Summary

Ohme built its business around smart-tariff optimisation — pairing the charger with time-of-use electricity tariffs (Octopus Intelligent Go, Octopus Intelligent Octopus, Octopus Go, and similar) so the car charges automatically during the cheapest overnight window. This means a large share of "my charger won't charge" calls on Ohme units are actually the smart-scheduling logic doing exactly what it's set to do — the car simply hasn't reached its scheduled charge window yet, or a tariff/app setting is overriding a manual charge request.

Ohme's hardware distinction is connectivity: several Ohme models (notably Home Pro) include an integrated SIM for mobile data, so the unit can operate and report status without relying on the customer's home wifi — useful in installations where wifi signal is poor at the charger location (garages, driveways, outbuildings). This reduces one common failure mode seen on wifi-dependent competitor units, but mobile signal strength becomes the equivalent variable to check instead.

Underneath the smart-tariff layer, Ohme chargers are still Mode 3 AC EVSEs subject to the same BS 7671 Section 722 requirements as any other brand — DC fault detection, PME open-PEN protection, and a Control Pilot handshake with the vehicle. For the brand-agnostic electrical fault logic, see ev charger faults.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

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Symptom Likely cause First action
Car plugged in, nothing happens for hours Smart schedule / departure time set in app Check the app's scheduled charge window before assuming a fault
App shows "offline" Mobile signal or wifi drop at unit location Check signal strength; for SIM-based units, confirm mobile coverage at the install point
Charging stopped mid-session Tariff window ended, or overtemperature/load management Check schedule end time; check connection temperature
Trips circuit on plug-in RCD type / open-PEN / earth fault Confirm RCD type (A vs B) and open-PEN device per BS 7671 722
Charger worked before, now ignores schedule Tariff API sync failure (e.g. switched supplier) Re-link the tariff account in the Ohme app
No lights, no app contact Supply fault Check MCB/RCBO, isolator, incoming supply voltage
App shows charging, car display disagrees App/vehicle sync lag Check actual charge rate on the vehicle's own display before escalating
ePod connector feels loose/intermittent Cable/connector wear from handling Inspect connector pins and cable strain relief; replace if damaged

Detailed Guidance

Decision tree

OHME WON'T CHARGE
==================
1. Check the Ohme app first — what does it say?
   "Scheduled" / shows a departure time -> go to 2 (schedule, not a fault)
   "Offline" -> go to 3 (connectivity)
   "Fault" / error alert -> go to 4 (device fault)
   No app contact at all -> go to 5 (supply side)

2. SCHEDULE / DEPARTURE TIME
   - Confirm the customer's "ready by" time in the app
   - Confirm the tariff is correctly linked (check for a tariff
     sync error banner in the app)
   - Customer wants to charge NOW -> use the app's manual/boost
     override rather than waiting for the schedule
   - Still won't charge even on manual override -> go to 4

3. OFFLINE / CONNECTIVITY
   - SIM-based unit: check mobile signal strength at the install
     location (basements, detached garages, and metal structures
     can block signal even where home wifi would have worked)
   - Wifi-based unit: check router signal and re-pair if needed
   - Unit may still charge locally even if "offline" in-app —
     confirm actual charge status at the vehicle

4. DEVICE FAULT
   - Read the specific fault alert text in the app
   - Power-cycle once at the isolator (30 sec off)
   - Persists after restart -> internal component fault, escalate
     to Ohme support / authorised repair, do not keep re-trying

5. NO POWER / SUPPLY SIDE
   - Check dedicated MCB/RCBO at the consumer unit (reset once)
   - Check external isolator if fitted
   - Confirm 230 V at the unit's incoming terminals
   - Still dead -> qualified electrician required

Smart-tariff scheduling — the most common "fault"

Because Ohme's core feature is tariff-synced scheduling, the single most frequent call-out is a customer expecting the car to start charging the instant it's plugged in, when the unit is correctly waiting for the cheap-rate window set by their tariff. Before treating this as a fault: confirm the departure/ready-by time, confirm the tariff account is still correctly linked in the app (a recent energy supplier switch is a common trigger for a broken link), and show the customer the manual override/boost function for immediate charging outside the schedule.

Mobile connectivity vs wifi

For SIM-equipped Ohme models, a poor mobile signal at the charger's physical location (rather than the house wifi) is the relevant variable. This matters most for outbuildings, detached garages, and basements where mobile coverage can be weaker than at the main house — worth checking with the customer's phone at the exact charger location before assuming a fault in the unit itself.

Earth and RCD faults

Protective-device trips on an Ohme unit are diagnosed identically to any other EVSE under BS 7671 Section 722 — confirm the RCD type (A with built-in RDC-DD, or Type B) and check the open-PEN protection device for a PME supply. This is not Ohme-specific; see ev charger faults for the full earth-fault branch.

ePod-specific wear

The Ohme ePod is a portable smart charging cable rather than a fixed wall unit, which means its connector and cable see more physical handling (coiling, dragging across ground, repeated plug/unplug). Intermittent charging on an ePod should prompt an inspection of the connector pins and cable strain relief before assuming an electrical/software fault.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won't my Ohme charger start as soon as I plug in?

By design, Ohme schedules charging to the cheapest tariff window and a customer-set departure time, so a delay after plug-in is usually expected behaviour. Use the app's manual override to charge immediately if needed.

My Ohme charger shows "offline" — is the car still charging?

Possibly. Mode 3 charging doesn't require a live connection to Ohme's servers, only to report status. Check the vehicle's own display for actual charge status before assuming a fault, and check mobile/wifi signal strength at the unit.

I switched energy supplier and now the schedule doesn't work. Why?

The tariff account link in the Ohme app needs re-linking after a supplier switch; the old integration will fail silently rather than erroring clearly in all cases. Re-link the tariff in the app settings.

Is a trip at the consumer unit an Ohme fault?

No — a trip at the protective device is an electrical/earthing issue under BS 7671 Section 722, not specific to the Ohme unit's smart-tariff software. Diagnose it the same way as any EVSE earth fault.

Regulations & Standards