5. Setup, configuration & operation

In this section:

5.1. First use setup via VictronConnect

Note

Note that operation via VictronConnect requires Bluetooth to be enabled. Bluetooth is disabled on devices shipped with firmware version 1.23 or earlier. In order to enable Bluetooth for these devices, it is mandatory to first go through the First setup via Wifi access point procedure and then activate it via the Networks menu. Devices shipped with firmware version 1.24 and higher have Bluetooth enabled by default.

The initial setup is required when the EVCS is new and has yet to be configured or after it has been reset to factory defaults.

Preparation

Open VictronConnect and find the entry for your EVCS (EVCS-HQXXXXXXXXX).
Tap on EVCS. This will start the pairing dialogue. Enter the pairing code which is either 000000 or a uniqe number on a sticker inside the housing.
If the pairing was successful, the status page would appear; ignore the warning for now (using the EVCS is not yet possible) and tap the cog wheel icon in the upper right to open the Settings page so that the initial setup can be performed.

Step 1 of 3: Configure WiFi access

One of the following parameters must be changed to complete the first setup and start using the EV:

Either confirm the WiFi mode AP (the EVCS provides its own access point) - all necessary parameters are already pre-filled. The AP passphrase corresponds to the password as stated on the sticker inside the EVCS.
Or choose Station mode to connect the EVCS to your local network/router. If you already know the network name (SSID), you can enter it manually. Alternatively, hit SCAN to find nearby networks, select your desired network, and enter the access password.

Step 2 of 3: Change web access credentials

This step is necessary to ensure secure access to the web interface. The default username is "admin". The default password corresponds to the one on the sticker inside the EVCS. We recommend setting up your own password and username.

Step 3 of 3: Set the maximum charging current

Set the maximum charging current with which the EVCS is allowed to charge (range: 10A - 32A).

5.2. VictronConnect setup, configuration and operation

5.2.1. Setup

The following steps are necessary to successfully connect to the EV Charging Station via Bluetooth and VictronConnect:

Make sure Bluetooth is enabled in your EVCS.
Tip
In case Bluetooth is disabled, see the Networks menu chapter for details on enabling Bluetooth.
Download and install the VictronConnect app from the App Store or Google Play.
Open VictronConnect and scroll through the list of devices for the EVCS.
Tap on it to launch the pairing dialog. Enter the pairing code which is either 000000 or a unique number on the sticker inside the housing.
If the pairing was successful, the EVCS overview page is displayed.

5.2.2. Overview page

The overview page provides information about the charging state, controls to start/stop charging or changing the charging mode and charging current. Furthermore, the actual charging values and session statistics can be monitored.

Controls:

Start/Stop: Start or stop charging when in manual mode.
Note that after pressing the stop button, first the charging current is reduced to a minimum and only then the contactor opens (with a delay of 2 seconds).
Charging mode: Change the charging mode to manual, auto or scheduled.
Charging current: Adjust the charging current (range: 6-32A, depending on the Minimum and Maximum charging current set on the General Settings page or on the web interface).

Actual charging values:

Current: The charging current.
Power: Charging power. With a multi-phase supply, all phases are combined.

Session statistics:

Session time: The time of the current charging session.
Session energy: Total energy charged in this session.
Session cost: The session cost (when charged from grid) depending on the energy price per kWh set in the EVCS settings, see the EV Charging Station setup chapter.
Session saved cost: Saved cost based on energy charged from PV and depending on the energy price per kWh set in the EVCS settings.
Total Energy: The total energy charged since initial installation.

5.2.3. Settings page

The Settings menu is accessible by pressing the cog wheel from the top right of the Overview page.

The following menu options are available:

Network: Change the network settings.
General: Adjust the charger settings.
Scheduler: Set up charging schedules.
Light Ring: Configure the behaviour of the light ring.
Access: Specify web access credentials.

These settings are similar to those explained in the Networks menu and EV Charging Station setup chapter, with the exception that it is possible to trigger a system reboot if required.

Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the settings page to perform the following actions:

Import settings from file: Import previously saved settings from a file in the settings library.
Save settings to file: Save the current settings to a file which will be stored in the settings library. This file can be used as a backup to restore settings on this EV Charging Station or to easily apply the same settings to another one.
Share settings: Share the settings file via email or other social apps which may be in use on the Android or iOS device for example.
Product info: Displays the EV Charging Station model number and serial number. There is also a switch to enable or disable Bluetooth. See the Product info section for more information.
Reset to defaults: Reset all settings to the factory defaults. This will mean that any customised settings will be lost and setup will need to be performed again or imported from a previously saved settings file.

