Increasing the range on my Zephyr CDN

If i fitted this new 36v 15AH HL Battery, which comes with a fixing bracket, to my Woosh Zephyr CDN. Would i be able to simply plug this second battery into the charging socket on the bike when the battery (which is in the frame) runs out of power?

Edited April 10, 201610 yr by Marwood Hill

yes, but how are you going to fit the spare battery though?

yes, but how are you going to fit the spare battery though?

I am quite mechanically minded. I will either fit it to the rear rack which i've fitted, the main cross-bar or the seat-post. I will need to solder on a L shaped plug onto the output leads. Would this work, just plugging it into the existing charging point on bike to gain more range?

yes, that will work but would you need 15AH? I would have thought that the 11.6AH would be plenty.

yes, that will work but would you need 15AH? I would have thought that the 11.6AH would be plenty.

I would certainly have plenty of power with the 15AH to use the higher setting on the bike more often than i do now. At present i have to keep it on No.2 setting and keep enough power to use it on No.5 for the very steep homeward hills. The battery is sold by Woosh at £315 inc delivery which seems like a good buy. It's either that or buy a Big Bear at £600 more. Another question.... which goes up hills the best, a Zephyr CDN or a Big Bear???

Big Bear or zephyr-B.

yes, that will work but would you need 15AH? I would have thought that the 11.6AH would be plenty.

This battery has also got Bluetooth which will be handy.

Any idea what the type of plug is called please?

 

 

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it's a jack type but you don't find them normally on ebay. Ask Andy @ woosh to make the lead for you.

No, cannot find one on Ebay. I've already queried at Woosh but they cannot help. I will try my local electrical. Don't know the exact name / size so i will take along my charger as it will be the same one as on there but L shaped.

 

 

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You cannot plug that battery into your charge socket. You need a cross-over switch between the batteries and the controller, which won't be easy on that bike.

d8veh may be thinking of paralleling the two batteries whereas your idea is using the second battery to balance charge the zephyr CDN's own battery.

Both methods work but yours is simpler to do.

d8veh may be thinking of paralleling the two batteries whereas your idea is using the second battery to balance charge the zephyr CDN's own battery.

Both methods work but yours is simpler to do.

My idea was to fit the second battery and plug it into the charging socket to add charge to the first battery when the power drops. Will the second battery add its power to the first battery as the first battery power drops? Is this quite safe to do?

You can't have have an electric bike where you use the motor to drive the bike with a dynamo that charges the battery. To charge the battery at 2.5 amps will take about 5 hours. That's 100w, which is about normal pedalling power, but if you used that energy to charge your battery, you wouldn't have any left to propel the bike.

 

Some bikes have a regeneration system that can collect some energy when you go down a steep hill or use the brakes, but for that, you can't have a free-wheeling motor, which can make your bike unpleasant to ride and the amount of energy recovered is insignificant. That's why they're not popular.

 

The only thing you can do, as far as I know, is pull out your controller and splice a pair of wires into the two red and black main power wires to it. Then, drill a hole in your frame to bring them out, which will allow you to connect another battery in parallel. It's possible that you might be able to bring them out through an existing hole where the other wires come out. You can only connect another battery when they're at the same voltage, which normally means when both are fully charged. You cannot charge the bike while the second battery is connected, so the second one has to be charged separately.

Both methods work but yours is simpler to do.

That won't work. It'll damage the cells by charging to fast. When he gives full power, 7 amps will go through that charge socket. That's if they start at the same voltage. If they're at a different voltage, by bye BMS.

What about if i removed the existing 2-part battery from the frame and discarded it. Then fitted this new 15AH battery and rack. Would the existing controller be ok to use with the new 15AH battery?

I have found this 36v 15AH battery and rack which i could easily fit. Price £249.99

Edited April 11, 201610 yr by Marwood Hill

You can't fit a normal rack battery to your bike because of the rear suspension. You'd have to make a custom rack.

You can't fit a normal rack battery to your bike because of the rear suspension. You'd have to make a custom rack.

My bike doesn't have the rear suspension working. I removed it and replaced suspension with Big Apples. Much better! I have already got a similar rack to the one in above photo, without the battery of course.

Edited April 11, 201610 yr by Marwood Hill

If sling your original battery, you can use any 36v battery you want and however you want to fit it as long as you can find a way to get the wires through to the controller.

 

Just in case you don't realise, those older style 15ah batteries can be very heavy at about 4.5 kg or 6kg for LiFePO4. That doesn't sound much, but it makes your bike awkward to carry and spoils the handling, especially if you mount it too high.

If sling your original battery, you can use any 36v battery you want and however you want to fit it as long as you can find a way to get the wires through to the controller.

 

Just in case you don't realise, those older style 15ah batteries can be very heavy at about 4.5 kg or 6kg for LiFePO4. That doesn't sound much, but it makes your bike awkward to carry and spoils the handling, especially if you mount it too high.

I didn't realise this was an old type battery? It weighs 3.5kg. Would this be a good buy at £249.99 ?

• Lithium-ion 36v 15ah battery with lockable double deck battery rack and charger for electric powered bicycles
  
• Comes complete with fitting kit and assembly instructions
  
• Aluminium components designed for universal fitment and long term durability
  
• Simply insert the key to remove the portable battery from its cradle for security or re charging
  
• A Petrolscooter branded par
  

Kit components

 

1 x Lithium 36v 15ah battery

1 x Lithium 36v quick charger UK plug

1 x Battery rack and cradle

1 x Quick release fitting kit for battery

1 x Fitting kit for double deck battery rack

1 x Fitting and operational Instructions

 

Full Specification

Rated capacity: 15000(mah)

Standard voltage: 36(v)

Charging current: 2(A)

Size: 390*110*75(mm)

Certificate: ROHS

Charging interval: 10(H)

Standard capacity: 2500mah

Charging voltage: 24V

Storage temperature: normal temperature

Working temperature-10-50 degree

Net Weight: 3500(g)

Minimum capacity: 2850mah

Internal resistance: 38-42ma

Outgoing voltage: 36v

Load voltage: 25V

Nominal capacity: 15ah

I guess what is really needed then is a small waterproof connector with a switch to change battery source .Do you know of such d8veh?

i wouldn't bother with a switch. I'd run the wires outside the frame after cutting them between the controller and the battery and extending them. I'd put a Deans female on the battery and a male on the controller side, so that I have the option of connecting the two together or connecting any other battery, wherever it is, whatever size it is.

i wouldn't bother with a switch. I'd run the wires outside the frame after cutting them between the controller and the battery and extending them. I'd put a Deans female on the battery and a male on the controller side, so that I have the option of connecting the two together or connecting any other battery, wherever it is, whatever size it is.

That sounds good to me. I am at this moment outside with bike upside down looking into the controller housing. A load of wires in there but the ones from the existing battery to the controller should be easy to identify.

 

 

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Just found the two cables that run to the controller. Red and Black. Will they be the same colours on the new 15AH battery if i buy it? Easy, i just have to cut them and add connectors.

 

 

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All battery wires I have seen are red and black. I have soldered XT60 plugs on mine and swap between two batteries. I also soldered XT60s to my Watt meter so I can plug it in there as well when I need to.

 

I am going to use an idea I saw on ES for my custom battery box: two female plugs (Dean, XT60, whatever) sealed into the box. One goes to the battery and one to the controller so you don't need a switch, just a short wire between the two to disconnect the battery from the controller. This also allows you to plug in an external battery when you need one. And... theft protection, with the wire removed and in your pocket no one can jump on the bike (after breaking the frame lock and cutting the chain ) turn it on and ride away.