[DogsBestFriend]

Had an eVolt home charger for 4 years now for use with my Vauxhall Ampera. Its always been a bit temperamental, and will occasionally trip out. Something I believe is an issue with the eVolt. But it is no longer charging the car at all now. When connected the Ampera the car charging light just goes from amber to off. The eVolt seems to go through the motions and clicks into its blue steady light mode fine, so its loos like its communicating with the Ampera ok.. The car is reporting a P1EE6 error, which I believe is a "No AC voltage" error. The car charges fine off the supplied "Granny" cable at 10 Amps, so I have concluded that the issue is with the wall box.
Had a quote from Swarco to fix it, and its going to be at least £220 + VAT. I have politely declined and said I will put the money towards a better charger, especially as I am getting solar fitted, and could use a newer smarter charger like the Zappi or EO. Although my current mileage is pretty low, due to the current situation, the granny cable is fine

Am I right in my diagnosis here? And why is the warranty period on these chargers so poor at only 3 years, with no option to extend. Especially as the car electrics are usually warrantied for 8 years. For such an expensive piece of kit, especially with out the grant, its almost like it has inbuilt obsolescence. Surely we shouldn't have to keep replacing these units so frequently?

Thanks

 

[mikegs]

Am I right in my diagnosis here?

It sounds like the main contactor may have gone faulty. Ought to be easy to fix, but obviously a commercial outfit probably assumes it might be worse and has costs of visiting to cover as well.
No different from any other domestic appliance - for the cost of getting a 4 year old washing machine or the like repaired you can often get a new one.

 

[mikegs]

And why is the warranty period on these chargers so poor at only 3 years, with no option to extend. Especially as the car electrics are usually warrantied for 8 years.

As above, it's a domestic appliance. Most of them don't get more than 2-3 years warranty as standard, and a year is still pretty normal.
Car electrics aren't usually warranted for 8 years - it's the EV traction batteries, and usually against loss of capacity. The physical BMS may be covered with that (small print job there) but the rest of the car gets whatever the usual is for that make, which is often 3 years or so.

 

[DogsBestFriend]

As above, it's a domestic appliance. Most of them don't get more than 2-3 years warranty as standard, and a year is still pretty normal.

Yes fair enough, and the call-out/repair fees would be comparable. Pity someone like D&G don't do extended cover on them just like washing machines
The actual repair cost is actually more than I paid to have it originally installed (of course with the grant applied)
May stick with the granny cable for now and see how I get on. As the Ampera only charges at 3kw max there isn't a huge difference.in charging times

 

[mikegs]

The actual repair cost is actually more than I paid to have it originally installed (of course with the grant applied)

Bear in mind that there is usually a fair amount of other electrical work in the initial install - cabling, switchgear, notifications/certification. The charger may not even be the biggest portion.

May stick with the granny cable for now and see how I get on. As the Ampera only charges at 3kw max there isn't a huge difference.in charging times

Absolutely.
Just make sure it's plugged into a decent quality, preferably newish, socket and check it occasionally for getting overwarm. There have been cases of meltdown, though the sensor in the plug should catch it before there is real danger.