Symptoms
- Light on the charging port, cable, or wall unit blinks in a pattern
- Different color (often red, amber, or a mix) than during normal charging
- Charging may or may not be actively happening despite the light
- Pattern is consistent and repeats
Likely causes
- CommonCharger or cable communicating a specific statusMany chargers use different blink patterns and colors to indicate charging, waiting, complete, or fault states, all detailed in their manual.
- PossibleGround fault or safety tripA blinking error pattern can indicate the charger detected a ground fault and stopped for safety.
- PossibleCommunication error between car and chargerA handshake issue between the vehicle and charging equipment can show as an error pattern rather than starting a session.
- Less commonCharger hardware faultAn aging or damaged charger can develop an internal fault that shows consistently as an error.
What to do
- Look up the exact blink pattern and color in the charger's manual or on the manufacturer's support site, since these codes are usually documented.
- Unplug the charger from both the wall and the car, wait a minute, then reconnect in that order.
- If it's a home unit, check the breaker for the circuit and reset if tripped.
- Try a different outlet or, for portable chargers, a different location entirely.
- Note whether the pattern appears immediately on connection or only after some charging time, since this can help narrow the cause.
- If the same error pattern persists across resets and outlets, treat it as a likely hardware fault in the charger.
Tools and parts
Replacement charger or cableSearch: “EV charger or charging cable, matching your car's requirements”
When to call a pro
If the error pattern persists after basic resets, contact the charger manufacturer's support or a licensed electrician for a home unit.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.