5.2.4. Product info page

To get to the Product info page, tap the 3 vertical dots icon from the Settings page.

Product: Shows the product name and the model number.
Serial number: Shows the serial number of the EV Charging Station.
Pin code: Pin code is hidden but it can be changed using the change button to the right.
Custom name: Change the friendly name of the EV Charging Station.
Firmware: Displays the current firmware version running on the EV Charging Station.
Bluetooth: Enable or disable the Bluetooth functionality of the EV Charging Station.

More about how to assign your own name to your EV Charging Station and how to deactivate and reactivate Bluetooth, please refer to the VictronConnect App manual.

Warning

Note that if you disable Bluetooth via VictronConnect, it will have to be re-enabled via the web interface Networks menu or by using the Reset to factory defaults feature, either via the web interface or the DEF button procedure. For older devices that have Bluetooth disabled from the factory, use the web interface's network menu to enable Bluetooth.

5.2.5. Network Settings

The Network information section shows:

Network current status: Shows the current status of the network.
Connected to: Displays the name of the WiFi network that the EV Charging Station is connected to.
Local IP address: Displays the LAN IP address of the EV Charging Station.

The WiFi section allows configuration of the WiFi settings for the EV Charging Station.

Mode: Allows the choice of local WiFi connection or if the EV Charging Station should create a WiFi Access Point. The EV Charging Station should usually only be set up to act as an Access Point if there are no other WiFi networks available.
IP Configuration: Option to allow automatic (DHCP) IP address allocation or manual fixed IP address configuration. Automatic IP configuration is the recommended option. The manual option is only intended for advanced network configurations or by instruction from the network's administrator.
Scan period: To allow periodic automatic WiFi network scanning and if so, to define the period of time between automatic scans.
Rssi Threshold: Sets the minimum signal strength that discovered WiFi networks should have before being added to the list.

The Access point list section shows discovered local WiFi networks or allows for a WiFi network to be added manually.

The currently connected Access Point name is shown here in green along with "FORGET" and "DISABLE" buttons.

Add AP manually: Provides the option to add a WiFi network manually. This may be used in circumstances where the required network's SSID is hidden and doesn't show in the list of discovered networks.
Scan for WiFi networks: Tap the "SCAN" button to immediately scan for available WiFi networks nearby.
A list of all available WiFi networks will begin to appear as they are discovered. The list includes the Access Point name, its security status shown with a padlock symbol. The signal strength received by the EV Charging Station is displayed with the WiFi symbol to the right.
Tap the "ADD" button beside the network that you wish to connect to. You'll be asked to enter the password for the selected network if applicable.

5.2.6. General Settings

The General settings page lists the options for the general configuration of the EV Charging Station.

Charging settings section has the following options:

EV Charger position: This option selects where in the system the EV Charging Station is wired. For example, the EV Charging Station could be wired on the AC Input side or the AC Output side of a MultiPlus.
EV Charger autostart: This option defines whether or not the EV charger will begin charging automatically when the EV charging cable is connected to the vehicle.
Contactor active when charged: When the EV is charged the contactor can be set to remain closed or to open which will fully disconnect the EV from the supply.
Maximum charging current: The maximum charging current that the EV Charging Station will supply to the EV in any event. The configurable range is 10A to 32A.
Minimum charging current: The minimum charging current that should be supplied to the EV unless it is charged to the desired level. The configurable range is 6A to 31A.
CP Calibration: Allows calibration of the CP (control pilot) signal line.
Power calibration: Adjust this setting to calibrate the Actual power reading.
Actual power: Displays the actual combined power of all phases that the EV Charging Station is supplying to the EV.

Other settings section provides:

GX Device settings: Select this option for communicating with a GX Device such as a Cerbo GX or Ekrano GX.
Modbus TCP settings: Enable the IP address whitelist and add IP addresses to the whitelist.
Date & Time: Set the time zone, date and time.
Energy price per kWh: Set the price of energy imported from the grid.

Reboot EVCS:

System reboot: tap the "REBOOT" button to reboot the EV Charging Station.

EV Charger position

Select the position that the EV Charging Station is wired in the system.

If the EV Charging Station is wired anywhere before the Inverter / Charger then select the "Inverter AC in" option.

Alternatively, if the EV Charging Station is wired after the Inverter / Charger or is wired after an Inverter then choose the "Inverter AC out" option.

