Devon Newbie

[PJK]

Hello all,
I've just bought a cyclamatic and, so far, so good. I've taken it on three short rides to the local town and back and I'm getting used to how it operates. As with all new equipment, it can take a while to get comfortable/familiar with the workings etc and, as such, I do have some questions for anyone that's reading this that has a cyclamatic and can enlighten me about the following. Firstly, on the top of the battery there are three indicators, a green, yellow and red one. They don't light up or move at all whether the battery is being used or is idle. What are they for? Secondly, the charger fact sheet that came with the bike, states that when the battery is fully charged the LED on the charger will turn from red to green. I've had the battery on charge for six hours and the LED remains red. ( The charger, however, feels very warm and the battery itself cold) How long does one need to charge the battery before it turns green? (BTW I was told that I should have immediately charged the battery when I unpacked the bike. It did not say to do this on any of the information that came with the bike - in fact it says that it comes fully charged. So, what is the correct protocol here - to charge or not to charge and for how long? Thirdly, on the battery itself there are two fuses. Do you know if one of these is a spare? And lastly, anyone know what position the battery key should be in whilst the battery is charging? I know this sounds like a no-brainer but, again, no mention of this detail in the fact sheet that comes with it. I also have some general queries about insurance and other equipment like slime, locks and pumps etc but that can maybe wait for another post. Many thanks in advance for any replies. PJK

 

[Deleted member 4366]

To make the lights on the battery work, you press the little white pip with the power symbol next to the lights. They're red, amber and green, and all light up when charged and you press the pip. They're only for checking the battery.

The light on the charger is green when not connected, red when charging and goes green when fully charged. Mine took about 4 hrs to charge on its first one. You can charge the battery any time in any condition and it won't do it any harm. You shouldn't leave it completely flat for a prolonged period. The batteries, as supplied, normally have a partial charge in them: leaving it for an extra few days before charging won't do it any harm. The key can be put in any position while charging. It makes no difference. If your battery doesn't appear to be charging, check the voltage from the charger: should be 29.3v pins 1 and 2. You can check the voltage of the battery as well - should be about 29v fully charged. To test it, remove it from the bike and stick your multimeter/voltmeter probes into the two connections underneathIt's normal for the charger to get warm when charging, but it can cool down in the last part of the charge cycle - last 1/2 hr maybe.

 

[PJK]

Thank you so much d8veh. That's very useful. I note what you say about the charger's LED turing green when the battery is fully charged, but yesterday I charged the battery for a full six hours, having drained it intentionally (as I have been told to do this three times with a new battery to 'condition it') and the LED was still red. Any suggestions? Also, the two fuses. The one near the top of the battery is F5AL 250v and the one near the bottom is F20AL 250v. Why the difference? The voltage has been checked and it agrees with your figures, so that's OK.

 

[PJK]

Hello again d8veh
You said in your previous email that to activate the lights on the battery "press the little white pip with the power symbol next to the lights. They're red, amber and green, and all light up when charged and you press the pip". I did as you suggested today, having charged the battery for the full six hours, and they do not light up. The LED on the charger has also refused to turn green. I'm wondering if the charger and battery are faulty. PJK

 

[JuicyBike]

With some batteries you need to switch the power on before the indicator will work...

 

[PJK]

Right. Thank you Juicybike. I have now discovered the indicator lights do, in fact, work. However, the LED on the charger still remains red, despite the fact that, now, the battery indicator lights are saying it's fully charged.

 

[JuicyBike]

Does the charger get warm?

 

[JuicyBike]

Just read first post and spotted the charger does warm up, so... If you unplug the charger from the battery does it then show green?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I've never conditioned a battery and have never had a problem with one. My first Cyclamatic charge took about 4 hrs, but it probably had some charge in it already. Possibly 6hrs is normal, but it does seem a bit long to me. My advice: just use your bike, forget about conditioning and charge it after every ride where practical. Hopefully the green light will appear next time. Let us know how you get on.

 

[PJK]

Yes, it does show green when unplugged from battery

 

[PJK]

OK, I shall do as you suggest and just recharge after each outing. Re: LED on charger, as I have just posted to JuicyBike, it does show green when unplugged from battery, but still refuses to go green to show battery fully charged when connected up.

 

[PJK]

Hi d8veh, have had the battery apart and done what you suggested with the BMS and also checked the voltage (29.3 approx) then re-assembled and tried the bike again, but it still doesnt work. Any further ideas? Charger is showing green when attached to battery, but battery c;early not fully charged, or indeed,charged at all. Is there someone called Ping that does something with/to batteries?