Alien GS II problem
- Thread starter rustic
- Start date
Nobody has all the data, not even the manufacturer, but I have far more than most via the long term worldwide feedback through my Panasonic support site, the only one there is, plus two way communications with A to B magazine who refer Panasonic tech inquiries to me. In total that's more than good enough to speak with authority on this subject.
I'm certainly not damning the Alien products since I only stated facts, often common to other low and mid price makes too. I also included the favourable fact that Alien immediately changed faulty parts. Such products are made with generic components and don't have remotely the same degree of development in combination as the integrated design of the Panasonic unit and battery. The fact that the components are individually subject to change, often without notice, is very relevant to that.
Everyone is entitled to all this information which is fair and impartial and there is nothing to defend.
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My Alien is back on the road, I've fixed the controller. One of the phase drive ccts had failed and replacing the o/p mosfet pair brought things back to life.
So no controller issues or quality issues just an unfortunate component failure that was easily rectified. One thing for sure I'll do in future is be more circumspect when posting as it's obvious that people read stuff on this board and put 2+2 together and get 5. I don't want to be responsible for any loss of sales just because people misinterpret my postings.
So no controller issues or quality issues just an unfortunate component failure that was easily rectified. One thing for sure I'll do in future is be more circumspect when posting as it's obvious that people read stuff on this board and put 2+2 together and get 5. I don't want to be responsible for any loss of sales just because people misinterpret my postings.
Wow! Pleased at the success of the fix. 'One of the phase drive ccts had failed and replacing the o/p mosfet pair brought things back to life.' Chuckle, the fix is beyond most of the inexperienced's comprehension. Just teasing. A phase drive? from Star Trek? Humour allowed? Good to know it's repaired. How about a glossary? CCTS =? O/P =? Mosfet = some kind of curry enjoyed to celebrate the repair?
Alien GSII battery - Essex / Suffolk / Cambridgeshire?
Sad to report that I am still off the road as my bike remains extremely sluggish when the throttle, or pedelec is engaged.
The guys at Alien (Roy & Jim) have gone out of their way in trying to resolve the issue & have already sent through a new controller & a new motor, neither of which have gone any way to resolving the issue, but these needed to be tried to better diagnose the problem.
That leaves the most likely source of the problem as the battery. Before I go about exchanging batteries with Alien, is there anyone localish to me who owns one of these bikes that I could test their battery on my machine? I live around the Essex / Suffolk borders, but could possibly travel further if anyone is able to help out.
Many thanks, Rus.
Sad to report that I am still off the road as my bike remains extremely sluggish when the throttle, or pedelec is engaged.
The guys at Alien (Roy & Jim) have gone out of their way in trying to resolve the issue & have already sent through a new controller & a new motor, neither of which have gone any way to resolving the issue, but these needed to be tried to better diagnose the problem.
That leaves the most likely source of the problem as the battery. Before I go about exchanging batteries with Alien, is there anyone localish to me who owns one of these bikes that I could test their battery on my machine? I live around the Essex / Suffolk borders, but could possibly travel further if anyone is able to help out.
Many thanks, Rus.
I don't think there is anything to misinterpret in NRG's postings at all (although I do know what a MOSFET is
and its purpose in a ebike controller) and I feel it is a shame when people hold back "bad news" out of a misplaced sense of loyalty. IMO better to tell the bad news, and if the company risks losing sales so be it - such are the ways of business.this is a forum where Alien have the right of reply as well, in common with other companies. the facts here are clear - Alien are doing a bloody good job resolving problems - but there does seem to be a reliability issue with the components (something which plagues all the manufacturers in various forms).
I would not expect to, nor be happy with having to do component level repairs at my own time and expense on a fairly new piece of equipment I had just spent several hundreds pounds on (despite having the skills, at least with non-SMD components!) I'd class a major component failure in new equipment as a quality issue..
And whilst I agree with the facts about the extra reliability of Panasonic systems, even at the high end of the market there was both confusion over the battery capacity/longevity, and Kahlkoff/Derby cycles experimenting on paying customers with the use of a 24 spoke wheel on some models, a practice thankfully now abandoned, but from what I remember it took a lot of fairly acrimonious discussion between customers and dealers to get these things sorted...
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I probably live too far away (20 miles north of Norwich) and have an Alien kit fitted and you would be welcome to try but as I said I`m a long way from you.
Have you put a meter on the battery? what happens when you turn the charger on? does it go through the normal charging? If it`s not the controller or the hub then it really only leaves the battery! You have obviously gone over the connections with a fine tooth combe?
