Three things can stop an EV charger: the vehicle, the charger, or your home's power supply. Check the vehicle app and the connector first. If the safety switch at your switchboard has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call a licensed electrician.
A home EV charger connects directly to your home power supply, and any work on that fixed wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. energy.gov.auView source One reset. That's it. electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
New to home EV charging? How home EV charging works covers the basics before you start.
The car is the most common culprit: check it first
Many 'charger not working' problems come from the vehicle, not the charger. A charge limit set to 80% looks just like a broken charger. Scheduled charging does too. These checks take two minutes and need no tools.
Open the vehicle's app or screen before you do anything else.
A charge limit set to 80% looks like a fault, but it's not
A charge limit of 80% is the most common misread fault. When the battery hits that cap, the car tells the charger to stop. The charger sits idle. Nothing is broken. It's just doing what you set it to do.
Open the vehicle app or screen and look for 'Charge Limit', 'Maximum Charge', or 'Departure Time'. If your battery is sitting at 80% and that's your set limit, the system is working correctly. Raise the limit or turn off the schedule to charge right away.
If the car shows no dashboard lights, the 12V battery may be flat
Every EV has two batteries: the big main battery that drives the car, and a small 12V battery that runs the control systems. The 12V is what starts charging. If it's flat, the car won't charge even when plugged into a working charger.
If the vehicle app shows nothing and the dashboard is dark, the 12V is likely the cause. Check your vehicle manual for the jump-start steps, or call your manufacturer's roadside help. It's a vehicle issue, not a charger issue.
Check the charger itself for a fault light or connection issue
If the vehicle checks come up clear, look at the charger. Two quick checks cover most charger-side faults: the connector seat and the indicator light. Neither needs tools. Neither needs you to open anything.
Installation quality matters here too. A poorly installed charger, with a cable run that's too long or a circuit not built for high, continuous current, is more likely to fault. For more on how your charger was installed and what a good install involves, see our installation guide.
Reseat the connector first: a partial seat stops charging
A wall-mounted charger checks the connection before it lets current flow. A plug that's not fully in won't pass that check. It's one of the most common reasons charging won't start.
Unplug the cable all the way, then push it back in firmly until you hear or feel the latch click. Try again. You'd be surprised how often that's all it takes.
What a fault light tells you, and when to stop
Every home charger shows its status through an LED indicator. The colour and pattern point to a fault type, but the exact meaning varies by brand. Always check your charger's manual or the manufacturer's app. General colour rules are a guide only.
Steady green: ready or charging. Amber or orange: standby or thermal derating. Steady red, or a repeating flash: a fault that needs attention.
If no lights come on at all when you plug in, the charger may have lost power. Go to the switchboard check below.
A fault light that won't clear after you reseat the connector and check the vehicle settings means it's time to call the manufacturer's support line or a licensed electrician. Don't open the unit and don't try to reset internal fuses.
If the charger is offline, a firmware update or Wi-Fi drop is likely
Smart chargers can refuse to charge when they lose their internet connection, or when a firmware update is waiting.
Check the charger's app for alerts or pending updates. Restart the charger through the app if that's an option. Check your home Wi-Fi too. If it comes back online and charges normally, a connectivity issue was the cause. If it doesn't, call the manufacturer's support line.
A hot charger, burning smell, or discolouration is a stop signal
If the charger body, cable, or connector feels genuinely hot (not just warm), shows heat marks, smells of burning plastic, or has charred or melted parts: stop. Don't use it. Call a licensed electrician.
Thermal derating, where the charger slows down in high heat to protect itself, is normal and safe. A surface that's actually hot to the touch is not. Inspect the unit, cables, connectors, and mounting now and then for signs of wear or damage. If you see anything odd, stop using it and contact your supplier or a licensed electrician. energy.gov.auView source
The switchboard is the last check, and the one where the rules are strictest
A home EV charger draws high, steady current. It's one of the biggest loads in a home, and the safety switch on that circuit will trip when something's wrong. electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
The Australian wiring standard AS/NZS 3000:2018 covers how an EV charger circuit is wired, including the circuit breaker and the safety switch (RCD). Appendix P of that standard says how the RCD is chosen, and where the charger's install manual calls for RCD protection, it's required. A licensed electrician installs and looks after this equipment. A home charger is hardwired into your fixed supply. energy.gov.auView source That's why. Standards AustraliaView source electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
Reset the safety switch once. Then stop.
Go to your switchboard and find the EV charger circuit. Look for a switch that's flipped off or sitting in the middle. If you find one, reset it once and try charging again. electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
If it trips again: stop. Don't touch it a second time. Repeated tripping on the EV charger circuit is a sign something's wrong. Often a wiring fault, the wrong RCD type, or a circuit problem. Only a licensed electrician can find it. This is fixed-supply work. Not a homeowner job. Call one. energy.gov.auView source Standards AustraliaView source electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
If you use a portable charger, try a different outlet
A portable EV charging cable that plugs into a standard power point is called Mode 2 charging. You don't need a licensed electrician to use one, but a standard power point isn't a great long-term option for daily charging. If the outlet seems to have died, try the charger in a different one. electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
If charging works on the other outlet, the first power point may need a licensed electrician to look at it. For regular use, a hardwired wall charger on its own circuit is the right way to go, and that install must be done by a licensed electrician. electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source energy.gov.auView source
If other appliances are off too, the problem is your grid supply
Before assuming a charger fault, check whether other big appliances, such as the oven, air con, or dryer, are working. If they're not, you may have a supply issue in your area. Check your local network operator's outage map. In most states it's on their website.
