This page contains instructions for testing an OCPP1.6 compatible charger with Charge HQ. Testing is performed against our test environment.
Please see our OCPP Charger Onboarding Guide for a high level overview of the process.
Charge HQ requires that the charger supports repeated stopping and starting of charging without unplugging the EV. This is necessary in a residential context, because the driver might want to charge from solar during the day, stop during the evening peak, then start again during the overnight off-peak period, all without unplugging.
Some chargers have difficultly with this requirement. To increase compatibility, Charge HQ supports two methods of stopping and starting charging:
By default, Charge HQ will use method 1 (zero power limit). If your charger does not support zero power limit please let us know and we can adjust the system for your charger's needs. If you aren't sure, perform the testing below and you'll discover if it supports it or not.
Ideally, residential chargers should not require authorisation to allow charging, ie the charger should start when the driver plugs in, without pressing start in an app or tapping an RFID card.
If possible, please put your charger in "free to use" mode.
If your charger does not support a "free to use" mode it should still work as Charge HQ will send RemoteStartTransaction when required.
In addition, your charger should be configured to allow charging when offline if possible.
Testing is performed using our test environment. The mobile app (Android / iOS) is not supported on the test environment so the web app must be used instead.
Web app: https://app.chqtest.net
Open the web app above. Create an account if required. This account is distinct from your account on the production system; they don't share the same password.
In the web app, go to My Equipment -> Connect your Smart Charger. Don't click Submit yet.
Connect your charger to the internet, and configure it as follows:
In the web app:
After some time, the charger status should change from Never Connected to Online. If this does not happen within 5 minutes, try using the non-secure URL on the charger:
Some chargers require loading a SSL certificate to use the secure wss:// URL. Please let us know if you need help with this, although it is not required to perform the testing.
Testing is performed with the help of the Smart Charger Test Tool, which is available in the web app. Go to My Equipment -> Smart Charger -> Test Tool.
When performing the testing procedure, please:
We will need this information from you to verify the logs on our side; if you don't record the times of your actions, we can't investigate any issues and the testing will need to be repeated.
Please be patient when performing and action and checking for the result. There are various delays in the system (mostly in chargers) so it can take a while for changes to be reflected in Charge HQ.
Click Reboot.
Charger should reboot and reconnect within about 5 minutes. Some chargers are quite slow so patience is required.
Plug in the vehicle.
Wait one minute.
Status may change to Preparing, then may change to Charging or not, depending if the charger is in "free to use" mode or not.
If charging does not start, send a Remote Start command.
Wait one minute.
Status should change to Charging.
Charging should start.
Transaction ID should appear.
Wait one minute.
Energy and Charging Rate should be displayed per the screenshot above. (Current offered, which is the amps value after the "/" is not supplied by some chargers and is not required by Charge HQ)
Confirm charging rate agrees with vehicle display.
This test requires the ability to stop charging from the vehicle side. The method for doing so varies by vehicle. It may require unlocking the charge port if there is no other way to stop charging.
Vehicle is charging.
Stop charging from vehicle side.
Status should change to SuspendedEV.
Wait one minute.
Charging Rate should display zero.
Resume charging from vehicle.
Wait one minute.
Status should change to Charging.
Charging Rate should display correct values.
Vehicle is charging.
Set a power limit of 8 amps.
Wait one minute.
Charging rate should change to 8 amps.
Repeat above test with 6 amps.
Vehicle is charging with power limit of eg 6 amps.
Clear the power limit by setting a blank value.
Wait one minute.
Charging rate should change to maximum rate of charger.
Not all chargers support a power limit of zero. If your charger fails this test please let us know and we can configure our system to use the remote start/stop method for your charger model.
Vehicle is charging, with or without power limit.
Set power limit to 0.
Wait one minute.
Status should change to SuspendedEVSE.
Charging rate should be zero.
Set power limit to eg 10 amps.
Wait one minute.
Status should change to Charging.
Charging rate should be 10 amps.
Not all chargers support stopping and restarting without unplugging the vehicle.
Vehicle is charging.
Send a remote stop.
Wait one minute.
Status should change to Finishing.
Transaction ID should be blank.
Charging rate should be zero.
Send a remote start.
Wait one minute.
Status should change to Preparing, then Charging.
Transaction ID should have a value.
Charging rate should be correct.
Vehicle is charging.
Stop charging from vehicle and unplug from the vehicle. Do not unplug the cable from the charger if it is removable.
Status may change to SuspendedEV.
Status should change to Available. Some chargers may change to Finishing - this is okay.
Charging rate should be zero.
Transaction ID should be blank.
This test must follow directly from the previous test.
Plug the cable into the EV.
Status should change to Preparing.
Charging may start. If it does not, send a Remote Start.
Wait one minute.
Status should be charging.
Transaction ID should have a value.
Charging rate should reflect charging speed.
Vehicle is charging.
Disconnect charger, ideally by disconnecting it from the network. If this is inconvenient, use the Disconnect button in the test tool.
Connection state should change to Offline.
Test tool state will not update whilst charger is offline.
Vehicle should continue charging.
Stop charging from vehicle and unplug.
Replug vehicle.
Wait one minute.
Charging should start.
If a charger fails this test review the charger's OCPP manual to check if there is a setting which allows offline charging. Please let us know the result.
Reconnect the charger, plug vehicle and start charging.
Wait one minute.
Status should be Charging.
Switch off power to the charger, wait 30 seconds, switch it back on.
Wait several minutes.
Charger should appear online.
Charging may start, or status may change to Preparing. Either is fine.
