Wallbox charging limit confusion

[Roman]

I set the Wallbox to 32A, but the car is charging at 6kW, or 26A, which is 80% of 32A. Why does the box only deliver 80% of the set current? Should I set the limit to 40A, or does it still draw full current with 20% lost?

 

[Gerald_GTA]

This sounds like either a Wallbox limitation or something in BMW’s charging software restricting full power draw. Some EVs will only take what they need, and even if you set the charger to 32A, the car might have a pre-set efficiency buffer to avoid excessive heat buildup. Before adjusting to 40A, check if your i5 actually supports that level of draw, otherwise, you might not see any change.

 

[Thunderbolt12]

I set the Wallbox to 32A, but the car is charging at 6kW, or 26A, which is 80% of 32A. Why does the box only deliver 80% of the set current? Should I set the limit to 40A, or does it still draw full current with 20% lost?

What's the amps of your breaker?

 

[Roman]

This sounds like either a Wallbox limitation or something in BMW’s charging software restricting full power draw. Some EVs will only take what they need, and even if you set the charger to 32A, the car might have a pre-set efficiency buffer to avoid excessive heat buildup. Before adjusting to 40A, check if your i5 actually supports that level of draw, otherwise, you might not see any change.

I’ll check the i5’s charging specs before adjusting. It makes sense that the car might limit power to avoid heat buildup.

 

[Roman]

What's the amps of your breaker?

I think it’s 40A, but I’ll confirm to make sure everything matches up