EV Charger autostart

Choose whether or not the EV Charging Station starts automatically when the charging cable is connected to the EV.

Select "Enabled" to have charging start automatically when the charging cable is connected to the EV.

Select "Disabled" if you don't want charging to start automatically. In this case charging needs to be started manually by pressing the "Start" button from the Overview page. This can help to prevent unauthorised use of the EV Charging Station.

Contactor active when charged

Choose whether or not the contactor within the EV Charging Station remains closed or opens when the EV is charged but the cable is still connected.

Select "Enabled" for the internal contactor to remain closed when the EV is charged. For example, this can be useful if you would like to pre-condition the cabin air using electricity from the charging source rather then the EV battery.

Select "Disabled" if you want the internal contactor to open when the EV is charged. This has the effect of disconnecting the EV from the supply as if the charging cable is removed.

CP Calibration

A Type 2 EV charging cable contains a signal line called the "Control Pilot" (CP). This is a bi-directional signal to enable communication between the EV and an EV charging station such as the EV Charging Station. It is important that the CP line is calibrated to ensure proper communication between the EV and its charger.

Tap the "CALIBRATE" button to begin calibrating the CP line.

A confirmation box will pop up. Tap "NEXT" if you are sure that you want to recalibrate the CP line.

Follow the instructions on the next screen and ensure that the EV is connected to the EV Charging Station. Tap "NEXT" to confirm and allow the CP line calibration to begin. Wait until the calculations are finished.

Once the calibration process is complete then a "Success!" message will be shown.

Tap on "CLOSE" to apply the new calibration calculations or "Reset" to reset them.

GX device communication

The GX device settings page is accessible from the General settings page.

Communication: Enable or disable communication with a GX device in the system.
Start charging at backup battery SOC: The minimum backup battery SOC before the EV Charging Station starts charging in Auto mode.
Stop charging at backup battery SOC if off grid: When off-grid or the grid is not available, then the EV Charging Station will stop charging when the backup battery SOC falls below this level.
Allow Battery/Grid power for Auto mode: Enable this setting to allow Auto mode to continue charging the EV at minimum current even if there is insufficient excess solar power. This helps to minimise automatic charging enable/disable cycles when in Auto mode. Note: The EV Charging Station cannot decide if the energy comes from the battery or grid, this is up to the inverter/charger in the system.
Battery/Grid power timeout: If the above setting is enabled then this is the maximum continuous amount of time that the EV Charging Station will draw power from the battery or grid.
Overload protection: When enabled, this setting will read the overload status of the system inverter. In the event of an overload then the EV Charging Station will reduce its charging current to minimum and wait about 5 seconds. If the inverter overload condition is still active then the EV Charging Station will stop charging. EV charging will resume a short period of time after the inverter overload condition has cleared.
If multiple overload events are detected within a certain time period the the EV Charging Station will reduce the charging current by 10%.
The same applies to grid-tied system where an enforced grid current limit is exceeded.
A warning will be displayed in VictronConnect or in the EV Charging Station if charging power is reduced or if charging is interrupted.
Input current limit: This displays the enforced grid current limit which is applied to grid-tied systems.
IP Address: Displays the IP address of the GX device. Tap on the "IP Address" line to change it.
VRM Portal ID: Displays the VRM portal ID. Tap on the "VRM Portal ID" line to change it.

Check communication: Tap the "CHECK" button to check the communication between the EV Charging Station and the GX device using the IP address set above.
Check result: Shows if the communication check to the GX device has passed or failed.
If the communication check fails then verify that the GX IP address specified is correct or use the "DISCOVER" button to search for a local GX device as below.

Device discovery: Tap the "DISCOVER" button to allow the EV Charging Station to automatically discover any GX devices on the local network.
Discovery result: Any GX devices which have been found by Device discovery will be listed.
Tap "ADD" to pair the desired GX device to the EV Charging Station. This will then become the GX device that the EV Charging Station communicates with and its details will be populated in the IP Address and VRM Portal ID fields.

Modbus TCP settings

The ModbusTCP Server settings allow enabling the IP whitelist and to add GX devices' IP addresses to be added to it.

With the whitelist enabled, only the IP addresses added to the whitelist will be able to communicate with the EV Charging Station.

For security reasons it is highly advisable to enable the TCP whitelist and to add only the GX devices which need to communicate with the EV Charging Station. This may also be a requirement from grid operators in some countries.

