Shimano steps e6000 - alternative battery?

[romsey]

I'm looking to buy a bike fitted with e6000 Shimano Steps motor. It comes at a good price because it's got no battery.

Looking at Shimano specific batteries reveals them to be quite expensive compared with run of the mill e bike batteries.

Which begs the question can I power an e6000 motor with a non Shimano battery? I note the battery has 4 pins, but having scoured the internet I can't find much information. No pin out, or details. Of the 4 pins I know two will be the 36v, and one thread I read suggested the other two are a lower voltage for the controller. If this is true, it'll be simple enough to replicate with a dc-dc converter as it won't be high current. But I need more info. If it's some kind of canbus comms between controller-battery, this probably isn't a goer. But there's so little info out there I'm struggling. Anyone rightly know? If it is a low voltage output, what's the voltage?

 

[soundwave]

batts are can bus comm locked so no e6000 shitmano motors are to be avoided if its free its to much motor is unserviceable and you cant buy a new one either.

 

[matthewslack]

Shimano batteries used to turn up quite often on Ebay, but are now not permitted on there from private sellers. You will be able to find one somewhere, and nothing else will do. The ones I have bought have averaged about £200, and they use good cells, so value for money.

But it does not necessarily have to be a bt6000 battery, it is likely the more modern BT8014 8010 8016 will also work. They need different mounts, but they are also available.

 

[Nealh]

Good doesn't mean good value with these proprietary bikes, sourcing a battery is one issue. The next issue is system repair cost should there be no warranty.

 

[matthewslack]

Yes, costs will add up if anything else is wrong. But all parts turn up secondhand, and Shimano systems of this age don't need dealer intervention to swap parts around. Just plug in 3 cables to the motor and see if it powers up.

Main issue for me with this particular bike is that it is the ancient E6000 system, which has different motor mount bolt pattern so cannot accept a more modern motor, and BT6000 battery mount, which is years old, which means secondhand batteries are also years old and more likely to be trouble.

 

[matthewslack]

I just reread the original post, and realised the OP has not bought the bike yet!

Don't, therefore, is my advice, and I guess they may already have got that message.

 

[Nealh]

Yes the buy is under consideration, imv a huge gamble .

 

[saneagle]

If it's cheap enough, it would be a good project for an external controller conversion, then you can use any battery.

 

[romsey]

I just reread the original post, and realised the OP has not bought the bike yet!

Don't, therefore, is my advice, and I guess they may already have got that message.

Yup, I've decided not to buy!

 

[romsey]

If it's cheap enough, it would be a good project for an external controller conversion, then you can use any battery.

Interesting idea!

 

[soundwave]

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now get the angle grinder out