91040
Well-known member
First, I am not an EE or technically trained. My knowledge comes from advice given by friends who are. Also, my experience is with the 2011 Leaf and associated equipment.
The problem with charging began after the original inlet was replaced. Look for what could have happened there first.
1. Check that the harness connectors going further into the car are firmly seated (The 2011 had two). Check for contamination if they were detached during the repair.
2. Recheck that the new inlet’s wiring is correct and the crimps are good. Is there continuity from the pins to the wires (and to the connectors on the other end)?
Next, does the fault light status of your EVSE or Clipper Creek give any indication of what it doesn’t like? Some devices narrow down the problem area by a combination of lights or whether they are flashing or steady state.
This next information is for anyone who can’t charge on Level 1 or 2 and suspects the cause is a bad diode.
1. This diode is used as a safety check for L1 & L2 charging only. CHAdeMO charging will still function.
2. A diode allows the current to flow only in one direction. It fails into one of two states: a) Closed- circuit still continuous but now allows flow in both directions; b) Open- circuit is broken, there is no continuity.
3. The original portable L1 EVSEs and Nissan branded AV L2 EVSEs (round faced) did not do a diode check. An OpenEVSE can be set to do a diode check or not. Most other EVSEs do a diode check.
4. a) The diode has failed in Closed position if charging occurs with an EVSE that does not do the diode check but will not charge on one that does the diode check; b) The diode has failed Open if charging does not occur with or without the diode check.
5. Another method for determining the state of the diode is to check for continuity between the pilot pin and ground in the J1772 receiver on the car. An inexpensive multimeter will show a) continuity in one direction and no continuity (or very high resistance) in the other for a properly functioning diode; b) continuity in both directions for a failed Closed diode; and c) no continuity in either direction for a failed Open diode.
6. If failed Closed, a new diode can be inserted into the pilot line to replace the function of the failed one.
7. If failed Open, the original diode has to be replaced. This diode is located on a circuit board in the onboard charger.
The problem with charging began after the original inlet was replaced. Look for what could have happened there first.
1. Check that the harness connectors going further into the car are firmly seated (The 2011 had two). Check for contamination if they were detached during the repair.
2. Recheck that the new inlet’s wiring is correct and the crimps are good. Is there continuity from the pins to the wires (and to the connectors on the other end)?
Next, does the fault light status of your EVSE or Clipper Creek give any indication of what it doesn’t like? Some devices narrow down the problem area by a combination of lights or whether they are flashing or steady state.
This next information is for anyone who can’t charge on Level 1 or 2 and suspects the cause is a bad diode.
1. This diode is used as a safety check for L1 & L2 charging only. CHAdeMO charging will still function.
2. A diode allows the current to flow only in one direction. It fails into one of two states: a) Closed- circuit still continuous but now allows flow in both directions; b) Open- circuit is broken, there is no continuity.
3. The original portable L1 EVSEs and Nissan branded AV L2 EVSEs (round faced) did not do a diode check. An OpenEVSE can be set to do a diode check or not. Most other EVSEs do a diode check.
4. a) The diode has failed in Closed position if charging occurs with an EVSE that does not do the diode check but will not charge on one that does the diode check; b) The diode has failed Open if charging does not occur with or without the diode check.
5. Another method for determining the state of the diode is to check for continuity between the pilot pin and ground in the J1772 receiver on the car. An inexpensive multimeter will show a) continuity in one direction and no continuity (or very high resistance) in the other for a properly functioning diode; b) continuity in both directions for a failed Closed diode; and c) no continuity in either direction for a failed Open diode.
6. If failed Closed, a new diode can be inserted into the pilot line to replace the function of the failed one.
7. If failed Open, the original diode has to be replaced. This diode is located on a circuit board in the onboard charger.