Slow Charging, Power Delivery, and Load Management

Slow charging speed or reduced power output

• Charging speed can be reduced if multiple chargers are sharing the same circuit or breaker, as the available power is automatically distributed among active chargers through load management systems such as SWTCH Control. This is designed to prevent overloading the building’s electrical capacity and is fully automated in multi-charger installations.
• The maximum charging speed is often limited by the vehicle’s onboard charging system, battery management system, battery temperature, or the current state of charge. Even if a charger is capable of higher output, many vehicles will only draw a lower rate, especially as the battery approaches 70–80% or in temperature extremes.
• Resetting the charger by power cycling the breaker for 30 seconds is a recommended troubleshooting step when a charger is stuck in a low output state. This should be performed by a property contact or someone authorized to access electrical breakers, not by drivers directly.
• If remote troubleshooting and configuration updates do not resolve slow charging issues, the next step is to arrange an on-site technician visit for further investigation. SWTCH can coordinate with a trusted third-party technician or channel partner to schedule a site visit, typically billed to the property manager or strata corporation.
• SWTCH support can remotely update charger firmware and configuration or redeploy the SWTCH Control module to address load balancing or performance issues, which may restore normal charging speeds.

Load sharing, load balancing, and power configuration

• When multiple chargers are installed on a shared circuit, load sharing (also referred to as load management or load balancing) must be configured so that the total current drawn by all chargers does not exceed the circuit’s rated capacity. This is typically managed through system settings and can be adjusted remotely by support if needed.
• If multiple chargers are sharing a circuit and are used simultaneously, the available power is automatically divided between the vehicles, which can result in reduced charging speeds for each vehicle.
• Load sharing and charger output settings can be checked and adjusted remotely by the support team; onsite presence is not required to update these configurations.
• The total available power on a shared circuit is divided among all active chargers, and the division may be equal or based on each vehicle’s charging capacity, depending on the system configuration.
• If a configuration issue with load sharing is suspected, support can review and update the sharing configuration for specific chargers remotely upon receiving the charger IDs and breaker numbers.

Session interruptions, premature stops, or trickle charge confusion

• The 'SuspendedEV' status or a message indicating that the vehicle has stopped drawing power is typically triggered when the vehicle reaches its charging limit, has a charging schedule enabled, or the Battery Management System (BMS) decides to pause or stop charging. This is a normal behavior and not necessarily a fault with the charger.
• If a charging session stops unexpectedly or prematurely, users should check that the charging cable is securely connected, ensure there are no scheduled charging settings or maximum charge limits enabled in the vehicle, and try unplugging and reconnecting the charger after waiting a few moments.
• The Battery Management System (BMS) in the vehicle is responsible for monitoring and managing the voltage, temperature, and current of the battery, and may pause or stop charging to ensure safe operating conditions, including protection against over-current and overheating.
• If the vehicle is a Tesla, ensure that the Tesla adapter is securely connected, as a loose or improperly connected adapter can cause charging interruptions or prevent charging from starting.
• If a charging session is interrupted and the vehicle is not fully charged, users can simply reconnect and start a new session to continue charging from where they left off; there is no harm to the vehicle or battery in doing this.
• Remote restarts, firmware updates, and configuration changes can be performed by support to resolve charger-side issues that may cause session interruptions or premature stops. Users are often asked to test the charger again after these actions.
• If a user is billed for a session where charging stopped prematurely or no energy was delivered, a refund request can be submitted to the property manager for review and approval. SWTCH support will advocate on the user's behalf, but the final decision rests with the property owner.
• The SWTCH app or web portal may send notifications that a vehicle has stopped drawing power or that charging is complete based on system-detected current draw, which can sometimes occur during the final trickle charge phase before the vehicle itself indicates charging is finished. Timing discrepancies between notifications and actual charging completion are possible.