Enable IP address whitelist: Enable or disable the IP whitelist feature.
Add IP to whitelist: Tap the "ADD" button to populate the whitelist with trusted IP addresses.

Date & Time

Region: Select your time zone region.
Offset: If UTC region is selected then it will be necessary to enter the correct offset for your time zone.

Energy price per kWh

Enter the price of imported electricity per kWh. This will be used to calculate the session savings.

System reboot

Tap the "REBOOT" button to reboot the EV Charging Station. Select "YES" on the popup window to confirm reboot.

5.2.7. Scheduler

If the Charging Mode is set to "Scheduled" from the Overview page then the EV Charging Station will charge according to the schedules set in this section.

Add a new schedule: Tap here to configure a new schedule.

On the Scheduled scene configuration page you can adjust the following conditions. The time conditions are expresses in 24h format.

Enable: Toggle the current scene to enable or disable it.
Start time: The time that you want the EV Charging Station to begin charging.
End time: The time that you want the EV Charging Station to stop charging.
Current: The maximum amount of current to charge the EV during this schedule.

Repeat: Select the drop down menu to choose the type of repeat pattern.
- Daily: The schedule will repeat every day.
- Mon-Fri: The schedule repeats on week days Monday to Friday only.
- Weekends: The schedule repeats on weekends Saturday and Sunday only.
- Custom: A list of each day of the week is shown. Tick the days of the week that you would like this schedule scene to apply to.

Once you have set your preferences then tap the "SAVE NEW SCHEDULE" button to add it to the scheduler or "CANCEL" if you don't want to create the new schedule.

The newly created schedule will be added to the scheduler list. From here the individual schedules can be enabled or disabled, amended or deleted.

Status: Shows the status of the scene. If the scene is disabled then it will not run.
Delete schedule: Tap the "DELETE" button to delete the schedule, a popup box will show to confirm schedule deletion.
Add a new schedule: This will be shown below the existing schedules and can be selected to create an additional schedule.

5.2.8. Light Ring

The light ring surrounding the charging cable socket on the front of the EV Charging Station shows what it is doing at a glance.

There are various lighting modes and brightness settings to choose from to represent the status of the EV Charging Station:

Disconnected
Connected
Waiting for start
Waiting for sun

Low SOC
Charging Manual
Charging Auto
Charged

Light ring settings

The light ring of the EV Charging Station can be customised for each of its status modes as listed above.

Mode: Choose the behaviour or pattern that the light ring displays:
- Static
- Blink
- Breath
- Color wipe
- Color wipe inverse
- Color wipe reverse
- Color wipe reverse inverse
- Color wipe random
Color: Choose a color from the color picker or enter specific RGB values.
Period: Specify how long the mode will be displayed for.
Brightness: Adjust the brightness of LED ring for this mode, 0 - 100%.
Try this scene: Tap the "TRY" button to test if the scene's color and brightness are suitable.

5.2.9. Access

Web access credentials

The Web access credentials page allows you to change the access credentials for the web page of the EV Charging Station.

For security reasons it is strongly advised to change these credentials from their defaults.

User: User name
Password: Set a suitably strong password to prevent unauthorised access to the EV Charging Station.

5.2.10. Reset to defaults

It is possible to factory reset the EV Charging Station via VictronConnect. Note that this process will reset all settings to their default values and require the first setup (see the Setup chapter for details) to be performed again.

For devices shipped with firmware 1.23 or earlier, this will also disable Bluetooth. In order to enable Bluetooth for these devices, it is mandatory to first go through the First setup via Wifi access point procedure and then activate it via the Networks menu.

To get to the Reset to defaults option, tap the 3 vertical dots icon from the Settings page and tap on "Reset to defaults".

A "Restore device?" confirmation popup will appear. Tap "YES" to continue with restoring the device to factory defaults.

5.3. GX device setup, configuration and operation

5.3.1. Modbus TCP activation

The EV Charging Station communicates with the GX device via Modbus TCP. This must first be activated in the GX device and is a mandatory step.

In the GX device, go to Settings → Services → Modbus TCP and enable Modbus TCP.

Activate the charging station in the Modbus TCP/UDP menu

This step is only required if it is an EV Charging Station that has not already been connected to the GX device AND the GX device has firmware version 3.12 or higher.

For devices that were already connected to the GX device before a GX firmware update to Venus OS 3.12, this step is not necessary. These units are activated automatically.

In the GX device, go to Settings → Modbus TCP/UDP → Discovered devices and activate the EVCS.

