Using a higher rated charger

[jeffieh]

Greetings from the summery South Pacific! Lifelong cyclist but new to e-bikes and really enjoying the transition. My machine's an 80s Ross mountain frame (steel, part road bike, part BMX) with 80s and 90s XT drivetrain & wheels, a 48v 500w Tongsheng TZDZ2 with OSF firmware, and a 12ah Hailong battery. A fast fantastic beast of machine, and a panacea for ageing aching knees!
But I have a question today. I'm thinking of getting a higher rated charger. Obviously I don't want to dramatically reduce the life of the battery. I've read plenty of opinion, but does anyone have a view based on actual data or research? If so I would be s grateful to see it.
Many thanks
Jeff in Hamilton, NZ

 

[matthewslack]

Greetings from the summery South Pacific! Lifelong cyclist but new to e-bikes and really enjoying the transition. My machine's an 80s Ross mountain frame (steel, part road bike, part BMX) with 80s and 90s XT drivetrain & wheels, a 48v 500w Tongsheng TZDZ2 with OSF firmware, and a 12ah Hailong battery. A fast fantastic beast of machine, and a panacea for ageing aching knees!
But I have a question today. I'm thinking of getting a higher rated charger. Obviously I don't want to dramatically reduce the life of the battery. I've read plenty of opinion, but does anyone have a view based on actual data or research? If so I would be s grateful to see it.
Many thanks
Jeff in Hamilton, NZ

Shimano and Bosch both have 4A or so chargers available in addition to their basic 2A ones, and I think I heard of a Bosch 6A version. These major manufacturers are cautious for warranty reasons so anything they do, you can copy safely.

Generally speaking, up to 0.5C as a regular charger would be hard to argue with, so 6A for your battery, but even 1C is not brutal. You might restrict that to when you need it rather than all the time.

Have a look at the Grin Satiator for a sophisticated and powerful charger, at ebikes.ca.

I achieve 9.2A charge rate using two Shimano fast chargers with two batteries on long trips. Five times as fast as one 1.8A basic charger.

 

[cyclebuddy]

There is no hard and fast rule other than slower is often better/kinder: It's entirely battery specific, depending upon the cells, the BMS, and the connector/wiring being capable of taking increased current. You need to speak to the supplier of your own battery.

Just because Bosch offer 4A & 6A chargers for their e-bike batteries doesn't mean that A) it's okay to do the same for your own Hailong battery and B) that it's a sensible thing to do for longevity.

The manufacturer of my own batteries confirm a 4A charge rate is the maximum the Samsung cells/BMS used can take, but they don't recommend it, and don't make a charger to do it. I do use a 3A charger but only when I need that extra speed of charging (at cafe/pub stops). Better by far to carry a spare battery IMHO.

 

[Nealh]

One has to first read up the on the specs of the battery cell used then one can make a decision.

 

[jeffieh]

Really appreciate the replies. My question relates to a 1250km French e-bike ride I'm planning for May: from Dieppe on the English Channel to Ste Maries de la Mer on the Mediterranean. I reckon the Ross will give me at least 50km a charge in its laden state, whereas I'm budgeting on 80-90km days. Being France there's always a town where I can recharge during the day, but I don't want to be hanging around for hours. Not too concerned about the long term health if the battery (I'll be literally abandoning it at CDG for my flight home as 100wh+ batteries are banned on planes) but I DO want things to hold together for at least a few weeks while I'm on the road.
And thus a 6-8amp charger it is!
Thanks, people!
Jeff in NZ

 

[matthewslack]

Really appreciate the replies. My question relates to a 1250km French e-bike ride I'm planning for May: from Dieppe on the English Channel to Ste Maries de la Mer on the Mediterranean. I reckon the Ross will give me at least 50km a charge in its laden state, whereas I'm budgeting on 80-90km days. Being France there's always a town where I can recharge during the day, but I don't want to be hanging around for hours. Not too concerned about the long term health if the battery (I'll be literally abandoning it at CDG for my flight home as 100wh+ batteries are banned on planes) but I DO want things to hold together for at least a few weeks while I'm on the road.
And thus a 6-8amp charger it is!
Thanks, people!
Jeff in NZ

From my own long day experiences if you can face the extra cost and load, I thoroughly recommend the two battery/two charger approach. The extra range without charging gives great flexibility.

I rode 350 miles / 560 km in 3.5 days back in October, with only 7 hours charging time. Made possible by two batteries and two fast chargers (and extensive use of eco mode!). That was pulling a trailer, all up weight including me about 120kg.

50 km is nothing when you are on a roll. My longest start to a day was 110km, on a perfect sunny, tailwind day, followed by a long 90 minute, 9.2 amp charge over a late lunch.

It is hard to carpe diem when you know you'll have to stop soon!

 

[jeffieh]

From my own long day experiences if you can face the extra cost and load, I thoroughly recommend the two battery/two charger approach. The extra range without charging gives great flexibility.

I rode 350 miles / 560 km in 3.5 days back in October, with only 7 hours charging time. Made possible by two batteries and two fast chargers (and extensive use of eco mode!). That was pulling a trailer, all up weight including me about 120kg.

50 km is nothing when you are on a roll. My longest start to a day was 110km, on a perfect sunny, tailwind day, followed by a long 90 minute, 9.2 amp charge over a late lunch.

It is hard to carpe diem when you know you'll have to stop soon!

Whoah! BIG days in the saddle. I would love to do the ride with 2 batteries but it's going to be wasteful enough abandoning one after 3 or 4 weeks' use. But thanks for the feedback.

 

[matthewslack]

Whoah! BIG days in the saddle. I would love to do the ride with 2 batteries but it's going to be wasteful enough abandoning one after 3 or 4 weeks' use. But thanks for the feedback.

I bet there's a market for slightly secondhand ebike batteries in France's largest city...!