Your EV charger is showing an error. This guide covers the most common fault codes from Zappi, Pod Point, and Andersen chargers — including RCD trips, earth faults, overcurrent, and communication errors — and tells you what to do next.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
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Your EV charger is displaying an error code, a warning light, or has stopped charging mid-session. Before you panic, understand that EV chargers have multiple layers of built-in safety monitoring, and error codes are the charger doing its job — detecting a condition and protecting you, your vehicle, and your property.
EV charger errors generally fall into five categories: RCD trip (earth leakage detected), earth fault (protective conductor issue), overcurrent (too much current flowing), communication fault (loss of connection to app/server/vehicle), and temperature fault (overheating). The first three are safety-critical and require professional investigation if they persist. Communication and temperature faults are often resolved with simple steps.
This guide covers the most common error codes from the three most popular UK home charger brands — Zappi (myenergi), Pod Point, and Andersen — and explains what each error means, what you can do, and when to call a qualified electrician. If you are an electrician, the later sections cover the BS 7671 regulations specific to EV charging circuits.
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The myenergi Zappi is one of the most popular home EV chargers in the UK, largely due to its solar diversion capability. Zappi communicates errors through its display screen, LED colours, and the myenergi app.
Pod Point chargers are widely installed through partnerships with car manufacturers and energy companies. They communicate status primarily through LED colours and the Pod Point app.
Andersen chargers (Andersen A2 and A3) are premium UK-designed chargers with a distinctive wooden fascia. They display status through the front LED and the Andersen Konnect+ app.
RCD tripping is the single most common EV charger fault reported by homeowners. The cause is often not the charger itself but the type of RCD protecting the circuit.
Regulation 411.3.3 of BS 7671 requires RCD protection with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30mA for circuits supplying socket-outlets rated up to 32A. EV charger circuits must have this protection.
However, the type of RCD matters significantly for EV charging. Regulation 722.531.2 specifically addresses EV charging circuits and requires at minimum a Type A RCD. The reason is technical but important:
If your EV charger circuit is protected by a Type AC RCD (common in older consumer units), this is the most likely cause of repeated RCD tripping. The solution is to install a Type A or Type B RCBO dedicated to the EV circuit, or to upgrade the consumer unit.
An earth fault error on an EV charger is a safety-critical indication that should never be ignored or repeatedly overridden. The charger is detecting current flowing through the protective earth conductor — current that should be flowing only through the live and neutral conductors.
An electrician investigating an earth fault on an EV charger circuit should perform insulation resistance testing at 500V DC on the fixed wiring with the charger disconnected, earth fault loop impedance testing, and visual inspection of all connections. If the fixed wiring tests satisfactorily, the fault is in the charger or the vehicle.
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Overcurrent faults indicate the charger is detecting more current flowing than it is configured to deliver. This is distinct from an RCD trip — overcurrent is about the magnitude of current, not earth leakage.
Common causes include:
Communication faults are the least safety-critical category of EV charger errors but the most frustrating for owners. These typically fall into two types:
The charger cannot reach the manufacturer's cloud servers (Wi-Fi/4G issues). This affects app control, scheduling, smart tariff switching, and solar diversion on some chargers. Basic charging usually still works. Check Wi-Fi signal strength at the charger, restart the router, and check for manufacturer server outages.
The charger and vehicle communicate via the control pilot signal in the charging cable. This negotiates the maximum charge rate and confirms safety checks before power flows. A pilot fault prevents charging entirely. Causes include a damaged cable, dirty connector pins, a fault in the vehicle's charge port, or a charger control board issue.
If the charger-to-vehicle communication fails with one vehicle but works with another, the fault is vehicle-side. If it fails with all vehicles, the fault is charger-side.
Not every EV charger error requires an electrician. Here is the urgency scale:
When calling an electrician for EV charger issues, look for one with specific EV charger installation experience and ideally certification from the charger manufacturer (such as myenergi Approved Installer or OZEV-approved installer). EV charger circuits have specific requirements under Section 722 of BS 7671 that not all electricians are familiar with.
When called to investigate EV charger errors, a systematic approach saves time and ensures the root cause is identified rather than just the symptom.
Check the RCD type protecting the EV circuit. Regulation 722.531.2 requires Type A as a minimum. If a Type AC is fitted, this is likely the root cause of tripping faults. Recommend upgrade to Type A RCBO or Type B if specified by the charger manufacturer.
Isolate the charger and test the fixed wiring: insulation resistance at 500V DC (L-E, N-E, L-N — minimum 1 megohm), continuity of protective conductor (R1+R2), and earth fault loop impedance (Zs). Compare Zs with the maximum permitted for the protective device. For a 32A Type B MCB, the maximum Zs is 1.37 ohms at the origin.
Verify the installation meets Section 722 requirements: dedicated circuit, correct cable sizing for continuous load (Section 722.531.1 notes that EV charging is a continuous load and must be rated accordingly), correct RCD type, and appropriate earthing arrangement. Many faults are caused by non-compliant original installations.
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