Bike cutting out when battery on 3 bars

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,917
8,533
61
West Sx RH
One assumes tesla cells are reclaimed cells ?
One would need more specs for the tesla's.
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
He said
"I don't think there is any official datasheet for these cells, as they're used solely internally in the Tesla factory for their own cars.
Various sources describe them as "Panasonic NCR21700T" or with "A" at the end of this model number as the closest possible match.
I have them as new, never used. Using them for some time and so far no issue. Tested performance and capacity show solid and steady results and got very similar as in this video:
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdFTrjZoTE"
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
Anybody got a recommendation on what I should go for here?

"After testing your pack I can see that original pink cells are roughly ok, no need to throw them away.
I even have some Samsung 35E cells to replace those 2 green chinese cells.

So the battery would be repaired faster and cheaper.
So please let me know, what final way of repair you want.
Make backup battery from your cells and put new cells into your battery case?
Or just replace those two cells and run full test for performance and capacity?

What I also found during testing your battery is that bms doesn't cut out charging power on 4.2V. It going higher, up to 4.22 and only then it cut power.

As I mentioned before, such voltage is not dangerous, but significantly shortening battery life.
Most bms's cutting out power at 4.12-4.16V, which is great for battery lifecycle and sacrifice only small portion of capacity.

I can keep your bms, no problems, but my recommendation is to replace it for different, with lower cutting out voltage limit.

I have such bms, it cost €45."
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,917
8,533
61
West Sx RH
The tesla cells will be reclaimed cells, they are not available to buy direct. Again the recommendation is to limit cell use to 7a or less as they are only a 10a max rated cell.
End of the day you have little choice either go with the PF cell or the larger format tesla either way they both have a similar current rating though the tesla will give you more ah.
If one can afford to then the bms balancing at a lower voltage will be better, there is little to be had in the last 0.05v - 0.01v of a battery charge. the last 0.01v of the charge will only give about 2km of useful range.

For the original battery if keeping it I would simply reduce it to 5P battery and have the bad cells group removed.
 
Last edited:

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
How would I switch the packs inside my case if I needed to use the backup?
At present, battery pack is permanently attached to both connectors (charging port and output port), plus some wiring for light and switch etc.
I cannot find an exact replacement for my battery case.
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
Oh and he can either fit 4x13 Tesla cells or 6x13 Panasonic - still not really any difference in either of these packs?
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
New battery is ready for collection so I will update in a few days how it runs.
Update on the backup battery, is it still worth it?;

"Those green cells are not chinese 2.6Ah as you sent me photo, but Panasonic NCR18650B.
Those "Samsung 35E" cells are actually rewrapped Panasonic NCR18650B.
Plus I found that they have been refurbished or salvaged from another battery pack, they have signs of previous usage.

The cells are glued together with superglue, and some cells exposed to heat from hot glue are partially ruined and can't be reused.
Extra work and cells for spare battery brings cost of the extra battery up to €200."
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
Nightmare, just paid for the new battery and I still have the exact same issue.

What next? I assume it's either a wiring or controller issue.
 

matthewslack

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2021
1,862
1,346
Nightmare, just paid for the new battery and I still have the exact same issue.

What next? I assume it's either a wiring or controller issue.
Remember way back, you measured the cell group voltages, and there was a standout bad cell group?

That was a genuine battery issue, the controller etc cannot make that happen. A defective BMS could, but nothing outside the battery can cause that problem.

So: new BMS fitted? If not, suspect the old BMS. If yes, then either the new battery also cannot handle the current because the demand is so high, which is just a parameter of the motor, or there is a problem with the new battery.

How to tell?

1. Fully charge battery and run around really gently until flat. I.e. treat it gently, low current, and see what range you get. Or,
2. Get one if those cheap wattmeters and set up a discharge test rig, and do a full discharge at about 1A, and see what capacity you get.
3. If all points to a battery issue, open it up , test the cell group voltages, and so on as before.

My guess is that the battery cannot supply enough current when you use the throttle and it is under 60% charge, so the voltage is pulled down to the BMS cutoff, so it cuts off. I think if you open up the new battery, assuming it has a new BMS, the balance will be fine, but the cells are just not capable of sufficient current delivery. That is not necessarily a cell problem, so much as just a very demanding type of motor.

If that is so, nothing for it but a massively expensive battery or chuck the motor.
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
Yep, new 35A BMS,

Fully charged it and the controller screen shut off the second I turned it on, without the throttle.

So I should open up the brand new battery now and test group by group?
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,918
6,516
either the motor is shot or the batt cant sustain the load but as it is brand new id not open it up as imo will void any warranty so contact the seller and ask what cells were used to build the pack.
 

matthewslack

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2021
1,862
1,346
Yep, new 35A BMS,

Fully charged it and the controller screen shut off the second I turned it on, without the throttle.

So I should open up the brand new battery now and test group by group?
No. I interpreted 'exact same problem' literally, and this sounds different.

I would want to check out the battery first, to have confidence in it, and then see what else to do.

So, what voltage are you getting at the connector when fully charged, for a start?

Then if correct, I.e. about 54.6 max but likely a few tenths less, ideally do a capacity check, but if that's not straightforward then await ideas here, not necessarily from me!
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,917
8,533
61
West Sx RH
If the screen shuts off straight away then there is power supply issue and an interruption between the controller and display . It might be a wire issue in the 1t4 cable. Check for bent pins or misaligned pins in the connectors also use a meter and check continuation on all pins or it might be the voltage regulator in the controller.

No load is being applied so it is wiring or controller, the battery I doubt is at fault.

I had similar once with an oxydrive kit, two charged batteries and the display simply switch on and then off. I tried a another controller and all was ok, the voltage regulator or supply fet had failed.
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,918
6,516
where is andy when you need him theses things should run forever and never brake down or go wrong :D
 
  • :D
Reactions: GLJoe

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,917
8,533
61
West Sx RH
Andy is the last person I would take advice from.
All his theories are cut and paste.
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
If the screen shuts off straight away then there is power supply issue and an interruption between the controller and display . It might be a wire issue in the 1t4 cable. Check for bent pins or misaligned pins in the connectors also use a meter and check continuation on all pins or it might be the voltage regulator in the controller.

No load is being applied so it is wiring or controller, the battery I doubt is at fault.

I had similar once with an oxydrive kit, two charged batteries and the display simply switch on and then off. I tried a another controller and all was ok, the voltage regulator or supply fet had failed.
Thanks.
Booked an appointment with the technician at Halfords, although won't get it looked at until Monday.
If there's any simple tests I can do myself in the meantime please let me know!
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,917
8,533
61
West Sx RH
Continuation on trunk cable wiring from controller to display connector.
 

bikemerchant

Pedelecer
Dec 17, 2021
69
2
So Halfords was useless, the technician didn't know how to use a multimeter!

No idea where to go with it now, trying to source somebody near North Dublin to assess and ideally fix the wiring/controller as I don't know how to myself.
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,917
8,533
61
West Sx RH
WIth diy ebikes one has to learn how to test and fault find, most technicians are only ale to say what is wrong by a computer.

You will have to remind us again as I'm not going to read the whole thread again is it a kt controller and lcd ?
 

Advertisers