bought an electric bike without battery, appreciate some battery buying advice .

[crystaljohn]

Thanks for your explanation vfr400. So it's not a brake light switch as I suspected it might be ,but a feedback to the motor control electronics?
My understanding of the 'Pedal assist' function was that there were 'Torque sensors' which calculated how much input torque is being applied to the crank and then amplified this input torque with the electric motor- ie, the more harder you pedal the more power is applied to the motor. Is this only available on more sophisticated bikes and possibly my bike is just a basic start to pedal and full power is applied?

 

[Nealh]

Pedal assist is either cadence predominantly used with hub motors and only requires gently activation for operation, though the Suntour system on Halfords Carrera Crossfire uses their own torque system.
The other is as you mention Torque assist and predominantly used on crank/mid drives and multiplies the input of the user, though with both systems the you can find both sometimes on crank or hub drive.

Bafang bbs mid drive uses cadence as does a few other copies.
Tongsheng TSDZ uses a torque system as do all the main oem players like Bosch, Shimano & Yamaha etc ,etc.

Kits are available to convert hubs to torque assist if you feel you want to try one.

 

[crystaljohn]

O.K I believe I now understand the function of the brake switch, thanks to your explanation. It cuts out the power to the motor as soon as the brake is used ( via an internal micro switch I presume, as no micro switch is visible).

I have now traced all the wires in the junction box and know mostly where they all go . There are quite a few wires in there, didn't realize e bikes were so complex!

There is one pair which has connectors which can be joined together. The connectors were apart when I opened up the junction box. From previous experience I would hazard a guess that the reason for this is to give a choice. Disconnected = one state, or connected = a different state. Anyone know, or could hazard a guess as to what they might be?

 

[crystaljohn]

Thanks for the detailed information Neilh, very interesting.
I have whilst tracing the wiring, noticed an induction pick up fitted to the frame and corresponding metal pieces embedded in the crank chain wheel, which presumably is used to measure the speed of rotation of the crank, similar to the system which is fitted to motorcycle wheels for A.B.S systems.

There is a 'cut out switch' fitted to the handlebars btw.

 

[vfr400]

Blue wires could be speed restriction, throttle restriction, self-learning (detect hall and phase sequence in a new motor) or cruise control (dangerous without brake switches). In all cases, leave them disconnected for now.

 

[crystaljohn]

Thanks vfr400. I will leave them disconnected for now.

Cruise control on a bicycle, I have a lot to learn lol.

 

[Michael Price]

I have a powacycle - they are very helpful if you contact them - they may be the best place to go to for replacement parts.
As for the battery - I suggest that you try to get an old worn out one from ebay and then get this lot to recell it. They have just upped mine from 12Ah to 17 Ah and it was far cheaper than a new one. Also I don't think it is possible to get a new one anymore even if you want to pay the price

E-Bike Batteries

E-Bike Batteries

bga-reworking.co.uk

 

[crystaljohn]

I have a powacycle - they are very helpful if you contact them - they may be the best place to go to for replacement parts.
As for the battery - I suggest that you try to get an old worn out one from ebay and then get this lot to recell it. They have just upped mine from 12Ah to 17 Ah and it was far cheaper than a new one. Also I don't think it is possible to get a new one anymore even if you want to pay the price

E-Bike Batteries

E-Bike Batteries

bga-reworking.co.uk

Thanks for your reply Michael.

I have already ordered a new battery, the one that vfr400 suggested. I did try to source a second hand one with the intention of possibly re-celling it, but couldn't find anything.
I would welcome your opinion on Powerbike, do you have the Cambridge model like me?

 

[Michael Price]

Thanks for your reply Michael.

I have already ordered a new battery, the one that vfr400 suggested. I did try to source a second hand one with the intention of possibly re-celling it, but couldn't find anything.
I would welcome your opinion on Powerbike, do you have the Cambridge model like me?

