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  1. SwampRodent

    Ebike charging at work options

    Its kind of the same bike, its a bit like triggers broom every thing has been replaced even the frame when the original cracked. I'm on the 3rd battery, the 1st was a cheap ebay battery that eventually failed after about 5000 miles, the second I build my self which did about 20,000 and was...
  2. SwampRodent

    Ebike charging at work options

    There is a lot of variables involved to muddy the waters, if I'm fighting a 30 - 40mph head wind on the way into work the battery will be way under 50%, also due to the nature of the terrain for the homebound journey the roads up in the hills often get closed due to landslides, snow, flooding...
  3. SwampRodent

    Ebike charging at work options

    That was my original plan to install a PV panel and a small wind turbine that would charge a big lead acid battery / inverter as I do at home, I was even going to pay for it out of my own pocket, the firm I work for is involved with green energy so it would be a great way of showing their green...
  4. SwampRodent

    Ebike charging at work options

    Ok its been a while so thought I would give you an update on this. To recap, I needed a way to charge my bike at work ready for the long uphill climb back home after my work moved to a new premises without any bike shed charging facilities. The 14 mile home journey consumes around 8-10Ah...
  5. SwampRodent

    Brake failure

    Hey all, I figured I would give an update on this to help anyone else with a similar issue. Basicaly new pads fitted in the rear callipers would fail after only a day or twos use leaving no useable braking efficiency, then the front brakes also started to repeatedly fail. After a continued dry...
  6. SwampRodent

    Bafang CST failing?

    OK, bit of an update. New 4 spline clutch fitted and new bearings, so about £75 spent but there is absolutely no play in the bearings now and the new clutch is working a treat. The bearings were a doddle to change. I put 20 mostly off road miles on the motor yesterday so looking good.
  7. SwampRodent

    Turn signals?

    I have a set of front and rear indicatirs on my ride as I spend a lot of time in the centre of the road waiting to turn right especialy in the winter when its dark. They work an absolute treat. I also have brake lights as I have to ride in the traffic especially again when turning right. My rear...
  8. SwampRodent

    Bafang CST failing?

    You were absolutely correct with the bearings mine are the same, unfortunately my clutch is the old 4 spline type so I've placed the order with e-bike solutions Germany, lets hope my faith in Google translate holds up or I might be in for a surprise in a few days time! I've taken my clutch...
  9. SwampRodent

    Battery unbalanced

    I know what you mean, I often spend the entire weekend maintaing / repairing my ebike just so I can get to work on a Monday morning :)
  10. SwampRodent

    Bafang CST failing?

    Fab, thanks guys.
  11. SwampRodent

    Battery unbalanced

    Electricaly the parallel strings are even, there are 5 cells in each parallel group but physicaly there are 10 cells in a couple of the cell holders. I only have voltage measurements from taking the battery off the charger, when I balance charge the cells I charge the pack to 42.0V, then wiat...
  12. SwampRodent

    Battery unbalanced

    "2. Are you giving the BMS chance to balance the cells for a few hours after the pack is fully charged? This needs to be done every so often, not necessarily on every charge." OK that kind of confirms my suspicion, I'm not leaving the charger connected long enough for the BMS to balance charge...
  13. SwampRodent

    Bafang CST failing?

    Fab thanks Nealh, they look similar to my bearings. The motor failed completely this moring on the way to work so now I've got nothing to loose so I can tear it apart and check the bearing numbers. I think there are some electrical gremlins as well, some times it feels like its running on 2...
  14. SwampRodent

    Bafang CST failing?

    It sounds like you know your way around these motors, any idea who might sell a clutch / gear set assembly, I have drawn a blank with BMS battery and Greenbikekit only show an assebly for the smaller SWXK type motor. I didn't want to get to far into stripping it at the time as I need the bike to...
  15. SwampRodent

    Battery unbalanced

    Unfortunately I only had the option to solder, I built a couple of dual pulse spot welders but wasn't happy with the results and don't believe a cheap commercial welder would be any better, soldering I know is the hight of bad practice but I'm confident that my technique put minimal heat stress...
  16. SwampRodent

    Battery unbalanced

    Well there’s the thing, 30 out of 50 of the cells were about 2 years old but very lightly used, however by and large these are the cells that are behaving, the 20 newer ones are usually the problem. All cells are decent Panasonic NCR18650PF (I think 2700mAh). All cells in each parallel block of...
  17. SwampRodent

    Battery unbalanced

    I'm having similar issues with the latest pack that I've built, this is a 36V 5P10S. Originally I thought this was down to the cells being purchased from 2 different suppliers so having different states of charge, all cells were balanced charged to 42V and terminated at about 500mA. However...
  18. SwampRodent

    Bafang CST failing?

    Morning fellow pedelecers, My 500W CST has recently started to sound unhappy, occasionally when I open the throttle I hear the motor spinning but with no drive then get a sound like 2 or 3 spokes snapping then I get power and it might be perfectly OK for the next 50 miles. The first time this...
  19. SwampRodent

    Brake failure

    Those rotors aren't stupidly expensive, worth a try. Good looking bike btw, mine looks like Frankenstein's monster!
  20. SwampRodent

    Brake failure

    That's actually an interesting point, the last leg of my homeward commute is down a steep hill into the village, I have to turn right at the bottom of the hill so have to be doing traffic speed (30mph + ) to get over to the centre of the road then hammer the brakes at the bottom for a mini...