How to Manage Charging Ports

Managing Charging Ports

Ports are the individual connectors on your charging stations. Accurate port information helps drivers find compatible chargers for their EV.

What Are Ports?

Port = Individual connector on a charging station.

Example:

Station: "ChargePoint CPF50 Dual Port"
- Port 1: J1772, 7.2 kW, Available
- Port 2: J1772, 7.2 kW, In Use

Why ports matter:

Drivers search by connector type (J1772, CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla)
Each port may have different power output
Drivers need to know how many ports are available
Real-time status shows which ports are free

Before You Start

Requirements:

Station must exist - Add stations first
Know your connector types - Check physical connectors
Know power output - Check station label or specs
Operational status - Are all ports working?

Connector Types Explained

Most common connector types:

J1772 (SAE J1772)

Most common Level 2 connector in North America
Works with: Most EVs (Tesla with adapter)
Typical power: 3-19 kW
Icon: Round connector with 5 pins

CCS (Combined Charging System)

DC fast charging for most modern EVs
Works with: Chevy Bolt, BMW, VW, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, most non-Tesla EVs
Typical power: 50-350 kW
Icon: Looks like J1772 with 2 extra DC pins below

CHAdeMO

DC fast charging for older EVs
Works with: Nissan Leaf, older Kia Soul EV
Typical power: 50-100 kW
Icon: Round connector, different from J1772

Tesla

Tesla-specific connector
Works with: Tesla vehicles
Used at: Tesla Superchargers, Destination Chargers
Typical power: Level 2 (7-19 kW) or Supercharger (150-250 kW)

Adapters: Some Teslas carry J1772 adapters. Note this in your listing if relevant.

Learn more about connector types →

How to Add Ports

Step 1: Access Station Details

Dashboard → Sites → [Your Location]
Click on the station you want to add ports to
Scroll to "Charging Ports" section
Click "Add Port" button

Step 2: Select Connector Type

Choose the physical connector:

J1772
CCS (CCS1 in North America)
CHAdeMO
Tesla
Other (specify in notes)

Tip: Look at the physical connector on your station. When in doubt, J1772 is most common for Level 2.

Step 3: Set Power Type

AC (Alternating Current):

Level 1: 1.4-1.9 kW (standard outlet)
Level 2: 3-19 kW (most common)

DC (Direct Current):

DC Fast: 50+ kW (rapid charging)

How to know:

J1772 connectors = AC
CCS and CHAdeMO = DC
Tesla can be either (Destination = AC, Supercharger = DC)

Step 4: Enter Power Output

Max Power (kW):

Enter the maximum power this port can deliver
Check station nameplate or documentation
Be accurate - drivers plan charging time based on this

Common values:

3.3 kW, 6.6 kW, 7.2 kW (Level 2)
11 kW, 19.2 kW (high-power Level 2)
50 kW, 100 kW, 150 kW, 250 kW (DC fast)

Voltage and Amperage: (optional)

Most stations: 240V, 30A (7.2 kW) or 240V, 40A (9.6 kW)
Leave blank if unsure - max power is most important

Step 5: Set Operational Status

Available statuses:

✅ Operational: Port is working and available
🔧 Out of Service: Temporarily broken, being repaired
🚫 Decommissioned: Permanently removed/disabled

Why it matters: Drivers filter out non-operational ports in search.

Keep status current: Update immediately when ports break or are fixed.

Step 6: Add Port Details (Optional)

Port label/number:

"Port A", "Left Port", "Port 1"
Helps drivers identify which port to use
Useful for dual-port stations

Notes:

"Requires ChargePoint app to activate"
"Tesla adapter available at front desk"
"Call office if port not working"

Step 7: Save Port

Review all information
Click "Add Port"
Port appears in station details
Visible immediately to drivers

Adding Multiple Ports

For multi-port stations:

Add first port completely
Click "Add Another Port"
Repeat for each connector on the station

Example: Dual J1772 Station

Port 1: J1772, 7.2 kW, Operational
Port 2: J1772, 7.2 kW, Operational

Example: Mixed Connector Station

Port 1: CCS, 150 kW, Operational
Port 2: CHAdeMO, 50 kW, Operational

Editing Port Information

To update port details:

Dashboard → Sites → [Location] → [Station]
Find port in list
Click "Edit" next to port
Update information
Click "Save Changes"

