Ezee power indicators
Flecc explained in an earlier thread that it is best not to think of the indicator lights as being a direct constant measure of remaining battery life. There is a link between the condition of a battery (a mixture of age, and use and charging patterns) and the indication from the lights during a journey but it is more helpful to regard the first appearance of the amber light as an indication of power drain at that time (probably when travelling up a slope or accelerating).
The amber light comes on under two conditions; when the demand rises (then, once demand lessens the green light come back on) and then constantly to demonstrate that the battery is has reached a particular discharge level (80%?). The red indicator light works under the same, but more extreme conditions.
I am using two batteries each day: one is 13 months old, the other I bought in September 2008. Under the same conditions the amber light now starts to show consistently earlier on the older battery (about six miles compared with about eight) and I get slightly less use from it. The amber light comes on permanently one or two miles earlier on the older battery, as does the red light, and I get one or two miles less range. I expect the older battery to continue to deteriorate slowly.
I have found I get the best use out of the batteries if, when the amber light first comes on which can be at the first climb, I lower the assist lever (normally from about 6 to 5) and drop a gear so that my leg speed rises. The amber light sometimes goes out but normally stay on until I reach the top of the climb. If the slope becomes more severe the red light comes on. By dropping through the gears and increasing my leg speed I lose a little speed but I extend my range on that particular journey.
As a rough guide, at power assist level 6 with moderate hills on a mostly flat journey, I get 12-14 miles out of each battery in the hilly area, and 17-20 on the flatter part of the route. The amber indicator comes on permanently with about four miles left but this does vary as sometimes I try to conserve power.
Whe the red light becomes constant I know I have about 1 mile left on the flat (hardly anything left if I make any real demand) but normally swap batteries as soon as I get a constant red indicator.
Hope this helps
