Enable CableLock in STATE_A (when charging is not activated yet)

[jimflbar]

Currently the Enabled CableLock option only prevents unlocking the cable from the SmartEVSE socket, when the SmartEVSE has at least once entered another state from the initial STATE_A. From that point onwards, the Enabled CableLock will prevent unplugging the cable from the socket, until the cable is unplugged from the EV first and CableLock is Disabled in the web dashboard (or via API / MQTT).

My feature suggestion is to also enable the activation of the locking of the actuator when: the SmartEVSE is not in mode OFF, and a socket with actuator is configured, and the CableLock option is Enabled, regardless if an EV or cable is connected or not.
The current behaviour for disabling the activation of the locking of the actuator after a charging session will not change. For unplugging the cable from the socket, the cable must not be connected to the EV anymore and the CableLock option must be Disabled in the web dashboard or via API/MQTT.

This feature will be great for:

1. testing the working of the actuator during installation: enable/disable CableLock will trigger the actuator, even if there is no cable plugged into the socket.
2. It will enable locking of the cable in the socket, when there is no EV connected. This can be used with a semi-permanent cable installation. You can still take the cable away when not using it for extended period of time by disabling the CableLock option. This option is currently only working, but only if you have charged an EV first. This new feature skips that requirement.
3. It will enable locking the cable in the socket, when the cable is plugged into the EV and into the SmartEVSE, even if the SmartEVSE has not activated charging yet, for example in a case of delayed charging.

For me personally, option 3 is most important. I will program my domotica system to send a CableLock "Enabled" ('1') command via MQTT when the SmartEVSE detects that an EV is connected. Disabling the CableLock is a manual action for me.

Please let me know if you like this option and if you have any comments. I can create a PR for it and do the coding.

[Andycatho]

Hi Jimflbar,

Thank you for your post. I wish to support your proposal.

The issue I have is that I live in an area where stealing the charger cable is common. I set the delayed charge to start after midnight for cheaper rate. During this time, it would be good to have the charger cable locked. After charging, the cable is locked. This is fine until the morning when I need to depart for work. After unplugging the car, I have to manually go into SmartEvse to unlock the cable. It would be great if this could be resolved that when you disconnect the car, the charger unlocks automatically.

Lets see what happens.

Andy

[jimflbar]

Hi Andy,

The proposed functionality (see nr 3) would lock the cable upon insert into both charger and car, when charging has not started yet due to delayed start (for example when waiting for cheaper rates). The normal behavior is of course that the cable is locked in the charger when charging actually starts.

The functionality of disconnecting from the charger upon unplugging the cable from the car is the standard behavior. An activated Cable Lock option will prevent that automatic unlock from the charger until you disable Cable Lock.

Maybe we need to split the Cable Lock functionality into 2 separate switches: one for "Forced Actuator" (see nr 1 and 2), the other one for "Delayed Charging" (see nr 3).
An active "Forced Actuator" switch would always lock the actuator regardless if a car is connected or not.
When you deactivate the "Forced Actuator" switch, the actuator would only unlock when no car is connected.
An active "Delayed Charging" switch would lock the actuator when a cable is plugged into the charger and the car, even when charging has not started yet, and unlocked when the cable is unplugged from the car.
A deactivated "Delayed Charging" switch would result in the standard behavior, e.g. the cable is locked when charging starts and unlocked when the cable is unplugged from the car.

Jim