A grid outage isn't a charger fault. Once power is back, the charger should work normally. If it doesn't, run through the checks above from the start.
Quick-reference triage table: symptom, cause, safe check, and when to call a pro
Seven symptoms cover most home EV charger faults. The 'safe check' column is only what you can do with no tools, no opening anything, and no electrical risk. Everything beyond that column needs a licensed electrician, because a home charger is hardwired into your fixed supply. energy.gov.auView source electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Safe to check yourself | Call a licensed electrician when... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plugged in, not charging, no indicator lights | Vehicle schedule or charge limit active | Check vehicle app: charge limit, scheduled charging, departure time | Vehicle checks clear and still no charge |
| Plugged in, fault light appears immediately | Connector not fully seated, or charger internal fault | Unplug completely and reseat connector firmly; check manual for fault code | Fault light persists after reconnect |
| Charging, but very slowly | Vehicle onboard charger limit, or charger thermal derating | Check vehicle OBC spec; check ambient temperature around charger | Slow charging does not clear after charger cools |
| Safety switch has tripped at the switchboard | RCD trip (DC leakage, moisture, overload, or wiring fault) | Reset the RCD or breaker ONCE only; attempt to charge | Safety switch trips again after one reset. Call immediately. |
| Burning smell, hot charger body or cable, discolouration | Wiring fault, internal short, or connector fault | Stop immediately. Do not use the charger. | Immediately. Potential fire risk. |
| Charger offline or app shows error | Wi-Fi/connectivity loss, or pending firmware update | Check internet; update firmware via app; restart charger via app | Offline status persists or hardware fault confirmed |
| Charges sometimes, not others | Intermittent connector issue, moisture, or loose wiring | Check connector seating and cable for visible damage | If wiring or internal issue suspected |
This table covers non-invasive homeowner checks only. Electrical work on fixed wiring, the switchboard, or the charger's internal components requires a licensed electrician in Australia. General information only, not a substitute for professional advice.
What does an EV charger fault inspection cost?
A licensed electrician can diagnose most charger faults on a single visit. What they find determines the next step: a minor fix on the spot, or a more involved repair or replacement.
Common questions
The most common reasons are vehicle-side: a charge limit set to 80%, scheduled charging active, or the vehicle app showing an error. Check these first. After that, look at the connector seat and the charger's fault light. Then check the switchboard: reset the safety switch once only. If none of these explain the fault, call a licensed electrician, because a home charger is hardwired into your fixed supply.
Work through this sequence: (1) Check the vehicle app for a charge limit, schedule, or error. (2) Unplug and firmly reseat the connector. (3) Check the charger's indicator light and consult the manual. (4) Check the charger app for connectivity or firmware alerts. (5) Go to the switchboard and reset the EV charger's safety switch once only. If it re-trips, stop and call a licensed electrician. If you smell burning or see damage at any point, stop immediately.
The fault is in one of three places: the vehicle (charge limit or schedule), the charger (connector, firmware, or internal fault), or your home supply (tripped safety switch or grid outage). Start with the vehicle app. If that's clear, check the connector and the charger's indicator. Then check the switchboard. A re-tripping safety switch isn't a charger problem you can solve yourself; a licensed electrician must diagnose it. energy.gov.auView source
You can reset the safety switch at the switchboard once. That's the limit of safe self-help on the electrical side. If the switch trips again, don't reset it. Repeated tripping when charging an EV is a sign something needs attention, and a licensed electrician must diagnose it. Resetting the charger through its app (where the manufacturer provides that function) is also safe. Opening the charger unit or touching internal components is not.
A safety switch that trips once and stays reset is likely a nuisance trip. One that trips again after you reset it is a warning. It can mean current is leaking somewhere it shouldn't be, or that the RCD type or wiring isn't right for the charger. Don't reset it again. Call a licensed electrician to find the fault before you use the charger. energy.gov.auView source
It depends on where the fault is. Vehicle-side issues (charge limit, schedule, 12V battery) don't need an electrician. Firmware and connectivity issues are handled through the charger app or manufacturer support. Supply-side faults (a safety switch that keeps tripping, wiring, or switchboard issues) require a licensed electrician by law in Australia, because the charger is hardwired into your fixed supply. So does any fault inside the charger unit itself. If in doubt, call one.
A red indicator light on a home EV charger signals a fault condition. A steady red typically means an internal fault; a flashing red often maps to a specific category in the charger's manual, such as a ground fault or temperature protection event. But fault-light patterns are brand-specific. Check your charger's manual or manufacturer app for the exact meaning. If the fault light won't clear after reseating the connector and confirming the vehicle and schedule settings, call a licensed electrician or the charger manufacturer's support line.
Start with the vehicle app. A charge limit set to 80%, a scheduled departure time, or a vehicle error message will all stop charging without any charger fault. If the vehicle is fine, check the cable connection and the charger's indicator light. Then check the switchboard. Reset the safety switch once. If it trips again, call a licensed electrician. If your car has no response and no dashboard lights at all, the 12V auxiliary battery may be flat. Contact your vehicle manufacturer's roadside assistance.
EV charger fault you can't clear yourself?
A licensed EV charger electrician can diagnose the fault on a single site visit. Get a fair-price estimate up front, then connect with vetted local electricians who specialise in EV charging faults.
Sources
General information only. This guide is not a substitute for advice from a licensed electrician. Electrical work on fixed wiring in Australia requires a licensed electrical contractor.
- energy.gov.auView source
- electricvehiclecouncil.com.auView source
- Standards AustraliaView source