Brake Levers

Waspy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 8, 2012
431
170
I'm thinking about converting my Giant CRS. The brake levers are part of the gear shifters.

Is it OK to just not bother connecting the brake lever cut-offs that come with kits?
 

amigafan2003

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 12, 2011
1,389
139
You can do it but it's never a bad idea to have the cut outs connected.

Are the brakes hydraulic or cable?

Many of us have adapted existing brake levers (see my build thread for example) that I'm sure we can find a solution between us.
 

Waspy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 8, 2012
431
170
They are cable.

They are Shimano EZ Fire 50 24 speed shifters.

Here is a picture that looks very similar to my shifters:



What is so bad about not connecting them? Apart from crashing into a tree at 15.5 mph of course.

Surely if you are not peddling then the pedelec is not being powered?
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,192
30,599
If you are on pedelec control, the cutouts are not necessary. Almost all purely pedelec bikes don't have them.
 
D

Deleted member 4366

Guest
You need the cut-outs because throttles break quite easily and will stay on when broken - not off.

Not a problem though. It's very cheap and easy to make brake switches.
You buy two of the cheapest cycle computers from Ebay:
LCD Digital Bike Cycling Cycle Bicycle Computer Odometer Speedometer Velometer | eBay
Cut the sensor wire close to the computer and chuck the computer..
Cut the connector/s off the ebrakes about 2" from the connector.
The sensor has two wires. Some are coaxial. Separate the wires and join them to the two on the connector - preferably by soldering.
Cable-tie one of these sensors with connector to your cross-bar or anywhere where there is bare brake cable running along your frame.
Fix the magnet to the cable nearby so that it slides towards/over the sensor when you apply the brake. Fix the magnet just like fixing it to a spoke, but not so tight to damage the cable .
You have to experiment with positions until you get the switching at the right point.
Front brake can be harder to find a suitable bit of cable. You can use the bit between the calipers, but then you need to make a small bracket to hold the sensor.
Just having a switch on the back brake should be adequate.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Waspy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 8, 2012
431
170
Many of us have adapted existing brake levers (see my build thread for example)
Mate, your build thread is just amazing. Do you work for NASA or something?

Some of the guys on here are so clever it gives me a headache.

I don't think there's enough room on my shifters to do what you did.
 

amigafan2003

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 12, 2011
1,389
139
Mate, your build thread is just amazing. Do you work for NASA or something?

Some of the guys on here are so clever it gives me a headache.

I don't think there's enough room on my shifters to do what you did.
Haha - I do have previous :)

http://web.bethere.co.uk/amigafan2003/index.html

I love my projects - as long as it involves a motor or computer (both preferably) and it's not household DIY!
 

Waspy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 8, 2012
431
170
My torch collection, actually I've added a Solarforce Masterpiece Pro-1 Monster Thrower since I took this picture.

 
D

Deleted member 4366

Guest
I have a couple the 3 x Cree T6 torches, and I can tell you that you don't need to worry about parabolic curves. Think car halogen headlights to get some ide of the light that comes out of these. I just put in a bid for one of the 5 x Cree T6 ones to see what it does. I think I'll have to put a bigger motor in my bike to overcome the backwards force.
 

Waspy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 8, 2012
431
170
I'm also into electronic cigarettes.



and poodles



and parrots



...and don't get me started on computers
 

jackhandy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 20, 2012
1,820
323
the Cornish Alps
My 8fun kit came with the inline brake cutout switches: I've got 'em fitted front and rear & they work a treat.
I have similar combined brake lever & gear shifts to yours.

If you go with a kit that doesn't have them, I think they're less than a fiver each.
 
D

Deleted member 4366

Guest
Before you get too exited. I'm not competely sure, but I believe that you need a controller with a high voltage brake switch input to use them, which rules out most controllers. By "high voltage" they mean 5v as opposed to 0v.
 

jackhandy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 20, 2012
1,820
323
the Cornish Alps
You're probably right there, d8veh - Label on my controller says "brake level Low"; but there's no other info that I can see.