[addxyz]

I'm going to have to try to experiment with this a little, but I had this weird occurrence today when my Volt was charged at home but sitting with the cord plugged in. The car finished charging the previous evening and I had turned off the smart plug, but I didn't get a chance to unplug it. One full day later, I unplug the cord and I forget to unlock the doors. The cord theft alarm didn't go off immediately. 5 hours later, my car alarm goes off and I get the Onstar notification about my cord.

I kind of vaguely remember reading in other threads about how the Volt can go into some sleep mode. It just seems weird that an event like the charge cord alarm doesn't wake it immediately. In all of my previous charge cord alarm cases, the car was actively charging and the alarm went off right away.

If I had not turned off my smart plug, I'm guessing the car would not have gone into the sleep mode and I would have had the alarm go off immediately.

 

[Loboc]

What is a smart plug?

 

[snic]

It does everything a smart phone does, except make calls.

Just kidding. I assume it's a type of outlet that you can control remotely, and/or program to turn on and off on a schedule.

 

[Loboc]

It does everything a smart phone does, except make calls.

Just kidding. I assume it's a type of outlet that you can control remotely, and/or program to turn on and off on a schedule.

So, if you turn it off, does the car think it is unplugged?

 

[turboguy327]

Don't do that. Always unplug the car BEFORE unplugging the EVSE.

 

[Arcanox]

Don't do that. Always unplug the car BEFORE unplugging the EVSE.

He didn't unplug the EVSE; he has an outlet that turns it off. There's no arcing risk if the outlet cuts its own power.

 

[turboguy327]

He didn't unplug the EVSE; he has an outlet that turns it off. There's no arcing risk if the outlet cuts its own power.

Some of those smart outlets are similar to unplugging. I've been told by electricians to not use those on sensitive electronics.

 

[GeV]

I could be wrong about this, but I believe the Volt will sometimes draw small amounts of power for various 'housekeeping' reasons, even after it's finished charging.

Not sure how that might relate to the scenario OP described, but at least I would suggest a smart outlet is not necessary - and possibly even detrimental - to the vehicle, if it's consistently starved of energy to perform those tasks.

(After writing that, I realized it can probably self-power those operations anyhow… but it still seems like a good idea to keep the EVSE powered at all times when it's plugged in to the Volt.)

 

[Loboc]

Some of those smart outlets are similar to unplugging. I've been told by electricians to not use those on sensitive electronics.

Makes sense not to kick the power off unexpectedly to the EVSE or the car. If the relay or other method arcs it could be bye-bye (buyanewone).

 

[klchiew]

I could be wrong about this, but I believe the Volt will sometimes draw small amounts of power for various 'housekeeping' reasons, even after it's finished charging.

Not sure how that might relate to the scenario OP described, but at least I would suggest a smart outlet is not necessary - and possibly even detrimental - to the vehicle, if it's consistently starved of energy to perform those tasks.

(After writing that, I realized it can probably self-power those operations anyhow… but it still seems like a good idea to keep the EVSE powered at all times when it's plugged in to the Volt.)

I keep mine plugged in over weekends after it finishes charging and from my smart meter, I can see that the Volt pulls about 2kW for 10 minutes about every 2 hours. I'm sure it's for battery conditioning - since my garage is around 35F to 37F in the coldest time in winter.

 

[Henry_FL]

The "Smart" outlet uses as much power as the EVSE does when idle, utterly pointless to have a smart outlet

 

[addxyz]

I keep mine plugged in over weekends after it finishes charging and from my smart meter, I can see that the Volt pulls about 2kW for 10 minutes about every 2 hours. I'm sure it's for battery conditioning - since my garage is around 35F to 37F in the coldest time in winter.

There is a 2W draw when the car is done charging. I set the smartplug to turn off after charging to prevent the extra draw.

 

[addxyz]

I could be wrong about this, but I believe the Volt will sometimes draw small amounts of power for various 'housekeeping' reasons, even after it's finished charging.

Not sure how that might relate to the scenario OP described, but at least I would suggest a smart outlet is not necessary - and possibly even detrimental - to the vehicle, if it's consistently starved of energy to perform those tasks.

(After writing that, I realized it can probably self-power those operations anyhow… but it still seems like a good idea to keep the EVSE powered at all times when it's plugged in to the Volt.)

I guess the only 2 detrimental effects are the one I mentioned- delayed theft cord alarm and I think someone mentioned when the car is in deep sleep it can't be remotely started. I'm just curious about this deep sleep the car goes under.

 

[voganni]

2013 and newer Volts run a wall-powered 12v battery maintainer when they're done charging. This is a good thing, and well worth the few cents worth of electricity.

 

[Henry_FL]

There is a 2W draw when the car is done charging. I set the smartplug to turn off after charging to prevent the extra draw.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but the tar load of the smart outlet ( it has a power supply, computer an circuits always powered ) is typically the same 1-2 watts, meaning you save nothing.

And as others have said, the battery conditioning and 12V battery maintainer are necessary loads. If you don't supply grid power for the conditioner, the car will just draw if from the HV battery, which you will have to recharge later ( no savings not plugging in )

Bottom line, trying to outsmart the design team of the Volt isn't happening

 

[Cord]

use zero crossing cut off circuit.

But any line power loss is going to do the same as a cut off switch and we have solar charging people here that drop power to the charger
when charging during the day and the sun light get low to prevent using home battery,

And I thought deep sleep was after 2 days where even onstar gets turned off.

 

[Jernigan]

I am smart plug dumb, but I learned from the owners manual that it is recommended to keep the Volt charging when able. I turned to the owners manual after I heard lots of noises like it ate my mama's cooking. She is sweet but a crappy chef. This was going on after being fully charged and even after it has been sitting for days. The manual also suggests to keep the Volt plugged in with temps below 32F or above 90F to maximize the battery life. A nice feature that has prevented degradation in all Volts as compared to other EVs. We have been below 32F for a few days now here in NC. And with 8" of snow I have left the Volt stay put. It is gurgling more than before. So I would keep it powered fully.

 

[addxyz]

And I thought deep sleep was after 2 days where even onstar gets turned off.

Interesting... seemed like mine went into deep sleep after 1 day, but I could be mistaken.