Charging switched to 1-phase and won’t return to 3-phase

  • Updated

Charging stays on 1-phase

Understand why an active session stays on 1-phase and when a restart can allow 3-phase charging.

Owner: EaseeLast updated: 2 September 2026
Applies to:Chargers with 1-/3-phase switching
Phase mode:Automatic or surplus-controlled

If charging changed from 3-phase to 1-phase, this is usually expected protection rather than a fault. First understand why the active session stays on 1-phase, then restart it when capacity is available. If the new session still starts on 1-phase, use the checks below to identify what is limiting it.

01Understand what the charger is doing

This explains why the phase change is not symmetrical and why waiting for more capacity does not change the active session back.

Easee can change from 3-phase to 1-phase during an active session when there is not enough capacity for 3-phase charging. The session then remains on 1-phase to protect the charger’s relays.

Phase change What happens
3-phase → 1-phase Can happen automatically during an active session.
1-phase → 3-phase Requires a new charging session.

The key point

More capacity becoming available later does not change the active session back to 3-phase.

02Start a new session to allow 3-phase charging

Restart the session when enough capacity is available. This gives the charger a new opportunity to select 3-phase.

01

Pause charging

Pause the active charging session in the Easee app.

02

Wait until charging has stopped

Do not restart while the previous session is still ending.

03

Start charging again

The charger now makes a new phase selection based on the available capacity.

Starts on 3-phase

No further action is needed.

Starts on 1-phase again

Something is still limiting the new session. Continue with the checks below.

03If the new session still starts on 1-phase

A restart cannot force 3-phase charging. Check the conditions that must be met when the new session starts.

Available capacity

Other loads at the site may still leave too little capacity for 3-phase charging.

Phase mode

Check the charger settings. Automatic lets the charger select the available phase mode; 1-Phase prevents a 3-phase start.

Vehicle and installation

Both the vehicle and the installation must support 3-phase charging.

External control

An electricity provider, energy management system, smart-home service or another integration may apply its own limits. Check that provider’s settings and documentation.

04If charging is controlled by surplus

Surplus charging changes when a new session can use 3-phase. Which rule applies depends on the selected phase mode.

Automatic phase mode

Charging may start or continue on 1-phase. If more surplus later becomes available on all three phases, the active session still does not switch back automatically. Restart it to allow a new phase selection.

3-Phase with Surplus only

Charging can start when at least 6 A of surplus has been available on each phase for approximately 10 minutes.

L1≥ 6 A L2≥ 6 A L3≥ 6 A

Each phase is assessed separately. Available current from different phases cannot be added together.

Check the start condition with the Surplus Charging Simulator

Use the simulator to check whether production and household consumption on L1, L2 and L3 provide enough surplus. It helps explain why a 3-phase session does or does not start before you change any settings.

Open the Surplus Charging Simulator →

05Choose the next step

Use the result of the checks above to continue in the right place.

The restart restored 3-phase charging

You are done. The previous session had remained on 1-phase as expected.

Surplus is controlling charging

Check L1, L2 and L3 in the simulator. If the result still does not explain the behaviour, continue in the surplus charging troubleshooting hub.

A third-party service is controlling charging

Continue with that provider’s settings and documentation, because its limits may override the standard Easee behaviour.

Need help with a different surplus charging issue?

Use the troubleshooting hub to choose the symptom that matches what you see.

Open the Surplus charging troubleshooting hub →

Related to

Was this article helpful?

44 out of 118 found this helpful