[bjrosen]

There should be a charge port light that comes on when the door is opened. It's hard to put the plug in at night unless you use a flashlight, putting a couple of LEDs next to the charge port would fix the problem.

 

[edk-austin]

Option on gen2 ports. And early gen1 plugs had an LED inside the plug. Cost reductions... Eventually you'll be able to plug it in with your eyes closed.

 

[Gary Norton]

It was an option when you bought your car. But you can get it installed later by the dealer. Many owners have lighted garages or carports and thus don't need charge port lights. I fall in that category but got the lights on both of my Volts because I think the lights look cool.

 

[fotomoto1]

There should be a charge port light that comes on when the door is opened. It's hard to put the plug in at night unless you use a flashlight, putting a couple of LEDs next to the charge port would fix the problem.

If your having this issue at your home driveway, get a motion sensitive security light installed. If it's inside your dark garage, get a $10 battery operated stick on LED dome light (you push/click the dome to turn it on/off) and place it on the wall next to where you park.

 

[srmarti]

I've plugged my car in the dark often. I don't get what's so hard about it unless it's so dark that you can't find the car. I could probably do it just by feel.

A light is a dealer installed option on Gen 2 if you really want one.

 

[16513]

Paint the outer perimeter of the charge socket with white paint or WiteOut. Works well for my aging eyes.

 

[obermd]

I see this is an option. I'll probably have my dealership do this as I suspect I'll be plugging in in the dark come Winter.

 

[ZamboniMan]

I need the light on my wall outlet. It's a foot off the ground and I have to juggle the phone and the plug and my aching knees. I'm sure my neighbors are laughing when I come home late...

 

[Slotracer577]

Wish I had bough the lighted charge port on the volt. Also would like it as an option on the bolt, but it is not.

 

[wws]

Wish I had bough the lighted charge port on the volt. Also would like it as an option on the bolt, but it is not.

It is a "dealer installed" option for the Gen 2 Volt. So it is easy to add after the fact.

 

[Hexperience]

Wish I had bough the lighted charge port on the volt. Also would like it as an option on the bolt, but it is not.

It is a "dealer installed" option for the Gen 2 Volt. So it is easy to add after the fact.

Not sure about everyone else's but I have that option and the light comes on after you've plugged in the car, not when you open the charge door when you need it. Weird.

 

[TSquare]

Not sure about everyone else's but I have that option and the light comes on after you've plugged in the car, not when you open the charge door when you need it. Weird.

It should come on when you open the charge door if you have just gotten out of the car. Are you coming back later to plug it in? In this case the car may be asleep and not aware of the charge door being open. Pulling one of the door handles, even if locked, will wake the car and turn on the charge port light.

 

[1LeeMartin1]

There should be a charge port light that comes on when the door is opened. It's hard to put the plug in at night unless you use a flashlight, putting a couple of LEDs next to the charge port would fix the problem.

Over the years....we have had to plug in a LOT of things in the dark....and this is just one more

 

[Steverino]

There should be a charge port light that comes on when the door is opened. It's hard to put the plug in at night unless you use a flashlight, putting a couple of LEDs next to the charge port would fix the problem.

Check out this Instructables DIY illuminated charging port: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread....-Charging-Port

 

[Hexperience]

It should come on when you open the charge door if you have just gotten out of the car. Are you coming back later to plug it in? In this case the car may be asleep and not aware of the charge door being open. Pulling one of the door handles, even if locked, will wake the car and turn on the charge port light.

Thanks! I'll do that. I'm surprised that opening the change door doesn't wake it up enough to turn on the light, but at least there is a work around. Cheers.

 

[duffman636]

I wish EV charging stations were available with illuminated J1772 connector. I dont understand why it isn't yet available. No need for an illuminated port on the car. It would also be easier to connect it back on the charging station.

 

[Hexperience]

Thanks! I'll do that. I'm surprised that opening the change door doesn't wake it up enough to turn on the light, but at least there is a work around. Cheers.

Pulling on the door handle does not turn the charge port light on.

 

[Steverino]

I wish EV charging stations were available with illuminated J1772 connector. I dont understand why it isn't yet available. No need for an illuminated port on the car. It would also be easier to connect it back on the charging station.

I have one that does have an LED in the head of the handle. It's the original round, 240V, hang on the wall, "Voltec" EVSE. The light is definitely an upscale feature.

Pulling on the door handle does not turn the charge port light on.

The door handle? As in driver's door handle? Every time the driver's door is opened the charge port light goes on and shines through the crack?

 

[AmperaGen2]

With the time change I had to mate the charging plug with the socket by feel in pitch dark. If this thread didn't exist I prob. would have started my first one. My Volt is one month old. The powered lighting systems described in the thread would be ideal but I wanted to address this tonight, for $0, or near zero.
So here's what I came up with. Took ~20 minutes. I had some stick on glow in the dark stuff laying around. Used a compass to mark the circles, Razor blade and scissors to cut it out.

I've some pictures but cant post any with a 0 post count.

Some current glow in the dark materials available perform very well. Some will visibly emit photons many hours after exposure to ambient light. And really that's all I need in a pinch is a few photon (assuming my eyes are at least somewhat night adapted) to help me get the plug alligned.

I'll find out tomorrow night if this has any glow left in the evening.

 

[AmperaGen2]

With the time change I had to mate the charging plug with the socket by feel in pitch dark. If this thread didn't exist I prob. would have started my first one. My Volt is one month old. The powered lighting systems described in the thread would be ideal but I wanted to address this tonight, for $0, or near zero.
So here's what I came up with. Took ~20 minutes. I had some stick on glow in the dark stuff laying around. Used a compass to mark the circles, Razor blade and scissors to cut it out.

I've some pictures but cant post any with a 0 post count.

Some current glow in the dark materials available perform very well. Some will visibly emit photons many hours after exposure to ambient light. And really that's all I need in a pinch is a few photon (assuming my eyes are at least somewhat night adapted) to help me get the plug alligned.

I'll find out tomorrow night if this has any glow left in the evening.

See my avatar for an idea of what it looks like in the dark.