Stuck in Glendambo with the local hero (Chris)
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As you can probably tell by the first photo of the local hero (Chris) resetting the EV charger, we stayed a lot longer in Glendambo than we had planned. Similar problem, now on our way south from Coober Pedy, as we had a week ago during our trip north.
Charging
We filled up this morning at Coober Pedy at the fast charger there. We don’t have quite enough range to make it south to the next fast charger at Spuds Roadhouse, in Pimba. Out Tesla Model Y is just the standard range RWD, not long range. The plan was to stop here for lunch in Glendambo, while the car charged up just a bit using the slow 7kW RAA/Chargefox charger that is here.
We arrived, plugged in. The charger showed life. I tapped my RFID card. The charger screen showed that it accepted my card, paused, then showed an error. I tried again and again, still no actual power transferred. I tried using the ChargeFox app, after swapping in a Telstra SIM, since my Belong SIM doesn’t get reception here. Same problem.
After about eight attempts, I contacted ChargeFox. Tanya and Jared tried remote resetting and starting, but same problem. Jared rang Chris at the nearby roadhouse, who came over to open the cabinet (with keys) and hard rebooted the machine.
I tried again. It worked first time. Yay!
This charger is listed in apps as 20kW, but we only (eventually) got 6-7kW out of it. Chargefox keeps tweaking the output to try to balance the town’s limited power. A few weeks ago it was 14kW. Because it’s DC output, they have flexibility here.
We had already been here about an hour, and already rummaged some breakfast from our bags and fridge. Now we’re in for a two hour wait to slow charge, to increase our estimated arrival battery percentage at Pimba, from -11% to something advice 0%, probably above 5% to be safe.
I wandered the “town”, photographed the local sites (you’re welcome) and considered getting a job here, since I spend so much time in Glendambo anyway.
I looked for the 32A 5pin outlet that someone had mentioned in comments, but couldn’t find it, and the staff/locals don’t know about it.
I found out from Jared and Chris that the whole town (of 30 people, all of whom work at the roadhouse or service station, I think), is self powered. No grid connection. They mostly run from a diesel generator. The signs (see photos) indicate that at least some houses run from solar. I’m surprised that the roadhouse and service station aren’t covered in solar panels, to get free electricity.
I’m told that The NRMA is in the process of organising a self contained charging station here, like the one at Erldunda/Ghan, which is powered by its own solar, battery and perhaps occasional backup diesel generator. Something like that is really needed here.
If you are travelling through here in an EV:
- Charge to full at the previous stop (Pimba or Coober Pedy).
- Plug into this RAA charger and start it.
- Make sure you already have an RFID card set up in the ChargeFox app. We had previously entered our Evie card’s RFID in the ChargeFox app, which works.
- Have a Telstra or Boost Mobile SIM card, so you can use Internet and make calls, such as to ChargeFox. We had Belong SIMs which use the Telstra network, but not the whole network, specifically not at Glendambo. Or, you can probably use the Telstra public phone nearby. There is no Wifi in the servo or roadhouse.
- If charging fails three times, go ask Chris at the roadhouse if he can reset it for you.
- Be prepare for a longish wait. If you have a long range EV , then you might not even need to stop here. But if you have a standard range EV, like us, then allow a couple of hours to top up enough to continue. Or, book into a powered site and charge overnight at 15A.
Chris mentioned that they are leaving here in a couple of weeks. He seems to be the only one who knows what to do. So, after that, who knows.
Jared said he was out here a week or two ago, and will come out again to tweak the current problem. He comes from Adelaide.
This is probably the most trouble we have ever had charging. Hopefully, in the near future this will no longer be a problem. Then we will tell our grandkids “back in my day …”.
Links
- Earlier — first Glendambo stop on the way north: On our way to Coober Pedy — first Glendambo stop
- Later — topped up and continuing to Pimba: Topped up in Glendambo — return trip
Local supply couldn’t provide the full 15a at the time but it was enough to get to Coober Pedy without any problems
To get 11kW, did you carry a three phase capable cable? Was it big/expensive?