Charging Station Configuration

Owned by David Rus
Mar 12, 2024
6 min read

 

Table of Contents

 

2. Charging Station Configuration

User Rights

Charging station configuration possibilities differ depending on the Role of the user. Three roles exist: View, Operate and Admin.

Users with Admin role are the only ones that have full range of configuration possibilities. Operator has similar right than Admin but lacks Charger configuration options. Viewer can only check Dashboard where he can check what is currently happening with the charging station and data about sessions.

Figure 5: Full range of configuration possibilities

Change Charging Station Mode Settings

These options can be accessed only by users with Admin rights. Charger mode settings can be configured by pressing the “Charger configuration” and then “Charger mode” in the “Configuration” menu. The option is to choose between Home charger used by single user, Private/Public charger used by multiple users and Custom mode.

This will affect whether the charging station will be displayed on the frontend app if the CPO/EMSP you are connected to uses frontend app. Depending on the choice, additional mode settings will be available in the User section. More information is available in the chapter User. Custom charger mode represents the specific mode defined by the charging station reseller.

Figure 6: Setting the charger mode

Web Interface Access

By pressing “Charger configuration” and then “Web interface access” in “Configuration” menu it is possible to give certain users roles which will give them different access to the charging station’s settings and options.

Figure 7: Accessing web interface access settings

Figure 8: Web interface settings

New users can be added by pressing the “Add new”. New window will open where the user information need to be inserted (e-mail, password, and role). The same window can be used to Block access for particular user.

Figure 9: Adding the user information

Users and their roles can be edited by pressing the edit icon (marked on the figure with red circle) or deleted by pressing the trash can icon next to the edit icon.

Figure 10: Edit the users and their roles

“Anonymous view access enabled” option allows unsigned users to see the dashboard and check charging session.

Change Supported Languages

Selection of languages that will be available on the charging station LCD screen can be changed with selection of “Charger configuration” and “Time and Regional settings” in “Configuration” menu.

Language that is put on the first spot is the default language used.

Figure 11: Selection of languages available in charging station

Custom translations of supported language are possible by pressing the “Upload custom translation” button.

Figure 12: Adding custom translations

Time and Regional Settings

Time settings of the charging station are set with selection of “Charger configuration” and then “Time and Regional settings”. The charging station time can be set. It can also be synchronized with the computer time by pressing the “Synchronize time” button. The time zone of the location where the charging station is located can also be selected.

Figure 13: Time settings

Currency Settings

In the “Time and Regional settings” in “Charger configuration” it is possible to choose the currency in which the energy prices will be displayed.

Figure 14: Currency settings

 

Behaviour Before and at the end of Charging

These options allow admin to enable certain functionalities before and at the end of charging. The following functionalities can be enabled:

  • Allow users to enter departure time.

  • Display charging prices if provided.

  • Enable commercials.

  • Time how long the commercial will be shown.

Departure time is especially important information when the power management is running on the charging station. When this is the case this option should be enabled. This will improve power management algorithm as it will give charging station additional information about charging preferences. Departure time allows charging station to determine the flexibility of charging and to schedule the charging session.

Charging prices can be displayed on the LCD screen when second option is enabled.

To show commercials on the charging station’s LCD screen third option “Enable advertisement” should be enabled. How long the commercial will be shown on the screen of the charger can also be set.

Figure 15: Setting behaviour before and at the end of charging

Change Screen Saver Parameters

How many seconds of inactivity are needed for charging station to go into screensaver mode can also be set by going into “Charger configuration” and then select “GUI settings” in “Configuration” menu.

Option for standby mode is to choose that screen either Blinks, or it is turned On or Off. Blinking screen is a good option for public charging station as the screen tells users from the distance that the charging station is on and in standby mode.

If the Steady On option is chosen, LCD screen will have higher possibility to malfunction as it will be turned on all the time. Charging station will also use more electricity. Steady Off option is best to use for private charging station or where blinking light will provide enough information about charging station status to users.

Figure 16: Screensaver settings

Wake up logo can be changed in the “Charger configuration” and then “GUI settings” in “Configuration” menu. By default, Etrel logo will be shown. By pressing the “Change wake up logo”, custom logo can be selected.

Figure 17: Selection of custom wake up logo

Figure 18: Uploading the image of custom wake up logo

Change Display Information During Charging

The display settings can be changed in “Configuration” menu by going into “Charger configuration” and then “GUI settings”. Various options what can be displayed are available. Multiple options can be selected, and the screen will switch every X seconds, based on the “Change screen settings” setting.

Figure 19: Display information during charging

“Super” option is a special option and displays all the information about range, charging mode and departure time on one screen.

EVSE’s Configuration

Charging station EVSE’s configuration can be changed by going to “Configuration” in the main menu and then to “Charger configuration” and then to “EVSE’s configuration”. Various parameters of each EVSE can be changed:

  • Friendly EVSE code.

  • Enable pause charging.

  • Number of phases.

  • Which phase of charging station is connected to the installation phase L1?

  • Max charging current per phase.

  • Enable plug locking.

Especially important option is which phase of charging station is connected to the installation phase L1. The least loaded phase should be chosen if only one charging station is connected to the grid. If charging station is part of the cluster, the phases in separate chargers that charge single phase EVs, should vary to not overload one phase while others are underloaded.

Figure 20: EVSE’s configuration

Limit Maximum Charging Current

The charging station charging power can be limited by limiting the max current value. With the limitation the possibility of overloading the grid can be prevented. This option is available under the “Charger configuration” in the “EVSE’s configuration” option under the “Configuration” menu.