Intelligent backup power issues/unreliable

[TaxmanHog]

They DO NOT publicly discuss our individual matters on the forum, they make the connections between us and the dealers or the corporate customer service specialists (BEV, FORD PASS, etc.)

Sponsored

 

[Jim Lewis]

Some progress. I was having Backup Power Unavailable notices whenever I plugged my FCSP into my truck. These notices would prevent any information appearing about preparedness to charge or charging as a notification pop-up at the bottom of my FordPass Home screen tab. Sometime in the last week, that stopped occurring, and I now get notifications about charging again. I'm still on version 4.29.1 of the FordPass app for iOS, so it's not because of an app change. I seem to have received the recent FCSP firmware update as it shows in my FordPass app with an exclamation mark beside it: https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...-version-2-112-91-2-149-1-32-1-53-0-62.16527/, although the FCSP setup app still shows an earlier firmware version for me, 2.112.91:0.0:0.0:0.0:0.0. (I haven't power-cycled the FCSP or let my truck sit unplugged through the night, AFAIK, in the last week).

Whenever I looked at the status of my FCSP in the FordPass app for the past several weeks (Account, Connected Charge Station), there would be a blue "Charging" logo over the FCSP image, even though the device was not charging. Now, the logo displayed is "Ready to Charge," as it should be.

Two other funky things just started happening or are still happening, though. Whenever I unplug the FCSP from my truck, its LED turns into a solid white bar and remains that way for at least a few minutes (haven't paid attention to what happens after that). In the last several days, I typically also get an "Outage Detected" alert in the FordPass app despite no outage when I unplug the FCSP.

Hoping this is progress in small steps towards a fully working HIS unit. But perhaps it's just fixing glitches that were introduced (for me) at the Ford server level with the recent v4.29.1 iOS update to the FordPass app.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Whenever I unplug the FCSP from my truck, its LED turns into a solid white bar and remains that way for at least a few minutes (haven't paid attention to what happens after that).

This is normal, mine does it every morning after I unplug from a charge session.

You might try power cycling the FCSP , dark start battery and HIS controllers to fully implement the software change in the FCSP.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Interesting that that the FCSP LED changing to white on unplugging is normal. IIRC, my FCSP used to stay blue when unplugged (had plenty of time to plug it into the wall mount without having any color change, IIRC), so perhaps that was a symptom that all was not right in FCSPville for my device.

 

[Jim Lewis]

You might try power cycling the FCSP , dark start battery and HIS controllers to fully implement the software change in the FCSP.

I cut all power for 52 minutes, restored power, and waited another 20 to 30 min while OBDII scanning my unplugged truck. Curiously, the FordPass app no longer shows the firmware version of the pending update but rather the current firmware version same as reported by the Charge Station Pro app. But now, if I click on the still present yellow triangle with an exclamation point in it, which I never tried doing before, it says "Update Pending." So, I'll let the FCSP sit overnight, not plugged into the truck, and see if it updates itself in the next few days.

Curiously enough, when I unplugged the FCSP from my truck before power cycling, this time around, the FCSP LED stayed blue until I cut its power (instead of turning white, as I reported above)! I guess with Ford software/firmware, a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...

 

[TaxmanHog]

The white signal lamp happens most of the time, but I've had occasions where does not do it, definitely more haphazard behaviors from the system, eventually the rest of the version numbers should populate, a few months back I encountered what you're experiencing with the zero's at the end of the version number, it'll shake out when she's good and ready.

 

[smandel]

Well today I attempted again to get my HIS system up and running after several failed attempts. It worked and let it run for 15 minutes before I put the grid back on. I’m assuming the recent update for the FCSP did the trick.

 

[marlin1060]

I believe that the white light on the FCSP is the indication that it is communicating with the servers.

 

[GranCu]

Hi there, I'd be happy to look into your Lightning concerns on my end. Will you send us a message with your VIN and dealership info? I can look into things on my end.

