EV charger ME0003 - error messages

The ME0003 EV charger is a portable mains electricity charger for electric vehicles (EVs).

The error messages

After charging completes with some BYD EVs, the charger may display "Relay breaking fault - error 09". 

When powered by a DC/AC inverter & battery system, the charger displays "Ground fault - error 13".

Causes

The errors 09 & 13 are triggered by the charger’s current leakage (RCD) and grounding safety features.

Error 09: On some BYD EV models, after charging is completed, the vehicle’s charging inlet is kept electrically live by the vehicle for a short period. This causes the EV charger to enter a protection mode.

Error 13: To power an EV charger from an inverter/battery system, your inverter must have a neutral-to-earth bond (MEN link). Household inverter systems should have this - portable inverters usually do not. If the inverter does not have this bond, the charger's RCD safety function will prevent it from starting.

Outcome

This is an intentional safety protection design. It does not cause any damage or negative impact to either the vehicle or the charger.  

These error messages could have been suppressed by the maker (a common approach used by many chargers in the market), however, doing so would disable the charger’s residual current leakage detection function.

The error message will go away once the charger has been disconnected and powered-off, and it will work normally next time the unit is connected to mains, or to an inverter with a MEN link.