The most common cause is poor contact of the plug/socket or connection terminal, which causes the charger to fail to output stably or trigger internal protection.
Investigation steps (from easiest to hardest):
1) Power supply and socket (including poor plug contact)
Symptom: The charger’s power indicator light is off or intermittently on and off; there is no response after plugging in the charger or it only starts charging occasionally.
Possible causes: The wall socket is not powered, the plug is not fully inserted, the plug is bent/damaged, or there is poor contact.
Solution: Try a different outlet that you know has power (use a desk lamp or multimeter to confirm), unplug the charger and check if the metal end of the plug is blackened or bent, clean the terminals (using appliance contact cleaner or alcohol swabs), and reinsert it securely; try a different extension cord/outlet to rule out wiring problems.
Precautions: Operate after power is off; avoid operating in humid environments; do not use sandpaper to roughly polish the metal end (gentle cleaning is sufficient).
2) Charger indicator light and reset button
Symptom: The charger has power but the indicator lights are abnormal (red and green lights flashing or all off), or they temporarily recover after pressing reset.
Possible causes: Overload protection or short-term abnormality triggered by the charger, which can temporarily reset the charger; a faulty indicator light may also mislead the diagnosis.
Solution: First, disconnect the power supply and vehicle connection, wait 30-60 seconds, then reconnect and press the reset button to observe; record whether charging continues after reset and the duration. If multiple resets are required, it indicates an internal problem or repeated external triggering of protection.
Precautions: Disconnect the power before pressing reset to reduce the risk of sparks; frequent resets should not be relied upon for a long time, and you should continue to the next step to find the root cause or seek professional repair.
3) Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Symptom: The charger suddenly stops working and cannot be restored by a reset, or the vehicle has no power response.
Possible causes: blown fuse in the vehicle circuit or charger, tripped circuit breaker in the vehicle, triggered circuit breaker in the home.
Solution: Check the fuses/circuit breakers on the charger input side and near the charging port on the vehicle body, and replace them with fuses of the same specifications or reset the circuit breakers; if the fuses blow repeatedly, check for short circuit sources (such as bare wire contact or plug short circuit).
Important Notes: When replacing a fuse, you must use one of the same rated value. If you are unsure of the fuse’s location or type, consult your vehicle manual or the manufacturer.
4) Thorough contact inspection of the connecting wires and the vehicle-end plug/terminal.
Symptoms: The charging current fluctuates, the connection point gets hot, and there is a slight burning smell or visible corrosion at the connector.
Possible causes: loose plug/terminal, high contact resistance, aging wiring, or corroded terminals.
Solution: After turning off the power, disassemble and check the terminal tightness. Tighten the screws and repair or replace the burnt terminal. After removing the corrosion, apply an electrical anti-oxidant or replace it with a better-sealed connector (such as a waterproof connector).
Precautions: Replacement is recommended if there is extensive corrosion or severe burning of the terminals; wiring work should be completed with the power off, and screws should be tightened but not excessively to avoid damaging the terminals.
5) Input/output voltage matches specifications (voltage mismatch)
Symptoms: The charger indicator is normal but the battery voltage does not rise significantly, or the charger smokes/overheats abnormally.
Possible causes: Incompatibility between the charger and battery voltage levels (e.g., a 12V charger connected to a 48V battery pack), or an excessively low or unstable input mains voltage can also cause abnormal output.
Solution: Check if the input/output parameters on the charger nameplate are consistent with the rated voltage of the battery pack; use a multimeter to measure the no-load and connected voltage of the charger output terminal; if they do not match, replace with a charger that matches the battery specifications or use a suitable transformer/voltage regulator.
Precautions: Never charge a high-voltage battery with a low voltage or forcibly connect devices with different voltages in parallel; please have basic electrical knowledge or have the measurement performed by a professional.
6) Low temperature protection (temperature-related issues)
Symptoms: Extremely low charging efficiency in cold environments, chargers failing to start or displaying low temperature error codes; abnormally fast battery discharge after charging.
Possible cause: The charger or battery has a low-temperature protection function (to protect lead-acid/lithium batteries from damage at low temperatures), and the internal electrochemical reaction of the battery slows down, resulting in limited current.
Solution: Move the vehicle/battery to a warm environment (at least above 0°C, refer to the battery manual for details) and allow the battery temperature to rise before charging; some chargers have temperature compensation or preheating functions, check if they are enabled.
Precautions: Do not use direct open flame or high-temperature equipment to quickly heat the battery; check the minimum charging temperature allowed for the battery type before charging in extremely low temperatures.
7) BMS (Battery Management System) Protection
Symptoms: The charger shows that it is charging after being connected, but the battery voltage does not increase or the charger remains in a “waiting/error” state, with common error codes or the charger failing to output power.
Possible causes: The BMS detects over-discharge, over-current, short circuit, abnormal temperature, or unbalanced cell voltage and cuts off the charging circuit; some BMSs enter protection mode after the battery is over-discharged and need to be woken up.
Solutions: Reset the BMS according to the manufacturer’s instructions or use a dedicated wake-up tool (some require shorting the two ends or using a dedicated charger for trickle wake-up); if the cells are unbalanced, individual cells need to be balanced and charged or sent for professional repair; check for any abnormal cell voltages and repair them.
Precautions: Forcibly shorting or arbitrarily jumping wires may damage the BMS or battery. Confirm the method before operation or consult a professional technician; record the BMS error code for technical personnel to diagnose.
8) Internal fault or aging of the charger (requires professional testing)
Symptoms: If charging cannot be restored after following all the above steps, or if the charger’s efficiency decreases over a long period of time, or if it continues to overheat, smokes, or has an odor.
Possible causes: Damage to the charger’s internal capacitors, transformer, rectifier/switching components, or temperature control; aging of the PCB circuitry; and poor heat dissipation.
Solution: Stop using the device and send it to a professional repair shop to check the internal components or replace the entire unit. During repair, ask technicians to check the output filter, voltage regulator module, thermal protection, and connectors.
Precautions: Internal disassembly and repair involve high-voltage components and dangers. Do not open the charger casing if you are not a professional. If the charger is old and the repair cost is high, consider replacing it.
When should the charger be replaced?
The charger’s internal components are damaged, it has been repaired multiple times but still fails repeatedly, or it was manufactured a long time ago (and replacement parts cannot be found).
The inability to guarantee the stability of output voltage/current can lead to the battery failing to charge properly or having its lifespan significantly shortened.
When the charger has safety hazards (smoke, burning smell, cracked casing), is out of warranty, and its cost is close to the price of a new device.
Three recommended criteria for choosing a charger: 1) Voltage and current matching: The charger’s output voltage must match the battery pack’s nominal voltage, and the rated charging current (A) should match the battery capacity and the manufacturer’s recommendations; avoid prolonged charging with a mismatched charger. 2) BMS compatibility and safety certification: Choose a “smart” charger that supports BMS operation (preferably with charging curves, equalization, or communication interfaces), and prioritize products with CE/UL or relevant electromagnetic compatibility and protection (IP) ratings. 3) Interface and durability: Confirm that the charger is compatible with the vehicle’s connector type (or provide a spare adapter), and choose a brand with good heat dissipation design, waterproof and dustproof features, and manufacturer warranty support for easy future maintenance and replacement.
