Allow external control of Auto mode in EV Charging Station

Q&A and troubleshooting EVCS
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1

I would like to request a new option for the EV Charging Station in Auto mode.

Please add a switch that disables the internal Victron Auto charging logic while keeping the charger in Auto mode. This would allow users to control Auto mode externally, for example via Node-RED, while still keeping Manual mode available for normal day-to-day use whenever immediate charging is needed.

Right now, users who want custom charging logic must keep the charger permanently in Manual mode, which removes the normal Auto/Manual workflow from the UI.

An option like “External control for Auto mode” or “Disable internal Auto logic” would make the charger much more flexible for advanced users without changing the default behavior for everyone else.

2

You can already control it via nodered.

3

Is it possible to control Auto mode from Node-RED?
So far, I have only found a way to control Manual mode. What I want is to select Auto on the charger display or in the Victron interface, then it will charge according to FVE, or select Manual, so that charging starts immediately.
I am not interested in creating a separate interface for Node-RED just to switch modes when that is already implemented elsewhere.
It is already annoying enough that I have to create my own automation because the built-in one is not usable.
And based on the complaints I have been reading, this does not seem to be a problem on my side.

4

"Not usable” is a bit harsh, isn’t it?
I got the internal automatic Solar –> Car setup working, the only issue is that it tries to keep it at zero, and undershoots a bit in the beginning.
That said, it would be great if there was a fourth option on the display that could be used to control Node-RED.
So then you would have:

  1. Manual (override Node-RED automation, internal automation and scheduled automation)
  2. Auto (run internal automation, setup through Modbus-TCP)
  3. Scheduled (run on schedule, set up on EVCS)
  4. Node-RED/User auto (overrides 2 with respect to start/stop/power)

Then one could steer the EVCS with respect to start, stop and power, but keep e.g. the phase switching setpoints the same.

5

Yes, it is a bit of a harsh way to put it, but when the charging gets turned off every 15 minutes and then turned back on about 5 seconds later, I do not consider that very safe for the vehicle’s onboard charger, and therefore I consider it unusable.