Battery weather tight

[mike killay]

Do they still make oilskin capes? Mine is around 30 years old and needing replacement fairly soon. It weighs a ton (well, perhaps a couple of kilograms) but that's what makes it so good - it doesn't flap all over the place in the wind like the flimsy polythene capes you see nowadays that make people say capes are a waste of time. I tried one and threw it away - the old fashioned ones are brilliant.

I think that they were just lightweight cotton soaked in Linseed oil

 

[sjpt]

Back to original question, I think water ingress depends more on the specific battery mounting setup than where on the bike is mounted. Our Woosh tandem conversion with a Hailong battery on the middle tube (maybe 20 degrees off horizontal) has the connections pretty well enclosed underneath the battery. The only wet I can see getting in is (a) if we went through a very big puddle and water was thrown up underneath from the front wheel (despite mudguards) (b) if we went through a ford, (c) we were really silly while cleaning it.

The mount on our Motus with rear mounted Bosch battery is less well designed. The battery pushes up to the mount leaving a small vertical gap for water to get in. Admittedly the gap is small, and the actual connections have a little more protection. Also, the rails the battery sits on are designed so it is easy to push the battery home but not correctly mounted on the rails. This leaves a slightly bigger gap, and a battery that rattles and is probably doing no good to the connections.

 

[D C]

If you watch this video it would lead you to believe there's no need to worry about the battery or contacts getting wet!
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/global/news/how-to-wash-an-e-bike/21541
In my opinion it should be labelled "how not to wash (or lubricate) an E Bike."
Giant should be ashamed.
Dave.

 

[cyclenut1952]

Thank you, use water sparingly seems to be the message.

 

[vfr400]

Thank you, use water sparingly seems to be the message.

Or not at all in my case. I can't remember when my bike was last cleaned. I let the rain clean it. It's the same with my car, except I've recently changed my dirt coloured one for a white one, so it might show up now.

 

[L6mbt]

I remember, as a youngster, using a light plastic cape. Not only did it flap about, in strong winds it acted like a sail and threatened to blow you off course. My preference these days is for a good Goretex jacket and a pair of "Rainlegs", a Dutch product that easily, and quickly, ties on and covers the thighs, knees and crotch area.