your charging station
What are the mistakes to avoid when choosing a recharging solution?
Electric recharging stations require special attention to ensure their smooth operation and prolong their service life. Avoiding certain mistakes can save you time and money, while preserving the efficiency of your recharging solution.
Not maintaining your charging station
Daily maintenance of the recharging point remains essential to preserve its optimum performance.
Whether exposed to the elements or not, charging stations can accumulate dust, dirt and even debris, hampering connectors and reducing charging efficiency. Frequent cleaning with a clean, dry cloth removes impurities, keeping components in optimum working order.
N.B.: It is essential to clean the charging station only on the surface. Do not moisten connectors, use high-pressure jets or apply chemicals to clean your device.
Do not use an IRVE-certified installer
As previously stated, it is imperative to use the services of a quality IRVE installer, and to guarantee that the installation complies with the NF C 15-100 standard.
In fact, faulty installation can lead to bollard malfunctions in just a few months. Poor-quality electrical components such as cables and protective devices can suffer premature wear and tear. If safety components fail, the bollard is placed in a fault situation.
Neglecting your recharging point
Electric vehicle recharging is a must for electric vehicle owners, and neglecting your recharging point can lead to costly problems.
First of all, it is important to know that the weather conditions are the main reason for premature wear and tear of charging stations.
Indoors, the charging station is protected from the elements, reducing the need for maintenance. For outdoor installations, however, it's essential to select your equipment with care.
N.B.: Protection (IP) and resistance (IK) ratings vary from one charging station to another. For outdoor installation, we recommend IP 54. Without it, there's a risk of water penetrating the casing, leading to condensation and corrosion of electronic components.
Secondly, the use of a poor-quality charging cable can lead to can lead to false contacts at the socket for a type 2 cable. Ultimately, this can lead to a deterioration in connection quality at this point.
What's more, it's important to install a charging station in a collision-free location to reduce the risk of wear and tear.
Ignore updates
Software updates for charging stations, issued regularly by manufacturers, are designed to optimize performance and ensure perfect compatibility with the latest electric vehicle models.
Therefore, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions to keep your charging station's software up-to-date at all times. By doing so, you ensure an optimal charging experience, as well as maximum compatibility with your electric vehicle.
What is a maintenance contract?
Managers of corporate charging stations are well advised to give serious consideration to a maintenance contract. Whether you're a individual concerned about the condition of their home charging station, or a professional looking to maximize the efficiency of their charging equipment, a maintenance contract is a wise investment.
With this type of contract, the policyholder benefits from priority treatment than other files. In this way, they avoids long waiting times to have their bollard repaired, so they can get back to work quickly.
What's more, all costs associated with troubleshooting are already partially or fully covered, including the costs of parts, labor and IRVE technician travel.
N.B.: An IRVE-approved technician is an electrician specialized in the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles. Following the NF C 15-100 electrical standard, their expertise and skills ensure the safe installation of this device.
If you didn't know, since the decree of January 12, 2017, the installation of a charging solution with a power equal to or greater than 3.7 kW must be carried out by a qualified electrician, displaying the IRVE(Infrastructure de Recharge de Véhicule Électrique) label. This certification attests to the electrician's training in the specific field of electric vehicle charging station installation.
Unfortunately, maintaining your charging station on your own scale offers limited possibilities. Indeed, the only thing you can do is clean the outside with a clean cloth. It's crucial to note that this cleaning must focus exclusively on the external surface, as this could lead to potential damage if you open the device.
N.B: The requirements of the decree of January 12, 2017, imposing at least one annual inspection of the various infrastructures, must be complied with by maintenance operators. The frequency of inspections may vary depending on the operator, the terms of the maintenance contract, and the length of time the fleet is in use.
As a result, you are obliged to call in a professional. To be more precise, we have two types of maintenance.
Preventive or advance maintenance
Visit preventive maintenance aims to anticipate failures/breakdowns of the equipment due to its components, by means of a maintenance routine. It enables action to be taken to avoid costly repairs. This type of maintenance is carried out periodically at regular intervals.
During this service, the technician inspects the charging station and performs the following operations:
- Test the various components to ensure they are in good working order,
- Check connections and condition of cables,
- Examine protection and control devices,
- Replace unsatisfactory parts,
- Check the housing for traces of moisture,
- Replace filters,
- Clean the unit thoroughly from the outside,
- Check that there are no foreign objects inside the equipment,
- Remove dust from electronic board and components,
- Measure the earth value and neutral/earth voltage,
- Perform a firmware test.
It's important to differentiate between preventive/anticipated maintenance and predictive maintenance. These two terms should not be confused. The preventive maintenance follows a pre-planned scheduleas described above.
On the other hand, the terminal can sometimes detect anomalies or risks of anomalies on its own, enabling faster, more efficient and more practical repairs.
This is what we call predictive maintenance. It's based on real-time data on the condition and performance of your recharging equipment. In fact, some connected models offer the possibility of remote maintenance.
Curative maintenance
Visit curative maintenance comes into play when the equipment breaks down and cannot be repaired. In this situation, the IRVE technician's task is to analyze the anomalies responsible for the breakdown, in order to remedy them. The aim is to return the charging station to full working order.
To accomplish this mission, he can carry out on-site replacement of an electronic board or filters, change a damaged or worn part, reconfigure a firmware, etc. He must then reconfigure the system before reactivating the bollard. He then reconfigures the system before reactivating the terminal.
At Beevwhen purchasing charging station(s), we offer professionals preventive maintenance for their company fleet and curative maintenance, depending on the charging station model chosen.
For individuals, our Beev Care service offers you a 3-year hardware warranty against wear and tear, force majeure and human error, coverage in the event of vandalism and theft, as well as dedicated technical support.
Conclusion: is the maintenance contract an end in itself?
The importance of a maintenance contract for an electric charging station cannot be underestimated. Whether you're a professional managing a fleet of electric vehicles or a private owner of a home charging station, the peace of mind offered by a preventive maintenance contract is invaluable.
In fact, there's no obligation to have your charging station checked frequently by a professional, and many electric car users prefer not to do so. However, a a maintenance contract can be advantageous for cautious individuals seeking to minimize risk and guarantee rapid intervention in the event of a problem.
What's more, most companies specializing in the maintenance of charging stations are quick to help their customers in the event of a charging station being unavailable, thus impacting on the use of electric vehicles.
At Beev, our experts can help you with your charging station project, whether for your home or your corporate fleet. Don't hesitate to contact us !
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