[georgeniebling]

I am working at a Boy Scout summer camp for the next three weeks and the clip at the top of the J plug on my OEM Voltec charger seems to have broken. Is there an easy fix or have I hosed the charger?

I have been considering buying a second one anyway, is there a source available other than the dealership which wants to charge me $450?

 

[llninja]

Clipper creek.

 

[Mister Dave]

Is there an easy fix or have I hosed the charger?

Plug it in. I'll bet it still works.

 

[CurrentEvent]

I'm sure you're aware that the thing you're talking about isn't really a charger. It's just an adapter or interface. The charger is inside the car. The thing that broke off is probably the thing that keeps it from falling out accidentally. I think you're okay. The price of these is pretty outrageous. They do have some pretty sophisticated circuitry and safeguards to keep you from getting killed by electrocution (among other things). Once I accidentally got some snow in mine and it wouldn't work until it dried out.

 

[Sean-a-Tron]

You can replace the adapter/plug on EVSE's. I haven't found any cheap ones, but here's an example.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/J1772-Repla...-Plug-for-16amp-120V-EV-Charger-/121461107784

Basically you just open up the old one, desolder the wires. Then reverse the process with the new one. It's very important that you make a good solid connection when soldering onto the new one. Keep in mind that the cables will be carrying up to 1400 watts for several hours.

 

[PH2]

Seen this before... yes it should still work if you can keep it plugged into the car. Eventually, without something to hold it in, the proximity sensor will trigger the EVSE to disconnect when it begins to get loose.

That part should be easy enough to swap out with the right screwdriver and a new plug/part.

 

[Steverino]

You are referring to the EVSE or "Charge cord". The charger is something else.

 

[Mister Dave]

Seen this before... yes it should still work if you can keep it plugged into the car. Eventually, without something to hold it in, the proximity sensor will trigger the EVSE to disconnect when it begins to get loose.

That part should be easy enough to swap out with the right screwdriver and a new plug/part.

Proximity sensor? Never heard of it. There's a microswitch under the release button that should still work as long as the spring on the release button hasn't moved out of place.

Several members have said their EVSE continues to work with the end of the latching hook broken off. For example:

I have a Clipper Creek that I have damaged. While the car was plugged in, I stepped on the cable quite hard and the latch that holds the plug in the car is now broken. The charger still charges but now the plug can be removed from the car without pressing the button on the handle.

 

[georgeniebling]

The thing that plugs into the car to provide a charge is, in my not electrical engineering person definition, a charger

But thank you.

I'm sure you're aware that the thing you're talking about isn't really a charger. It's just an adapter or interface. The charger is inside the car. The thing that broke off is probably the thing that keeps it from falling out accidentally. I think you're okay. The price of these is pretty outrageous. They do have some pretty sophisticated circuitry and safeguards to keep you from getting killed by electrocution (among other things). Once I accidentally got some snow in mine and it wouldn't work until it dried out.

 

[Steverino]

The thing that plugs into the car to provide a charge is, in my not electrical engineering person definition, a charger

But thank you.

Like the steering wheel is, in your not mechanical engineering person definition, the thing with a tire on it that turns into corners...

 

[RFE]

Until recently, just replaced the plug and cord, I have been using mine with a broken clip for about 18 months. Plug it in, if it chargers then you are fine. It will not fall out on it's own, only if you pull it out. I bought a defective OEM GM EVSE on ebay just for the cord and plug. It did not cost that much. You need to know how to solder.

 

[Barry]

You could still use it as before and it will still work to charge your car.

The only purpose of the latch, and the thing to be aware of, is that the latch forces you to press the release button before unplugging. The reason you should press the button before unplugging is that is what causes the flow of high-current electricity to stop flowing to your car. With a broken latch, you can unplug with that flow in process, which would cause a spark at the connector. That would eventually be bad for the connector.

I am not sure if after unplugging like that, the EVSE cuts power, but if it does not, then you would have a loose hot plug in your hand. That could be hazardous, so hopefully the EVSE is smart enough to not allow that.

Anyway, best to have it fixed, but you can charge in the mean time if you want. Just keep using the button as before.

 

[wizard_of-ahs]

I am working at a Boy Scout summer camp for the next three weeks and the clip at the top of the J plug on my OEM Voltec charger seems to have broken. Is there an easy fix or have I hosed the charger?

I have been considering buying a second one anyway, is there a source available other than the dealership which wants to charge me $450?

I use this one: www.evadviser.com
I got the combo one.

 

[ChuckB]

It should be covered under the 8/100k warranty... try getting the dealer to replace it for free.

 

[228761]

The reason you should press the button before unplugging is that is what causes the flow of high-current electricity to stop flowing to your car.

Pretty sure the 2 non charging pins (Proximity/pilot) are physically longer than the charge pins, so they break continuity first, terminating the flow of current and preventing any spark from occurring.

 

[Mister Dave]

Pretty sure the 2 non charging pins (Proximity/pilot) are physically longer than the charge pins, so they break continuity first, terminating the flow of current and preventing any spark from occurring.

Shorter, but you have the right idea.

 

[Rampage_Rick]

I used mine for over 2 years like that. Finally got a replacement under warranty when it started doing other weird things.

As others have stated, it's still a good habit to press the release button before you unplug, because it gives the car a heads up to discontinue charging prior to pulling out the plug.

 

[glasspilot]

The thing that plugs into the car to provide a charge is, in my not electrical engineering person definition, a charger

But thank you.

George, the way I look at it is this. I'm sure you have a traditional car battery charger in your garage. Usually a big black metal box with 2 wires coming out. Our Chevy Volt EVSE is just the power cord you plug in to the wall. ALL THE REST of the big black box AND the cables with the alligator clips is installed in our Volt under the hood.

 

[llninja]

George, the way I look at it is this. I'm sure you have a traditional car battery charger in your garage. Usually a big black metal box with 2 wires coming out. Our Chevy Volt EVSE is just the power cord you plug in to the wall. ALL THE REST of the big black box AND the cables with the alligator clips is installed in our Volt under the hood.

Actually the rest of it is behind the front bumper below passenger headlight. I think you have to remove the bumper and/or the wheel well plastics and crawl underneath to get to it. Opening the hood doesn't help.

 

[glasspilot]

Actually the rest of it is behind the front bumper below passenger headlight. I think you have to remove the bumper and/or the wheel well plastics and crawl underneath to get to it. Opening the hood doesn't help.

Ninja, I understand that, I was trying to make my explanation as simple as possible.