Advice re changing Brompton swytch for something more reliable using same motor wheel

[bbiggs]

Hi,

I'm Barbara and I'm planning a cycle trip around Turkey in May.

My Brompton swytch has been quite unreliable. I've just replaced the controller (I've seen others have had trouble with this) and can't get it to work again.

In any case, I'm looking for another battery that has these criteria:

1. fits on the same mounting I have
2. is under 300kw
3. compatible with the swytch motor wheel.

Reading other threads it seems the motor wheel is fairly generic.

I live in quite a remote place with no access to technicians of any kind so I'm looking for something very simple to switch from my swytch. Maybe that doesn't exist and I have to buy a brand new swytch battery to make sure I don't break down on the road in Turkey, but thought to ask.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Any advice?

 

[saneagle]

Hi,

I'm Barbara and I'm planning a cycle trip around Turkey in May.

My Brompton swytch has been quite unreliable. I've just replaced the controller (I've seen others have had trouble with this) and can't get it to work again.

In any case, I'm looking for another battery that has these criteria:

1. fits on the same mounting I have
2. is under 300kw
3. compatible with the swytch motor wheel.

Reading other threads it seems the motor wheel is fairly generic.

I live in quite a remote place with no access to technicians of any kind so I'm looking for something very simple to switch from my swytch. Maybe that doesn't exist and I have to buy a brand new swytch battery to make sure I don't break down on the road in Turkey, but thought to ask.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Any advice?View attachment 61475

Any 36v battery will work. You can fit it where you want and how you want. All you have to do is connect the two wires to your controller. The requirements you listed pretty well limit you to the Swytch battery.

If your motor isn't working, make sure you pushed its connector together far enough. It has to go ALL THE WAY TO THE LINE, not just in tight. If that's not it, give us the details of what you bought and tell us how many pins in the motor connector.

Just a reminder that you can't take any ebike battery on an aircraft.

 

[bbiggs]

Thanks for replying Saneagle.

Isn't the controller attached to the battery? For mine, it's inside the case.

And yes, I thought my only option would be another Swytch

And thanks also for the tip about pushing the connector right in to make the motor work. I'm not with the bike now and won't be for another months since I'm on holidays, but I'll be sure to try that to make it work again with the new controller!

I've contacted swytch and they have a new Max+ which fits the criteria. But it's a whole new type of kit. They've discontinued the battery type I have now.

Very kind of you to take the time to reply.

 

[matthewslack]

Sounds like a great adventure!

I try to cover all the reliability and maintenance bases before leaving - for example new brake pads before a long trip means they should last - and carry any small, light spares that might not be available.

But any time I've been stuck there has always been someone helpful around.

Make sure it all works before you set off! Maybe a two day shakedown trip beforehand.

 

[eas2lv]

In the facebook group "Swytch Bike Chat" there is a member who has toured around in various countries on a "Swytched" Brompton and third-party/custom(?) batteries. You may get some tips if you ask there. I suspect he travels with multiple < 100Wh batteries which some airlines allow you to take along.

 

[StuartsProjects]

Technically moving away from the Swytch controller\battery bag is not difficult, even I have managed it.

The Swytch Motor wheel on a Brompton can be used with a standard KT controller, PAS, inline brake switches, and the LCD4 controller is a neat fit on the handlbars.

There is a lot of detail here;

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/ebrompton-build.45098/#post-677745

 

[Cisco-man]

Technically moving away from the Swytch controller\battery bag is not difficult, even I have managed it.

The Swytch Motor wheel on a Brompton can be used with a standard KT controller, PAS, inline brake switches, and the LCD4 controller is a neat fit on the handlbars.

There is a lot of detail here;

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/ebrompton-build.45098/#post-677745

Agreed. Ditch the Swytch - keep the hub!