ClipperCreek HCS series

(up to EV chargers section)

This page provides information to support DIY repair of ClipperCreek HCS series EV charging stations, which include the popular HCS-40 and HCS-60 models. ClipperCreek has famously awesome customer support, including hardware swap if the unit is still under warranty. If out of warranty, well here you go.

Clipper Creek HCS user manual (see page 16 for basic LED codes table)

Fault codes from LED status indicators

LED indicators from top to bottom:

• Power / Yellow
• Charging / Green
• Power Fault / Red
• Charging Fault / Red

Note that the number of blinks of the two bottom red LEDs is important.

No indicators on = No power applied to board.

Solid Amber Power = Power applied to board. Charge not requested.

Solid Amber Power and Solid Green Charging = Power applied to board. Charge requested.

Solid Amber Power and Solid Red Power Fault = No ground connection, or high ground resistance

Solid Amber Power and Blinking Charging Fault = CCID fault, Check CCID coil harness

Solid Amber Power and Solid Charging Fault = Pilot error, pilot signal out of spec

Power Fault and Charging Fault Blinking 2 times = Line 1 relay monitor failure

Power Fault and Charging Fault Blinking 3 times = Line 2 / Neutral relay monitor failure

Power Fault and Charging Fault Blinking 4 times = CCID startup self test failure, check CCID coil harness

Power Fault and Charging Fault Blinking 5 times = Internal fault, component damaged or incorrect component installed

Relay / contactor information

Hongfa contactor seen in actual unit

Two of the fault codes above involve a failed contactor, one of the few mechanical items in the assembly and thus more prone to failure. This part is a 40-Amp, 2-pole contactor with metal mounting plate and screw terminal capability. When terminating wires into it, crimp ferrules onto the wire ends.

contactors for HCS series

Make	Model	info	info	suitability
Hongfa	XMC0-402.IBBD	website	contactors catalog (PDF)	used by OEM
American Zettler	XMC0-402.IBBx (x=C? D?)			unknown
Homer	XMC0-402.IBBx (x=C? D?)			unknown
Packard	C240C			unknown
Appli Parts	APAC-240240		Amazon, $21	cheap crap? being evaluated Aug 2024
CGELE	UPC ‎774297736354		Amazon, $12	cheap crap? being evaluated Aug 2024
BlueStars	LTC-2S-40 / 2P-40A-240V		Amazon, $13	cheap crap? being evaluated Aug 2024

Background / failure modes

Brain dump from someone experienced with failure modes on these units:

• Corrosion at a terminal causing over heating of the wire inside the factory sealed box
• The one circuit board having a failure
• High ground leakage
• microswitch in the handle getting water in it and freezing, immobilizing the microswitch
• Pin contacts in the handle just wearing out from cycling-- or arcing on pullout, not supposed to work like that...

A common problem with Level 2 EVSEs is that the contactor welds itself closed. Typically not an issue with ClipperCreek though. OpenEVSE chargers like to do this later in life. After taking it apart and filing down the welds on the contact faces, you start just banging your fist on it real hard a couple times. Then power cycling it. That fist induced vibration was usually enough to break those welds, power cycle to clear the error, and get it working again for another month. Before it welded itself again. (will move this to OpenEVSE page later)

More product photos

inside view of HCS series EVSe, with back cover removed

lone PCBA inside the HCS series EVSE