Common updates:

Change operational status (working ↔ out of service)
Update power output if upgraded
Add port notes or instructions
Fix incorrect connector type

Marking Ports Out of Service

If a port breaks:

Edit the port
Change status to "Out of Service"
Add note: "Expected repair: [date]" or "Awaiting parts"
Save changes

Benefits:

Drivers won't expect to use this port
Reduces frustration and negative reviews
Shows you're proactive about maintenance
You can track which ports need attention

When fixed:

Edit port again
Change status back to "Operational"
Update or remove repair notes

Deleting Ports

If a port is permanently removed:

Dashboard → Sites → [Location] → [Station] → [Port]
Click "Delete Port"
Confirm deletion

Warning: This is permanent. If the port might be repaired, mark it "Out of Service" instead.

Common Port Configurations

Single-Port Station

Station: "Tesla Wall Connector"
└── Port 1: Tesla, 11 kW AC, Operational

Dual-Port Level 2

Station: "ChargePoint CT4000"
├── Port 1: J1772, 7.2 kW AC, Operational
└── Port 2: J1772, 7.2 kW AC, Operational

DC Fast Charger (Multi-Standard)

Station: "Electrify America 350kW"
├── Port 1: CCS, 350 kW DC, Operational
└── Port 2: CHAdeMO, 50 kW DC, Out of Service

High-Count Station (Parking Garage)

Station: "Garage Level 2 - Bank A"
├── Port 1: J1772, 6.6 kW AC, Operational
├── Port 2: J1772, 6.6 kW AC, Operational
├── Port 3: J1772, 6.6 kW AC, Out of Service
└── Port 4: J1772, 6.6 kW AC, Operational

Best Practices

✅ Do:

Add all physical ports on each station
Use accurate power ratings (check specs)
Update status immediately when ports break
Include helpful notes for driver guidance
Use clear port labels if station has many ports
Test listings from driver's perspective

❌ Don't:

Guess power output (look it up)
Leave broken ports marked as "Operational"
Forget to add ports after creating station
Mix up connector types (verify physically)
Overestimate power (drivers plan charging time on this)

Port Limits

No port limits - Add as many ports as physically exist.

Subscription limits apply to:

Number of locations (1/3/5)
Number of stations per location (3/10/unlimited)
Photos (3/25/unlimited)

Learn about subscription limits →

How Drivers See Port Info

In search results:

Connector type icons (J1772, CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla)
"4 ports available" count
Max power output displayed

On location detail page:

All ports listed with specs
Operational status shown
Power output per port
Connector type with icon
Any notes you added

Filtering:

Drivers can filter by connector type
Only locations with matching ports appear
Out of service ports don't count as "available"

Troubleshooting

Port not showing in search:

Verify connector type is correct
Check operational status is not "Out of Service"
Ensure station is published (not draft)
Clear cache and refresh

Incorrect power showing:

Edit port and verify max_power_kw field
Double-check against station specs
Save changes and refresh listing

Connector type wrong:

Edit port and select correct type
If custom type needed, contact support
Verify with physical inspection

After Adding Ports

Next steps:

Upload photos: Add photos showing connectors
Test the listing: View as driver to verify accuracy
Monitor reviews: Drivers may mention port issues
Keep updated: Change status when ports break/fix

Optimization:

Add clear photos of each connector type
Include access instructions in port notes
Respond quickly to driver reports of issues
Keep operational status current

Guide to optimizing listings →

Common Questions

Q: How many ports can I add per station? A: No limit. Add as many as physically exist on the station.

Q: What if my station has different power on each port? A: Add each port separately with its own power rating. This is common on DC fast chargers.

Q: Do I need to add ports if NREL already added them? A: Review them for accuracy. NREL data may be outdated or incomplete. Edit as needed.

Q: Can I add ports to an unclaimed location? A: No. You must claim the location first to manage stations and ports.

Q: What if I don't know the power output? A: Check the station label, manufacturer specs, or network app. If truly unknown, use a typical value and note "Approximate" in port notes.

Q: Will drivers see real-time port availability? A: If your station is networked (ChargePoint, etc.), real-time status syncs automatically. For independent stations, this feature is coming soon.

Need Help?

Questions about managing ports? We're here to help.

Contact Support or check our Help Center