Water Ingress???

[steve.c]

Hi All. I washed my Freego the other day and think I may have been a little over enthusiastic with the water so now I have no power?? I say no power but if I turn it on and start to pedal or use the throttle it wil go for a few seconds and then stops!!! and sometimes the power lights stay on and sometimes they go out what do I check first ??? and is the extended use of a hairdryer any use??.
Regards Steve.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Water and electricity don't go very well together as you've found out. Only you know where you put the water, so we can only guess. You should start with the controller compartment under the battery if that's the type you have. Did you hose or jet-wash it, or was it just water with a rag/sponge?

 

[steve.c]

Water rag and paint brush but used a small watering can but I thought not to much! and controller under battery but I've sealed it with silicone but will look tomorrow and thanks d8veh.

 

[oldtom]

what do I check first ??? and is the extended use of a hairdryer any use??.
Regards Steve.

Oh dear Steve!

As d8veh has acknowledged, water & electrickery don't make good bedfellows and I agree that the first component I would check would be the controller.

It happened to one of my bikes once a couple of days after my other half had ridden through a crank-deep ford with her feet raised in front of the pedals. The bike was fine all the way home but next time out, the electrics were causing all sorts of strange behaviour, making the bike unrideable under power.

After removing and opening the controller, the innards were saturated and no amount of warm air/dry rags/leaving it overnight helped it function normally again. I was a little disappointed by the ineffectiveness of the sealant around the unit but a replacement sorted the problem and the bikes are walked through or carried across any fords now.

After your experience, I'm sure you don't need telling that washing EAPCs is not a good idea. I have never washed a bike in my life but I do wipe everything down with a damp cloth as and when necessary. A soft and a stiff brush come in handy when there is accumulated mud and crud stuck to wheels or frame but warm water and a little detergent used judiciously is all that's needed. I can't see the point of paying for specialist bike cleaners.

I hope you're up and running again quickly.

Tom

 

[Kuorider]

I dried one out for a friend recently, you can open up the controller and slip out the printed circuit board and connectors. If available use compressed air to blow out water before drying off with hot air. Unplug all connectors on the bike and dry out. Most important, do it ASAP as corrosion can set in on some parts. In a hard water area check for white deposits after drying and clean off with an artists brush.

 

[steve.c]

Hi Old Tom.I must have had brain freeze or something as I usually clean it with WD40 but it was a nice day water handy and ??? sod it??? I am currently down the pub with 2 panniers 56ltrs of shopping and a long steep hill to climb ( or rather push ) but will look at it all tomorrow and thanks to all the help I get "hic" ?? " hic "

 

[Kuorider]

To add to Tom's post, if you think the controller pcb is scrap, it's worth a try washing it in clean hot water and then rinse well in Isopropyl Alcohol to remove any traces of water. This worked for a couple of phones and remote controls after trips through the washing machine, which were heading for the bin anyway.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Nearly e ery time I hear about water damage to controllers, it's after somebody attemted to seal the compartment. You should never do that. If you attempt to seal it, you will stop any water from getting out, so it will fill up and drown what's inside. If left unsealed, any water that can get in will immediately drain back out of the bottom without doing any harm. Some bikes have stupidly placed holes that let too much water in. If you have that situation, by all means seal up the hole. You can even seal up the top edges of the compartment if it makes you feel better, but always leave the bottom edges unsealed so that water can get out.

 

[EddiePJ]

Water and electricity don't go very well together

Which is something that has long puzzled me about Bosch.

Why implement a battery mounting system that becomes a water containment area.

The control display on the BH gave me a few issues, but this was easily cured with Vaseline and regular checking. On advise from the dealer, I originally sealed the outside with silicon, and has already been said, this was a disaster as water still somehow got between, but couldn't escape.
The Bosch system gets just as wet between the contacts, but it doesn't seem to be as sensitive and to date hasn't caused any issues.

I hose my bike down when washing it, but I never get any water near the handlebar area, preferring instead just to wipe things over, spray with duck oil, then use an air line to blast everything off. I also do the same for the poor excuse of a battery housing. Oddly the one time that sprayed the area with electrical contact cleaner, was also the one time that I had issues afterwards. Though, I suspect that was just a coincidence.

 

[steve.c]

I dried one out for a friend recently, you can open up the controller and slip out the printed circuit board and connectors. If available use compressed air to blow out water before drying off with hot air. Unplug all connectors on the bike and dry out. Most important, do it ASAP as corrosion can set in on some parts. In a hard water area check for white deposits after drying and clean off with an artists brush.

