Waiting for the intial charge to finish.....(18Ah Kalkhoff battery)

[eddieo]

running a battery down is when a throttle comes in really handy!

 

[10mph]

I got another 6 miles before the rapid flashes started on the handlebar inidcator and the power level lights went out. Fortunately I was only a mile from home since I had been doing boring loops round the nearby park and roads. I had done 83.9 miles on the battery's second charge. So that's 5.4wh/mile (95kg, approx 10mph max, fairly flat). I think the claim on the battery of up to 140 km (=87.5 miles) is fully justified.

I am pretty sure the power was lacking over the last 6 miles or so. On one small incline on which I dropped into 2nd gear I tried switching to high power to check whether I was getting assist or whether I was just getting tired. The handle bar light flashed rapidly and the bike cut out. Switching on again and re-engaging low assist still gave continuing support, so presumably in high power with higher currents being drawn the battery voltage had just dipped below the cut-off point.

I am now well into the third charge, and I will give a comparative plot of charge durations later.

 

[tillson]

I have noticed that shortly before the battery cuts out, there is a very noticeable drop in the assistance. This is usually about 1-2 miles before the battery cuts out altogether.

 

[lemmy]

I find the same drop in power with the 10ah battery.

 

[10mph]

Third Charge

The third charge, after a complete discharge to voltage cutoff took 10 hrs 47 minutes:

This was 2 hours 3 minutes longer than the 2nd charge. The extra 2 hours charge roughly matches the deeper discharge to cut out which took place between charge 2 and 3.

I take it that I can now consider the initial conditioning of the battery and the charge level sensors is complete, and I can now adopt a routine of topping up the charge after each partial discharge.

I am now all ready for my 30 to 35 mile ride tonight measuring the London Marathon. I believe that this will be the first time an electric bike has been used to measure a major international race. Judging from the 118 miles I have ridden since receiving the Agattu, I think it will be well up to the job.

 

[NRG]

I am now all ready for my 30 to 35 mile ride tonight measuring the London Marathon. I believe that this will be the first time an electric bike has been used to measure a major international race. Judging from the 118 miles I have ridden since receiving the Agattu, I think it will be well up to the job.

Good luck with the ride 10MPH! Let us know how it goes....by tonight I take it you mean after dark when the traffic has died down?

 

[10mph]

Good luck with the ride 10MPH! Let us know how it goes....by tonight I take it you mean after dark when the traffic has died down?

Thanks, NRG. We are due to meet up at midnight. We should have an escort with flashing lights. I hope it will be one vehicle in front and one behind.
I have been catching a few snoozes today. I hope I will be in a fit state sometime tomorrow to report on it.

 

[NRG]

It's not too warm tonight so wrap up well!