I have the Salisbury model - but they seem to be similar. I have had it since 2011 but it was second hand then - apparently it was originally bought in 2010 if the seller can be believed. In that time I have lived in hilly and flat areas - it has worked wonderfully in all of them. The power in not great but that just makes it healthier - like any bike I can make it go as fast as I can pedal it!
I recently bought my wife a more modern ebike and the only moden feature that I miss on mine if the ability to have different power settings - mine has only on and off and sometimes the power is greater than I need - such as canal paths where I want to go slowly.
Other than that I rate it as one of the best things I have ever bought

 

[vfr400]

I have a powacycle - they are very helpful if you contact them - they may be the best place to go to for replacement parts.
As for the battery - I suggest that you try to get an old worn out one from ebay and then get this lot to recell it. They have just upped mine from 12Ah to 17 Ah and it was far cheaper than a new one. Also I don't think it is possible to get a new one anymore even if you want to pay the price

E-Bike Batteries

E-Bike Batteries

bga-reworking.co.uk

How much did it cost? That's the important bit!

 

[crystaljohn]

Thanks for your feedback Michael. That's very encouraging to me.
I paid £65 for my bike, without a battery, and missing the left hand brake lever. It's seems to be in remarkably good condition too, so I'm hoping that with the addition of my new battery, which cost £180 I will have a good first bike. Just waiting for the battery to arrive from China!

 

[crystaljohn]

I tried to pump up my bicycle tyres a little bit harder as they appear a bit soft. The pump didn't seem to be able to overcome the existing pressure in the the tyre, so my frantic pumping was a waste of energy. I did have a look at the plastic piston in the pump, that appeared not to be functioning that well-they used to be made of leather last time I looked about 50 years ago lol.
Is there such a thing as an adapter to adapt a car type footpump to the bicycle valve?
If not, any recommendations for a good bicycle pump.

 

[Michael Price]

I tried to pump up my bicycle tyres a little bit harder as they appear a bit soft. The pump didn't seem to be able to overcome the existing pressure in the the tyre, so my frantic pumping was a waste of energy. I did have a look at the plastic piston in the pump, that appeared not to be functioning that well-they used to be made of leather last time I looked about 50 years ago lol.
Is there such a thing as an adapter to adapt a car type footpump to the bicycle valve?
If not, any recommendations for a good bicycle pump.

There are 2 common types of bicycle tyre valves - presta and Schrader - schrader look like car tyre valves and work fine with car pumps - just do what you would do with a car tyre - but be careful using compressed air systems as they are too powerful.
Presta valves are different - do not do what I did when I first had one and try to pump it up without releasing the screw thing first. You need to unscrew the thingy at the top first - then you can pump it up if you have a pump that fits it,
As far as which pump to use - I fine that any mini pump works fine as long as it has a pressure gauge on it so you can tell when it gets up to pressure

 

[crystaljohn]

Thanks for your fast reply Michael.
My valves are neither Presta or Schrader type. They appear to be what I would call 'normal old fashioned type'- the sort of valve that could be repaired by replacing the valve rubber if that makes any sense!

 

[Phil Dryden]

Sounds as if it must be a Woods valve? These were on the go when I was in short trousers. Never seen any for years!

 

[Phil Dryden]

Here's the "innards", with the long tight fitting rubber sleeve - one good one, and one perished.

 

[Michael Price]

Apparently a pump that fits a Presta valve will fit these - or so the WWW says

 

[joelectric]

EU 36V 13 Ah silver fish ebike electrical battery pack with 2A charger | eBay

Output Current: 2A. Do not expose this battery to high temperature such as heating appliances or in direct sunlight.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[crystaljohn]

This is the type of valve I have, and the pump I was using.

 

[crystaljohn]

Thanks for the heads up on the battery Joelectric. Looks good, unfortunately there are no dimensions included in the description, and I suspect it might not fit my space.
I require max size of 80mm x 85mm. The battery's I have seen of that Amp hour capacity have been 100mm x 80mm!
I ordered a battery a few days ago, still awaiting delivery.