1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

tips on Using ChargePoint

Discussion in 'Prime Plug-in Charging' started by Tickwood, Aug 26, 2019.

  1. Tickwood

    Tickwood Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    334
    101
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    So far the only network I have used is ChargePoint. Every time I have used it it seems to take a long time and many attempts to get the phone to connect with the charger and get charging. Is it just me or am I doing something wrong?
    Thanks
     
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,605
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    that's why I just use their card. Wave it in front of the appliance, & you're good to go.
    .
     
  3. Clark_Kent

    Clark_Kent Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2019
    44
    39
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I've never had an issue. It typically initializes and connects seamlessly.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  4. Dennis_MA

    Dennis_MA Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2012
    185
    109
    0
    Location:
    Amherst, MA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    My phone works fine for me I use it all of the time. Is your phone older? Software up to date?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Last time I used it, it recognized my iPhone quickly:).

    Maybe something with your setup:whistle:?

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
  6. m8547

    m8547 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2018
    927
    615
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The app is really terrible. But I start charging by NFC. Just turn the phone screen on (no particular app has to be open) and hold it in front of the charger (nearly touching) until it beeps. That is equivalent to using the card. But the card is good to have too, because one time a charger wouldn't recognize my phone with NFC for some reason. I have an android phone in case it matters. FYI the app needs data to work, but you don't need data for NFC to work as far as I know.

    Chargepoint is the only decent network around here, and I rarely have any problems. I use it everyday at work, and sometimes in other places.
    • One time (out of hundreds) I had to wave my card instead of the phone.
    • Often (5% of the time) the app doesn't communicate with the charger, so I can't see accurate charging status. One time it kept telling me it was done charging and the current was 0, but I walked outside and the car was clearly still charging, and I still got a full charge.
    • One time I found a chargepoint station that was not in the Chargepoint app, but it was listed in Plugshare. It was free and public, so I was still able to wave my phone and start charging.
    • Two of the stations I've seen have broken cord retractors.
    • One time I saw a station where the status on the screen was a red wrench, instead of the usual green icon.
    • And I've seen problems where the station is "offline" and doesn't work even though it should be able to.
     
  7. Tickwood

    Tickwood Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    334
    101
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    A year old iPhone 7plus, all up to date.
     
  8. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,605
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    i should probably keep my mouth shut, but if I had $1 for every NFC (all of a user's data/info) hack on the web, I could retire. One of the first things I deleted after rooting my phone's OS & recovery is NFC. be vewie vewie ceauful .... just saying ....
    .
     
    #8 hill, Aug 28, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2019
    vvillovv and m8547 like this.
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    No. It taps fine (mostly use the Apple Watch but I have tried the iPhone once). Did you add ChargePoint to Apple wallet? That’ll speed up the process. (Just double tap the side button)
     
  10. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,493
    1,231
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Yeah. no stranger the connectivity stack here either. I've kicked kik ed myself more than a few times for blabbin about this or that on the net just to see it become a mainstream problem after. So, unless I can do research in a non hostile environment (where do you find those these days) I usually shy away from a lot of research I'd get under my belt. I still remember being asked to study partner with an unknown student saying he/she was about a 1000 mi, away, to study offensive security using backtrack 2- (now kali). I'll let your imagination finish this post.

    If I can't use the card I activated for charging the PIP I go elsewhere, so far anyways.
     
    #10 vvillovv, Aug 29, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2019
  11. m8547

    m8547 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2018
    927
    615
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Can someone explain the risks of NFC to me? I couldn't find any good articles. The only apps I have that I know use it are Google Pay and Chargepoint. I don't really care if someone steals my credit card, because there are already so many ways to do that. And I'm not too worried about Chargepoint. But are there other risks by having it on?
     
  12. Tickwood

    Tickwood Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    334
    101
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I give up, What is "NFC"?
     
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Near-field communications
     
  14. m8547

    m8547 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2018
    927
    615
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    It allows the ability to use your phone in place of a card for contactless payment and chargepoint starting (among other things).
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,605
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    other things - ie; entry door locks, gates, & phone data (email/phone lists for robocallers) - writers of viruses/ransomeware etc have gotten access via NFC as well.
    .
     
    Tideland Prius likes this.