In the same physical space, such as a parking lot or carport, the first device must be the Master and the next can be Slave devices. The slaves transmit the data to the master, which transmits the consumption, price and load management data to the back-end system via a GSM connection. From the user’s point of view, the devices work in the same way and are identical.
The master and slave devices communicate with each other via a radio signal, so when placing the devices, take into account that there are no significant physical obstacles between them, such as concrete walls, or that the distance between the two devices does not exceed 50 meters. If necessary, there must be more Master devices on site if the above obstacles are present or the distance between the devices is too long.
The charging is started and stopped with the mobile application. The buyer’s credit card number is set in the mobile app, from which the payment is transferred once a month to the seller’s account.
The seller, e.g. a housing association or company, determines the price (kWh) of the electricity. If the seller wants, seller can also specify a time-based fee for parking on top of the price of electricity. The seller’s bank account number is set on the control panel. All payments are credited once a month to the account.. If necessary, the seller management tool can also be used to retrieve more detailed information about operating sessions and device-specific usage amounts (kWh, time) per month.
In the management tool is set, on a device-by-device basis, the maximum number of amps that can be charged through the device between 1 and 16 amps (0,2 – 3,7 kWh). If the attempt is made to charge more than the permitted amount, the charging will be interrupted and the buyer’s mobile phone will receive a message and instructions that the charging level must be lowered from the vehicle side. National instructions has to followed when the charging level is set.
When more than one eChargie device is used in the same system, the system also controls the fuse capacity that the devices together can not exceed. The devices “talk” to each other all the time and tell to the system how much of the total capacity is in use. If the limit starts to come close, then the remaining devices that are not yet charging will go into “queue” mode. In queue mode, the device lights up yellow and also the mobile application displays yellow color and text that the system is waiting for capacity to be released. When capacity is released, for example because there are vehicles that don’t need anymore charging, in the queue charging start automatically in the order in which they are in the queue. Buyer can monitor the status with the mobile app.