With the growing interest in electric vehicles and environmental awareness, the topic of testing and selecting vehicle charging stations is one of the most frequently discussed. How to properly test a charging station and what parameters should you pay attention to?
Check the adapter for testing electric vehicles at the Onninen wholesaler
How to properly test a vehicle charging station?
When testing EV charging stations, the first thing to look at is their appearance. It is very important to check for any visible damage, including cracks or damage to the connectors. In the case of new stations, the risk is minimal, but it is always worth visually assessing the condition of the selected station. The second key issue is checking the device markings and the labels on which the user manual is located.
In practice, testing electric vehicle charging stations requires checking the correct operation of the installation. Therefore, appropriate measuring devices and tools will be necessary. When checking the installation, it is necessary to carry out an earthing check, the safety of the people operating the station depends on whether it was done correctly. An earthing fault is a problem that directly threatens safety. The next step is to measure the insulation resistance and test the differential circuit breaker. Additionally, the continuity of the protective conductors should be checked.
The assessment of basic parameters and their efficiency allows for the assessment of further aspects, this time functional. Here, the most important thing is to check the method of connecting the vehicle and the charging process - starting charging, interrupting charging and checking communication with the station. When the station is working properly, after connecting and recognizing the vehicle, charging should start automatically. In the context of safety, it is important that it is possible to interrupt the charging process in a completely safe way. It is important that interruption is possible both from the vehicle and the station. In addition, it should be ensured that the electric vehicle charging station communicates correctly with the vehicle. Thanks to this, you can check the charging status, but also be sure that any error messages will be displayed.
When testing a charging station, performance tests should be carried out. Power, voltage and current measurements are taken using measuring devices. It will be necessary to check the specifications. When assessing functionality, a continuous charging test is also carried out, the purpose of which is to determine the correct operation of the device throughout the charging cycle. It is important for the health of the vehicle that the charging station works stably.
The assessment of the safety of the station requires checking the correct operation of elements such as the overload and current circuit breaker. To obtain reliable results, a test must also be carried out to assess the behavior of the station in the event of a break in the protective conductor.
How do standards and regulations regulate the voltage and connection of charging stations?
The operation of electric vehicle charging stations is regulated by appropriate regulations. Their aim is to provide users with maximum safety, and in the case of vehicles, to minimize the risk of damage during charging.
One of the basic documents specifying technical requirements is the Regulation of the Minister of Energy of 26 June 2019. The document contains detailed provisions on the safety of operation and repair, maintenance and modernization of charging stations, as elements that are part of the road public transport charging infrastructure system. The document also addresses issues related to the safety of installations and control of compliance with these requirements by the Office of Technical Inspection.
Another document regulating the obligations of building owners is the Act on Electromobility and Alternative Fuels. It specifies that owners and managers of non-residential buildings are required to install at least one charging point if the number of parking spaces is at least 20. These regulations come into force on January 1, 2025.
The applicable regulations stipulate that the power of charging stations located in residential buildings and public utility buildings cannot be less than 3.7 kW. It is also important to maintain safety in the field of fire protection.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Testing Tools
Diagnostic tools that assess the correct functioning of devices are selected depending on the type of charging device, whether they are wall-mounted Wallbox chargers or free-standing modules. Other solutions are used for single- and three-phase chargers.
An example used for testing single- and three-phase chargers is the CEM EVSE-200 tester. It allows for diagnostics of devices with a type 2 connector. It is a versatile device that allows for a number of electrical measurements, including the parameters of differential circuit breakers, insulation resistance and short-circuit loop impedance.
Electric vehicle charging systems allow for safe and efficient charging, but only when they are fully operational.
Adapter for testing electric vehicle charging stations at the Onninen wholesaler
Solutions such as the Sonel WAADAEVSE01 adapter for testing electric vehicle charging stations can also be successfully used for testing. It will work perfectly to perform measurements in a safe manner, in accordance with applicable regulations and standards. The device, which is equipped with a special cable for charging an electric car , simulating vehicle charging, will help to check how the station works in various operating states, in safe conditions, without the risk of damaging the vehicle. The adapter helps to measure:
- short circuit loop impedance ZS;
- insulation resistance RISO;
- parameters of residual current circuit breakers RCD.
At the Onninen wholesaler, in the electrical engineering category, you can find not only adapters, but also other devices, such as wallboxes or charging cables for electric vehicles .
Check the adapter for testing electric vehicles at the Onninen wholesaler