I just ordered the HIS from AEE and now I'm afraid and thinking of returning it after reading this forum.

 

[ElectroJames]

I just ordered the HIS from AEE and now I'm afraid and thinking of returning it after reading this forum.

Wait till the bugs are worked out, we are all guinea pigs, don’t join the game. Ford literally could care less that they are selling an idea that doesn’t function, and all that happens is ford points at sunrun, and they point at delta, and nobody is doing anything except waiting for the mystical OTA that’s gonna fix it all… get a refund and wait till all is clear.

 

[Wattsgas]

I recieved the update to my Ford Charge Station Pro. The first thing I have noticed is that I do not need to use the Stations wifi to connect to the FCSP. I used to have to reset it to get the FCSP wattbox network. This has been reliable with me being connected to my home wi-fi. Big improvement. I have also manually tested the system. (First test since my last test failure. That test was prior to the FCSP software update. System worked. I tried it today after my latest OTA update on the truck. Maybe some good news, especially since prior sucesses have involved me re-pairing the station with the truck

 

[Major Dawg]

Frustrated again today with this system. (Google Pixel 7Pro - Android)
FordPass App stopped seeing the FCSP as connected.
FCSP App would not connect, or see the unit at first, and was not broadcasting its SSID.
After the MCU reset, and waiting a long time the SSID appeared and the phone was able to connect, but could not complete the connection to be able to change anything.

The truck can get power from the system, but the App cannot display the sessions.
Resetting FCSP (Factory-Reset - last resort, MCU Reset - da brains, A8 reset- Com from FCSP to BDi-E6) - all three are inside the unit with no external exposure.

To get this all working again, I tried various options on the resets above. Plus, disconnecting the Dark Start Battery, and the Input (shutoff switch).

Sunrun is coming out next week to have a look at the HIS system and hopefully I will be able to get some answers.

 

[Wattsgas]

Today I had a Power Outage. Last manual test of the HIS worked last week. Today the HIS did not work. It was a little different got the Right Amber Light on the Pro Charger. Book says to Trouble shoot. Any Idea on what to troubleshoot. When the Power came back on the Charger had a solid Blue Bar. Wish I had a clue as to what to do.

 

[Jim Lewis]

I just spoke to a Ford customer care rep. He was able to look up the HIS OTA update status. He said that currently, the release of updates relevant to the HIS unit is scheduled for the end of October/beginning of November 2023. I asked to get on a notification waiting list to be officially notified by Ford when the system is all fixed up and ready to be set up under any new required updates. He told me, Sorry, No Can Do; we're not maintaining any notification list. I told him I'd like my 12-year warranty extended from the time the system is deemed fully operational by Ford, and he told me my best bet was to send a formal written letter to the Ford Product Claims Department in Dearborn, MI:

Mailing Address:
Ford Motor Company Product Claims Department
P.O. Box 70
Dearborn, MI 48121-0070​

​

eFax: 1-866-265-9528​

 

[hsl]

I had a heated discussion with Ford battery and charger support last week. The agent tried to explain to me that FCSP is not part of the HIS system, and I was flabbergasted. I believe their script is to give out the mailing address once they run out of options.

My system was installed in May and HIS has never worked. I used my local solar company with Sunrun and Delta experience and the installation went smoothly for the Delta and Solar setups. Professionally, I have built DC fast charging EVSE for commercial transit buses and worked with vendors and integrators that built DC fast charging systems.

I wish the Ford system implemented the recommended system design from ISO 15118 V2G/V2L. Even just using the Poweline communication spec (PLC) from CCS would’ve bypassed the Bluetooth issue. The current implementation of the HIS system is proprietary and has no compatibility with future home backup systems. I took a chance and now in this mess. Ford betting their future on EVs, I hoped this would’ve been released feature complete but I was wrong. I hope Ford will come through and redeem itself.

Sponsored