Carrera SRAM Sparc no power to control box

[cheesemaker67]

Hi all,

I've just been gifted a Carrera SRAM Sparc (16.8v) and I can't get it working

The battery is fully charged and all cables are connected, but no power is getting to the jack plug which goes in to the control box. As a result I get no lights on the box itself.

Is this a common issue ? Or am I doing something horribly wrong ?

Any help will be hugely appreciated

Thanks in advance

 

[Andy-Mat]

Hi all,

I've just been gifted a Carrera SRAM Sparc (16.8v) and I can't get it working

The battery is fully charged and all cables are connected, but no power is getting to the jack plug which goes in to the control box. As a result I get no lights on the box itself.

Is this a common issue ? Or am I doing something horribly wrong ?

Any help will be hugely appreciated

Thanks in advance

How do you "judge" that the battery is fully charged?
Just seeing say a green LED on the charger is not in itself enough.
Green indicates fully charged OR a fully empty battery, and unable to charge, for safety reasons = Battery below voltage level at which a charge is safe to carry out!
Measure the voltage output of both the charger and the battery using a voltmeter, and post the results here please.
regards
Andy.

 

[cheesemaker67]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the reply. I've taken the cover off the battery box and measured the voltage on the circuit board within it. It's showing the battery at 15.38v (it's dropped since I charged it) and the same at the output point of the circuit board.

One thing I should have pointed out is that the bike didn't come with an official charger. It's been charged by connecting a desktop power pack running at 17v to the charger input point on the battery circuit board.

Am I right in saying that the jack plug should be carrying some kind of current to the control box ?

Thanks again for your reply.

 

[Andy-Mat]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the reply. I've taken the cover off the battery box and measured the voltage on the circuit board within it. It's showing the battery at 15.38v (it's dropped since I charged it) and the same at the output point of the circuit board.

One thing I should have pointed out is that the bike didn't come with an official charger. It's been charged by connecting a desktop power pack running at 17v to the charger input point on the battery circuit board.

Am I right in saying that the jack plug should be carrying some kind of current to the control box ?

Thanks again for your reply.

What is the nominal voltage of your battery?

But it does appear (guessing a bit) that the battery is well down on voltage, though I have to admit that I do not know what the battery chemistry is....do you know what it is?
My first post assumed, maybe wrongly, that you had a Li-ion battery....Most do nowadays!
Charging using a laptop power supply, except possibly with Lead Acid batteries, and assuming you know what you are doing is fine.
But any other chemistry needs a charger made for that chemistry really....
But even assuming for the moment LA and only 12 volts, 17 volts is a bit too much, especially if the supply can push a lot of amps out!
To fill a 12 volt LA battery, 14.5 Volts is the max that I would use....
But till I know a few more details, its hard to be helpful!
regards
Andy

 

[wheeliepete]

This is an old system running a 16.8v NiCd battery, I think. You may find some useful info in this very old thread.

SRam Sparc -> how does it work (technically, two motors ?)? how in practical use

i have the opportunity to maybe get a used sram sparc for few money.. question: how does it work ? it is said to have 2 motors with belt-drive inside the internal gear hub.. what motors ? brushed or brushless ? how are they rated.. i have read, that it is not a strong drive-train, more on the...

www.pedelecs.co.uk

Flecc is still an active member on here and he may come along and offer you some assistance.

 

[cheesemaker67]

This is an old system running a 16.8v NiCd battery, I think. You may find some useful info in this very old thread.

SRam Sparc -> how does it work (technically, two motors ?)? how in practical use

i have the opportunity to maybe get a used sram sparc for few money.. question: how does it work ? it is said to have 2 motors with belt-drive inside the internal gear hub.. what motors ? brushed or brushless ? how are they rated.. i have read, that it is not a strong drive-train, more on the...

www.pedelecs.co.uk

Thanks Andy and Pete. Pete was right, it's the 16.8v nicd/nimh battery version, so I should be okay with 17v charging voltage.

I took a look at the thread, but the links to replacement parts websites were all down.

Do either of you know of any parts websites for this bike that still exist by any chance ?

 

[vfr400]

In case you need to contact Kraeuterbutter, he's still posting on the German forum www.pedelecsforum.de and he has his own website with an email address http://www.kraeuterbutter.at/

 

[cheesemaker67]

In case you need to contact Kraeuterbutter, he's still posting on the German forum www.pedelecsforum.de and he has his own website with an email address http://www.kraeuterbutter.at/

Thank you, I'll do that.