New to ebikes

[Goodpix]

Hi all,

Thought I would introduce myself, I have just bought a Mars M3 ebike, it was second hand and so far I am enjoying it. However last night I charged it for the first time and when I came down this morning the lights had turned themselves on and won’t go out. I think the previous owner fell off the bike and may have done sone damage to the electronics. Will I need to replace the LCD (which does not quite light up all the charecters to the same level)?

 

[vfr400]

Show us what you have, the bike and the LCD.

 

[Goodpix]

 

[Goodpix]

In this picture you can see the light on although the electrics are switched off

 

[vfr400]

Nice bike. If the lights stay on, its because the transistor that switches them is blown. It's quite a common problem.

Assuming that the lights are normally switched on by the LCD controls, sometimes, the transistor is in the LCD and there will be two extra wires from the LCD to the lights. Other times, the LCD sends a signal to the controller's CPU to switch them on via a transistor on it's PCB. Either way, you need to replace something to solve the problem.

 

[vfr400]

I think this is what you have. It says that the wires for the light are an optional extra if I understand it correctly. They'll be on the LCD cable (brown and blue). This also shows you all the settings P01 to P20 that includes the speed limit:

53.47￡ |Vertical Lcd Display M5+switch+bldc Controller 24v36v48v60v 250w350w For Electric Bike Scooter Mtb Tricycle Manual Control Panel - Electric Bicycle Accessories - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Here you can see the separate lights connector (brown and white). More options and cheaper. different LCD though:

Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

 

[Goodpix]

Thank you for that, any clue as to how to find out where this transistor is as I had a look behind the light but there is only a connector which I assume comes from the controller ?
The bike goes really well so very pleased with it, but not sure how to sort out this light problem - I live near Brentwood is there anyone you could recommend?

 

[vfr400]

Thank you for that, any clue as to how to find out where this transistor is as I had a look behind the light but there is only a connector which I assume comes from the controller ?
The bike goes really well so very pleased with it, but not sure how to sort out this light problem - I live near Brentwood is there anyone you could recommend?

The transistor will be on the circuit board inside the LCD. I doubt that you'll be able to fix it unless you have specialist equipment. I doubt that any ebike shop would be able or willing to fix it.

Someone is going to have to explore what's inside your frame. It might be a special controller or it might be a standard one like I showed above. I guess to get in there, you have to drop the forks out.

If you just want to switch the light off, you have to undo the 4 screws holding it on. Maybe when you pull it forward, you'll see the connector and you can unplug it, otherwise cut one of the wires.

 

[cyclebuddy]

I remember some entrepreneurial guy in Birmingham selling a container or two of these ebikes (paint/decals factory branded by the maker Apollo as the Mars M3 - exactly as your image) for about £800 on ebay back in the day. But the majority were imported and branded as Westhill Ghost - selling for about £1400.

Both Apollo and Westhill have since upgraded/changed these M3/Ghost bikes/parts, but Westhill have a parts list/diagram for your Mk1 version on their website which may help - they may or may not be able to help/sell you parts.

From the diagram, it looks like your controller is wedged into the bottom of the downtube, below the battery? IIRC, you remove the light and the battery pulls out from the downtube.

China Apollo bike maker:

MARS M3_Zhejiang Apollo Motorcycle Manufacturer CO. LTD._motorcycle

MARS M3-Zhejiang Apollo Motorcycle Manufacturer CO. LTD.-Aluminium,Al6061SuntoursuspensionF&Rdiscbrake36V250WLG36V7.8AH(10.4AH)EU,25km/h40-60km/h,PedelecSHIMANO21SPEEDSKENDA27.5"VLGKD58CLCDDATA ChargeTime:WheelBase:NetWeight:FrameColour:ContainerLoading...

www.apollovehicle.com

Westhill Ghost Mk1 parts list & diagrams:

Ghost Bike Parts List | Westhill E Bikes

We want to offer a complete service, that's why you can buy all spare and replacement parts directly through us. Just fill in the email form at the bottom of the page with the parts you require along with your contact details and we will get right back to you. [button link="#table1"]Front Wheel...

westhillbikes.com

 

[Benjahmin]

Just a thought. If you could get the front off the light, there may be a pair of accesable wires feeding it. Cut one and put a switch on it. Maybe drill the bottom of the housing and handlebar mount it? Dunno - a garden shed workaround maybe?

 

[Goodpix]

Thank you all for all this great information. @cyclebuddy I had a look underneath the bike today and you are right it’s just like the diagram you found for the Westhill Ghost. I disconnect one of the connections and cleaned it then reconnected and found the LCD screen works as it should now. However the lights are still on ! I think ultimately if I can get a new controller and LCD for a sensible price that will be the best way. Can I get any controller for a 36 volt system?

 

[cyclebuddy]

I think ultimately if I can get a new controller and LCD for a sensible price that will be the best way. Can I get any controller for a 36 volt system?

The controller has to squeeze into the frame - a direct replacement might be best? AFAIK, there is no official UK Apollo representation; Westhill are/were the main importer of this model of Apollo bike. Unless Westhill changed/modified parts for their version, they will likely sell the parts you need with the right connectors/functionality. Westhill have dealers in/around Essex who may be able to better advise?

 

[Goodpix]

Thank you for that, if I found a controller that will physically fit are there any other factors I need to consider?, I was thinking in case Westhill dealers are not interested. Or maybe there is a better controller that will provide more functionality or better performance?

 

[vfr400]

You need to get the present one out to see its size, then you can compare.

What additional functionality do you want?

If you want to switch off the light, unscrew the 4 screws that hold the light on, pull it forward and cut one of the two wires unless there is a connector there that you can unplug. Get a small toggle switch and mount it in the side of that housing, then solder the two cut wires to it. That's a job that any DIY person can do. You don't need a specialist. If you can't solder, ask your dad/brother/neighbour/son/ or female equivalents. I used to teach 11 year old girls to solder, and they could all do it. In fact when I was at Marconis, all the soldering was done by women because they were deemed to be better at it than men. How times have changed!

On/Off Mini Small Toggle Switch + Waterproof Cover Mini Small SPST 12V | eBay

Includes waterproof cover. Maximum current: 3A. Secured with nut. 6mm panel cut-out.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[soundwave]

Thank you all for all this great information. @cyclebuddy I had a look underneath the bike today and you are right it’s just like the diagram you found for the Westhill Ghost. I disconnect one of the connections and cleaned it then reconnected and found the LCD screen works as it should now. However the lights are still on ! I think ultimately if I can get a new controller and LCD for a sensible price that will be the best way. Can I get any controller for a 36 volt system?
View attachment 36663

the titanic sank because it had a hole in it and thats a big un where all the crap will fly in to.

 

[Goodpix]

the titanic sank because it had a hole in it and thats a big un where all the crap will fly in to.

There is a plastic cover piece that goes over that hole at the bottom of the frame, I had removed it to show the base of the controller and the wires coming from it.

 

[Fat Rat]

Hi welcome to the site

 

[Goodpix]

Hi All,
I charged my bike after riding it yesterday and then went out for an 8 mile ride first thing this morning. As you may remember the front lights are staying on regardless of their switch. However I put the bike away in the garage and when I went to get something from the garage this evening I noticed that the headlights on the bike were off? I expect that next time I charge the bike the lights will come in but I thought it was odd that previously when I did this the lights stayed on. Anyone have any theories ?