5.3.2. Setup menu and options

As soon as Modbus TCP has been activated, the EVCS appears in the device list and displays the current mode and charging state.

Highlight the EVCS then press spacebar or cursor right to enter the next menu and at the setup menu item press spacebar again to enter the setup menu. See the EV Charging Station setup and the Description chapter for the meaning of the available options.

5.3.3. Overview and device menu

The overview menu provides a button to activate (start) charging in manual mode and the following status information:

Actual charging current: The charging current in A

Total power: Total power of all phases

L1..L3: Power of each individual phase

Charging time: The charging time per session

Charged energy: Charged energy per session

If you scroll further down the menu, you will see the Setup and Device menu. See the Setup menu and options chapter for details.

The last menu item is the Device menu, which provides additional device information such as the connection type, product ID, VRM instance, firmware version and serial number. It is also possible to assign a custom name to the EVCS.

5.4. Firmware updates

The EVCS firmware can be updated manually via the web interface or remotely via VRM: Remote firmware update.

The easiest way to update the EVCS firmware is through the VRM's Remote Firmware Update feature. You can perform the update automatically with a single button press or manually if preferred. Follow these step-by-step instructions to learn exactly how to do this. Please note that this requires a GX device connected to the VRM portal.

To update the firmware manually via the web interface, follow the steps below:

Download the latest firmware release from Victron Professional
Make sure you have the correct firmware file. For the EVCS model with a display, select the firmware file that contains "C025" in the file name. For the EVCS NS model, select the firmware file that contains "C026" in the file name.
Open the web interface
Click the Backup & FW tab
Click the Open button and browse to the location where the provided firmware file is stored.
Select the firmware file (*.evcsup)
Click Update to start the update process
After a successful update, the charging station will restart, and the main page will be displayed again. All previous settings will be retained.

5.5. Reset to factory defaults and password recovery

Note

Reset to factory defaults will reset all system settings to default values. The First setup must then be carried out again.

This can be avoided by performing a partial reset, which will reset only the Bluetooth PIN code and the admin password. However, this option is only available via the DEF button method.

In case the password is lost, the initial password can be recovered in different ways:

Reset to factory defaults from the web interface:

Click on the Settings button.
Click on the Backup & FW button.
Click on Reset to factory defaults.
Run the First setup again.

Reset to factory defaults via VictronConnect:

Open VictronConnect and tap on the EVCS from the My devices list.
Tap the cog wheel icon in the top right on the Status screen.
Tap the three vertical dots icon on the Settings page and choose Reset to defaults.
A warning will appear that all settings will be reset to factory defaults. Tap YES to reset to factory defaults.
Run the First setup again.

Partial and full reset to factory defaults using the DEF button inside the device:

Warning

The procedure described below should only be performed by qualified personnel as this process requires the EV Charging Station to be powered. Working under high voltage is very dangerous and can be fatal if used incorrectly.

Partial reset
A partial reset only resets the admin password and Bluetooth PIN code, all other settings are preserved.

Open the unit by removing the backing plate. Be careful not to touch the high-power parts inside the unit. Only the area around the DEF button is safe.
For a partial reset, press the DEF button (see the image in EV Charging Station setup web interface for its location) for more than 5 seconds but less than 15 seconds.
After releasing the DEF button, the RGB light ring starts blinking green rapidly to indicate that the partial reset is in progress.
Note that if your mobile device was successfully paired before resetting the PIN code, it is still possible to connect to the EVCS via VictronConnect as long as it is not unpaired. All other devices must be paired with the default PIN code as described in the VictronConnect Setup, configuration & operation section.
If you were logged in to the web interface using a browser prior to the partial reset, the admin password reset for that connection will not take effect until you log out of the web interface. All other devices require the default password printed on the sticker inside the device. until a new password has been assigned; see Access menu for details.
Mount the backing plate onto the device and tighten the screws.
Assign a new admin password; see Access menu for details.

Full reset

Open the unit by removing the backing plate. Be careful not to touch the high-power parts inside the unit. Only the area around the DEF button is safe.
For a full reset, press the DEF button (see the image in EV Charging Station setup web interface for its location) for more than 15 seconds until the RGB light ring starts blinking blue rapidly to indicate that the full reset is in progress, then release the button.
Mount the backing plate onto the device and tighten the screws.
Run the First setup again.

5.6. Maintenance

The EV Charging Station does not require specific maintenance.

Manual - EV Charging Station