Lafree problems

[Norrie]

Hello All,
I have a Lafree bike which can lose power all of a sudden, leaving me having to pedal without power assistance (hard work!). If I switch the ignition key off and then back on again, I get the power back for a little bit. All the connections seem to be dry and corrosion free, the batteries are about 3 to 4 years old. I'd like to run a diagnostic test but the buzzer has packed in. Has anyone any ideas on the cause of my problem or any idea where the buzzer is located?
Thanks

 

[Alan Quay]

Hello All,
I have a Lafree bike which can lose power all of a sudden, leaving me having to pedal without power assistance (hard work!). If I switch the ignition key off and then back on again, I get the power back for a little bit. All the connections seem to be dry and corrosion free, the batteries are about 3 to 4 years old. I'd like to run a diagnostic test but the buzzer has packed in. Has anyone any ideas on the cause of my problem or any idea where the buzzer is located?
Thanks

Could be a loose connection, could be a duff battery. Do you have a multimeter?

If not, you can get a cheap one from screwfix/toolstation/ebay for around £5



Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

 

[flecc]

Hello All,
I have a Lafree bike which can lose power all of a sudden, leaving me having to pedal without power assistance (hard work!). If I switch the ignition key off and then back on again, I get the power back for a little bit. All the connections seem to be dry and corrosion free, the batteries are about 3 to 4 years old. I'd like to run a diagnostic test but the buzzer has packed in. Has anyone any ideas on the cause of my problem or any idea where the buzzer is located?
Thanks

I don't recognise this as one of the Panasonic unit Lafrees since none I met had a buzzer. Is it one of the early SLA battery ones?
.

 

[Norrie]

Hi, thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure about the make of the batteries, but the bikes from about 2001 and I think it's called an E-Trans.

I have checked the connections and they all seem to be dry and corrosion free. Each battery is holding about 12.6 volts so they seem to be ok I would say.

Thanks

 

[flecc]

Hi, thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure about the make of the batteries, but the bikes from about 2001 and I think it's called an E-Trans.

I have checked the connections and they all seem to be dry and corrosion free. Each battery is holding about 12.6 volts so they seem to be ok I would say.

Thanks

Thanks for the reply Norrie. That is the early all-Giant SLA model as you'll see on this history page from my Lafree website.

I'm afraid I can't help with any specific information on that model. my knowledge being on the later Panasonic powered bikes.

In general the fault you describe is usually down to a failing battery cell causing the voltage to collapse under load, triggering the cut-out. Turning off and then on again resets for another attempt. The battery voltages when not under load are often acceptable, not indicating much wrong.

Alternatively it could be a poor connection failing under load.
.

 

[Nealh]

I doubt the SLA,s are 15 years old but the problem is likely to be one or all of the cell banks are past their best and once the demand for amps is asked for they sag terribly causing the lvc to cut in, time for new ones or upgrade to li-on.
How old are the batteries ?

 

[Norrie]

Thanks for the help and info. Looks like I'll have to try new batteries. The ones I have were fitted in June 2013.

 

[Nealh]

If you had a cheap watt meter connected inline with some XT's, Deans or even bullets, you would be able to see what the batteries performance is like when in use. That way you can be sure that they are the cause which in your case is more then likely. If you converted to Li- on your range and power will feel a lot better then SLA with less sag.