 

[steve.c]

Hi.I have stipped everything down and couldnt see any water in with the controller and dried everything off with a hair drier and everthing worked fine so put everything back very pleased with myself !! then checked it all again and yep allthe differant power levels worked and also the throttle so brilliant ???? so took it for a test ride and bol----s just the same!! it works fine on the stand but when you put your weight on it it goes for a few seconds and turns itself off !!!! any ideas anyone ??? I took some as you can see hopefully !!
I know that the controller looks water damaged but the rust came from before!!!
Regards Steve.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Water in the battery?

 

[Eaglerider]

Hi Steve.
I had exactly the same symptoms when my controller failed after getting wet when I got caught in a deluge of rain. Even after drying everything out, like yours, it would go for perhaps 20 metres then cut out again. It is my conjecture,(as I'm no electrician), that the water ingress has damaged components in the controller most likely by way of temporary shorting. I reckon once the damage is done the controller is toast and drying it out doesn't fix it.

I'm afraid it's a new controller Steve, but they're only £65 or so. When I got my new controller it was quite a bonus as it goes nearly one mph faster on full power. My Eagle is still going well, battery is three a half years old and should do a while more yet.

This new motor that Freego are fitting appears interesting!

 

[geoff c]

Hi All. I washed my Freego the other day and think I may have been a little over enthusiastic with the water so now I have no power?? I say no power but if I turn it on and start to pedal or use the throttle it wil go for a few seconds and then stops!!! and sometimes the power lights stay on and sometimes they go out what do I check first ??? and is the extended use of a hairdryer any use??.
Regards Steve.

 

[geoff c]

hi
steve mine did the exact same thing after cleaning it (freego martin sport)
but controller was ok ? above bottom bracket on chain side is a disc must be the sensor for the electrics this was caked in mud cleaned it off and was good to go hope this may be of use to you

 

[steve.c]

Hi Steve.
I had exactly the same symptoms when my controller failed after getting wet when I got caught in a deluge of rain. Even after drying everything out, like yours, it would go for perhaps 20 metres then cut out again. It is my conjecture,(as I'm no electrician), that the water ingress has damaged components in the controller most likely by way of temporary shorting. I reckon once the damage is done the controller is toast and drying it out doesn't fix it.

I'm afraid it's a new controller Steve, but they're only £65 or so. When I got my new controller it was quite a bonus as it goes nearly one mph faster on full power. My Eagle is still going well, battery is three a half years old and should do a while more yet.

This new motor that Freego are fitting appears interesting!

Yeah eaglerider looks that way I'll have to get in touch with my dealer!!! and thanks. And no d8veh battery not on at the time but thanks.
PS anyone know where I can get a controller ( pictured.)

 

[RobF]

Which is something that has long puzzled me about Bosch.

Why implement a battery mounting system that becomes a water containment area.

The control display on the BH gave me a few issues, but this was easily cured with Vaseline and regular checking. On advise from the dealer, I originally sealed the outside with silicon, and has already been said, this was a disaster as water still somehow got between, but couldn't escape.
The Bosch system gets just as wet between the contacts, but it doesn't seem to be as sensitive and to date hasn't caused any issues.

I hose my bike down when washing it, but I never get any water near the handlebar area, preferring instead just to wipe things over, spray with duck oil, then use an air line to blast everything off. I also do the same for the poor excuse of a battery housing. Oddly the one time that sprayed the area with electrical contact cleaner, was also the one time that I had issues afterwards. Though, I suspect that was just a coincidence.

I agree the battery cup is not Bosch's best design effort.

Strictly, it's a collar for the connector which almost floats, so I suppose a few drops of water around it is unlikely to cause a problem.

I've never seen any water around mine, but my riding is only road and cycle path, and rarely in light rain, let alone a downpour.

Fact remains the cup is fitted on mountain bikes where better protection against mud and water is needed.

 

[steve.c]

Hi All.I have sorted my lack of power and after taking most of my bike to bit and hairdryering !!! I found the problem flat battery yes thats right a flat bloody battery?????,I had a new handlebar power switch fitted a few months ago and it must be faulty and was showing the full 4 lights and I thought nothing of it but I was lying in bed and coulnt sleep cause of my back and thought Ill try and charge it in the morning and see what happens and after a hour charge it worked perfectly so I will be phoning my dealer about the faulty part!!!!!! anyway thanks to all for all your help and let this be a warning to people who get the same problem CHECK BATTERY FIRST
Thanks & Regards Steve.

 

[Croxden]

My moment was thinking the battery was going, it was sticky brakes. Don't you feel foolish not doing the full check.

 

[steve.c]

Yeah you do but mine was mostly relief i think but sorted now.Good to see you donated to Tony Ride if more people did from here it would be great
Steve.