optimized, you can use it from any device with a web browser. This comes in handy if for example you have a computer in your office but no or slow cell reception, and want to check on your car / start the A/C before heading out, etc.