myenergi zappi Pilot problem
The zappi cannot read the control pilot signal on the cable to the car. It retests every five seconds; myenergi’s advice is to unplug, check the plug for dirt and try again.
Before you start
What this means
Pilot problem is one of the zappi’s unnumbered messages, and it is about the smallest wire in the cable. The control pilot is the low-voltage signal on which the charger and the car negotiate: the zappi says how much current is available and the car says whether it is connected, ready or charging. myenergi define the message as the zappi having detected an issue with the control pilot signal on the cable between the zappi and the EV, and unlike the numbered faults it does not need a button-press reset: the zappi will automatically retest the cable after five seconds.
Their advice if it persists is to unplug the cable, check for dirt in the plug and try again. The pilot pin is the small one at the top of the Type 2 connector, and because it carries a signal rather than power it is intolerant of the things the power pins shrug off: a plug not pushed fully home, grit or corrosion on the contact, water in the socket, or a cable with a damaged core from being run over.
A car that is not in the right state can also produce it, since some vehicles drop the pilot when they are locked, when a departure timer is holding them off, or when a door is opened mid-plug-in. Because the signal is on the car’s side of the plug as much as the zappi’s, the quickest way to separate them is another cable or another car. A Pilot problem that follows the cable is the cable; one that appears on every cable and every car is the socket or the zappi.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Plug not fully inserted or dirty | myenergi’s published remedy targets this. The pilot pin is short and needs the plug fully home and clean to make contact. | Common |
| A damaged cable | The pilot core is thin. A cable that has been driven over, kinked at the plug or left with the plug face-down in a puddle can lose the pilot while the power cores still test fine. | Common |
| The car dropping the signal | Vehicle timers, locking behaviour and some software states interrupt the pilot from the car side. It looks identical from the zappi. | Occasional |
| A socket or pilot-circuit fault in the zappi | The case that survives a change of cable and car. Water in an untethered socket is the usual reason, and it is an installer check. | Rare |
What to try yourself
Unplug at the car, look into the plug face for grit, moisture or a bent pin, wipe it with a dry cloth and push it back in firmly until it seats. Wait five seconds for the zappi’s automatic retest.
On an untethered zappi, unplug the cable at the zappi end too and check that socket and plug the same way.
Check the car is not holding off: unlock it, cancel any departure or charge timer, and try again.
Try another cable or another car if you can. Whichever the message follows is the fault, and if it follows neither, contact the installer about the zappi’s socket and pilot circuit.
Get a registered electrician to look at your myenergi zappi ev charger
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a registered electrician, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£120
Time on site
10 minutes
Nothing if it is dirt or seating. A replacement Type 2 cable is £60 to £120; a socket repair on an untethered unit is a warranty or installer matter.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
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Related myenergi zappi fault codes
- Lock FailureGet it checkedCode 23, and the fix is counter-intuitive: push the plug further in to release it. Untethered zappis only.Related: lock and connector
- Unknown CableUsually simple to fixAn untethered zappi could not identify the rating of the cable plugged into it. Only genuine 13, 20 or 32 amp Type 2 cables are recognised; the unit retests after five seconds.Related: lock and connector
- PEN FaultStop — call an engineerCode 29. The protection against loss of the supply earth-neutral conductor has operated, and myenergi tell you to remove the fault before resetting.Related: same brand
- PE FaultStop — call an engineerCode 25. myenergi say the earth is either disconnected or its impedance is too high — a problem in the installation rather than in the charger.Related: same brand
- SelfTest FailedGet it checkedCode 27, searched as A27. The built-in protection devices could not be tested, or failed the test, before a charge. myenergi’s action is a reset; they do not say it cannot be repaired.Related: same brand
- Charge BlockedUsually simple to fixNot a fault. The car keeps asking to charge after it already reported complete, and the zappi has stopped answering.Related: same brand
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Related guides
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.