[Druminator]

We are unable to consistently charge our ID.4 with the Grizzl-E Smart and ChargeLab app. Results vary and it's driving us nuts. We are in CA with PG&E and want to take advantage of TOU rates for significant savings, WITHOUT having to plug in the car late at night. The problem is that often it will immediately start charging, even though scheduling is enabled and not set to start for several hours later. Our configuration:

2022 ID.4 Pro S AWD with software 3.1

• Location (Home) not enabled
• Charge to 80%
• MyVW app - Charging = Off

ChargeLab app and Smart Grizzl-E (both up to date)

• 240V/40A/9.6kW
• Available
• Schedule enabled 12:10 AM - 8:10 AM everyday

When it works, the charge port LED flashes white then turns red until schedule charging starts. When it fails, the LED goes from white to green and charging begins immediately. Am I missing a step? Configuration?

The Grizzl-E and ChargeLab sites and documentation are sorely lacking. The MyVW App may or may not notify when charging starts, so it's not much help either.

If you are able to consistently charge with a "smart" charger, please add your configuration and process to this thread.

 

[IslandLarry]

We are unable to consistently charge our ID.4 with the Grizzl-E Smart and ChargeLab app. Results vary and it's driving us nuts. We are in CA with PG&E and want to take advantage of TOU rates for significant savings, WITHOUT having to plug in the car late at night. The problem is that often it will immediately start charging, even though scheduling is enabled and not set to start for several hours later. Our configuration:

2022 ID.4 Pro S AWD with software 3.1

• Location (Home) not enabled
• Charge to 80%
• MyVW app - Charging = Off

ChargeLab app and Smart Grizzl-E (both up to date)

• 240V/40A/9.6kW
• Available
• Schedule enabled 12:10 AM - 8:10 AM everyday

When it works, the charge port LED flashes white then turns red until schedule charging starts. When it fails, the LED goes from white to green and charging begins immediately. Am I missing a step? Configuration?

The Grizzl-E and ChargeLab sites and documentation are sorely lacking. The MyVW App may or may not notify when charging starts, so it's not much help either.

If you are able to consistently charge with a "smart" charger, please add your configuration and process to this thread.

I do Not use the scheduling features of the charger.
I find this works reliably on software version 3.1 using the ID.4 preferred charging configuration.
Enable your home location and select charge at preferred times, the only issue I experience is that charge at preferred times is not always sticky, and I need to make sure it is selected when I get out of the car.

 

[ageofaquarius]

Same - enable charge at preferred times and set the departure time. no issues(w 3.1). Immediately goes to 40 or 50 % whatever I have set, then onward to 80 or 100 overnight per settings. I have the grizzlE ‘dumb’ charger, so the car is doing all the scheduling. I usually get a message in the VW app about 230am that the car ‘started a charging session’.

 

[IslandLarry]

Just wanted to add the reason I use scheduled charging in the car and not the smart charger,

I also have a time of use plan, my best (cheapest) times to charge are from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

If I set the smart charger (in my case a Juicebox 40) to only charge during that window, then I am unable to use house power to pre-condition (heat/cool/defrost) the cabin when I am ready to leave the house at 8:30 since the charger won’t provide power at that time.

When I use preferred time charging in the car, it charges during the same window, but when I call for cabin pre-heat at 8:30, it draws on house power since the charger is not limiting it.

 

[RCA]

I have had the same problem. I contacted Chargelab and the issue is that, if the wifi signal isn't strong enough, the charger doesn't know the time and will start to charge immediately. Chargelab states that the charger needs a very strong signal, around -65. My conclusion is that the metal case of the Grizzl-e (a good feature) totally shields the wifi signal. So I have stopped using the scheduler in the Chargelab app. The strange thing is that the Grizzl-e indicates it has constant wifi connectivity, but clearly the data stream isn't reliable. The Chargelab app doesn't know that the car has stopped charging, and calculates total consumption based on the time for which you are plugged in, not the time during which current is actually being drawn. It also doesn't indicate the actual charging current while it is charging.
Bottom line is forget the app and use the car's scheduler

 

[Druminator]

I got a similar response from ChargeLab support:
"The issues you're experiencing are likely caused by poor wifi signal strength. I looked into the communication logs between your charger and our server, and your charger has been regularly reporting RSSI of between -75 and -80 dBm. The recommended value by Grizzl-E is -67 dBm.

"When the charger goes offline, it's designed to revert to "dumb" charging mode, where it'll charge without remote authentication and won't report charging data as a result. These sessions also won't follow the schedule you have set in the app. Unfortunately, when it has a good signal it will work correctly but when it has a bad signal it will start charging as soon as it's plugged in.

"I would recommend looking for ways to improve the Wifi signal strength by either moving the wireless access point closer to the charger or installing a repeater device."

Our mesh wifi satellite is in the kitchen about 10 feet from the Grizzle-E in the garage. Not a good sign that the signal strength is so low.

We are going to turn off ChargeLab scheduling and try to use the car's scheduling.