If you want to talk send me a pm or E mail with your landline number and I`ll call you.
Dave
Thanks Old Timer, you probably are just a bit too far afield, but I appreciate the offer.
I'm now pretty sure it must be a battery issue. The new controller & motor didn't make any difference & yes I have checked all the wires several times over & just can't find a fault - apart from the brake cut out cable, as pictured earlier in this thread, but is not thought likely to be of relevance to this particular problem.
Anyhow, I'm off for a weekend away in Worcestershire in my campervan, so if anyone local to me can offer a battery for a brief test please pm me & I will get back to you next week.
Many thanks, Rus.
I'm now pretty sure it must be a battery issue. The new controller & motor didn't make any difference & yes I have checked all the wires several times over & just can't find a fault - apart from the brake cut out cable, as pictured earlier in this thread, but is not thought likely to be of relevance to this particular problem.
Anyhow, I'm off for a weekend away in Worcestershire in my campervan, so if anyone local to me can offer a battery for a brief test please pm me & I will get back to you next week.
Many thanks, Rus.
It's just possible your electrics are suffering from water ingress. A few years ago Flecc very kindly diagnosed this problem on my Torq 1---very similar symptoms to your own bike.Mine turned out to be damp Hall wire connections
which in turn had corroded slightly and were making poor contact.
I'm happy to report that the issues with my bike are now largely resolved. After trying a new controller box & a new front wheel motor it became apparent that the problem was actually the battery. Alien sent me through a new battery & charger this week & the bike is now pretty much back on the road. The assistance from Jim & Roy at Alien has been speedy, friendly & most definitely supportive.
I still have power cut out wires hanging out of the rear brake lever and really can't see any obvious way of re-connecting these, but think I can ride the bike ok just predominantly using the front brake rather than the back in order to cut the power out as required when coming to a halt.
I still have power cut out wires hanging out of the rear brake lever and really can't see any obvious way of re-connecting these, but think I can ride the bike ok just predominantly using the front brake rather than the back in order to cut the power out as required when coming to a halt.
That's good to hear Rustic. It seems that nearly all the troubles Alien have experienced have been with a bad batch of batteries, similar to how eZee suffered a couple of years back. At least they change them quickly with no arguments, so full marks on that.
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Yes, it's a pity they don't seem to post here, it'd be nice to hear from them about their future plans and models having taken Synergie over.
They seem to have a uniqely high approval rating for a low/mid price point supplier, amongst we - the ebikarati (got a nice ring to it - don't you think?)
They seem to have a uniqely high approval rating for a low/mid price point supplier, amongst we - the ebikarati
(got a nice ring to it - don't you think?)
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They're certainly aware of Pedelecs, I've provided links to posts of various interest to them previously.
I took the bike out on a bit of a run today, 16 miles around the glorious North Essex countryside through a mixture of pedalling, throttle & pedelec. I think the green light just started to flicker in the last mile or so, but all 3 lights are on now. I stopped off at a local village mid way round - A pint of Adnams followed by a play in the park with my 5 yr old daughter and the sun shone all day - a fantastic day (apart from QPR losing )
I took the bike out on a bit of a run today, 16 miles around the glorious North Essex countryside through a mixture of pedalling, throttle & pedelec. I think the green light just started to flicker in the last mile or so, but all 3 lights are on now. I stopped off at a local village mid way round - A pint of Adnams followed by a play in the park with my 5 yr old daughter and the sun shone all day - a fantastic day (apart from QPR losing
)
Alien does it again
Thats the sort of support we have come to expect from Alien, top marks.Glad you got it sorted.
The first real summer weather riding in shirt sleeves down to a local steam railway station on the Alien conversion. They make a lovely cuppa and then home all around country lanes. A bit of a rest and then out again on my own for a bit of exercise and let the Alien have it`s head. What a joy to ride on dry roads at speed.
We will know soon enough what Jim and Bob have up their sleeves
Thats the sort of support we have come to expect from Alien, top marks.Glad you got it sorted.
The first real summer weather riding in shirt sleeves down to a local steam railway station on the Alien conversion. They make a lovely cuppa
and then home all around country lanes. A bit of a rest and then out again on my own for a bit of exercise and let the Alien have it`s head. What a joy to ride on dry roads at speed.We will know soon enough what Jim and Bob have up their sleeves
Rustic
Here you go mate Aluminium Left Brake Lever For Electric Bike Scooter on eBay (end time 19-Apr-10 19:27:59 BST)
Dave
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