Carrera Crossfire E - first cut out (Sport Mode)

[fredtop]

Hello, I had my first cut out on my 2 month old (160 miles covered) Crossfire the other day. I've checked all the threads on cut out problems and can't find anything specific to my question.

I have the revised model with the new LCD (Eco, Tour, Climb, Sport).
The cut out happened on a hill I have covered many times in Climb mode, but this time for some reason I tried it in Sport mode and it cut out completely after about 1 minute.
I just wondered if Sport mode could be the reason? - I know with the previous model the mountain goat was the top assist mode and one presumably intended for hills, seeing as how well goats climb mountains.

Just wondered if Halfords / Suntour are aware of this so changed the climb mode to the 75% level instead of 100% to prevent overheating or something??

Any comments or suggestions from other Crossfire owners or anyone who knows about this sort of thing would be great.

Thanks

 

[Fordulike]

If this happened when the battery was nearing empty, then the battery may have dipped below the battery cut-off voltage in sport mode. This would cut the power until reset. It's just one of those things with some set-ups, and as you discovered, reducing the assistance mode helps. If this is happening with a freshly charged battery, then get the battery checked under warranty.

 

[fredtop]

Thanks for the comment Fordulike - it wasn't freshly charged or empty, I was coming home from work so think it would have been in the 40-50% region.
Maybe it was just one of those things, just a bit strange as I haven't used Sport on hill before. I'll try it again and see what happens.

 

[Fordulike]

Thanks for the comment Fordulike - it wasn't freshly charged or empty, I was coming home from work so think it would have been in the 40-50% region.
Maybe it was just one of those things, just a bit strange as I haven't used Sport on hill before. I'll try it again and see what happens.

I'll be honest and say that I doubt that the Crossfire-E battery pack contains high spec cells. I would guess that they are generic Chinese cells, so probably more prone to battery sag, than the likes of Samsung 30Q's. With a half empty battery pack, I would expect the voltage to drop quite a bit in top assistance mode.

 

[Nealh]

I suspect most of the cutting out issues are related to which cells are used and configuration.

 

[redcup1999]

I suspect most of the cutting out issues are related to which cells are used and configuration.

And to the way that the controller is programmed with regard to current draw - even in ECO mode you can get extremely high current demands by stomping on the pedals. I used to get cutouts in ECO mode in the "right" circumstances. (Go down a steep hill pedalling like billyo at 20mph +, start pedalling up the other side of the hill - when the speed drops below 17mph and the motor cuts in, stomping on the pedals could cause my motor to cut out even in Eco mode).

 

[fredtop]

Do you think there is a reason for Suntour changing the climb modes?
Its like they don't want you to use a 100% assist on a hill, or is there something different with the torque in climb mode?

 

[Nealh]

I can't see the amps draw being much more then 17/18a, if cells were decent 10a rated ones there should be no issue with sag or heat and in theory should last a good few years if used regularly. Problem is a lot of batteries will use so so 4 or 5a rated cells that don't really handle very well even with 5 in parallel.
We need someone brave enough to open one,

 

[Fordulike]

Do you think there is a reason for Suntour changing the climb modes?
Its like they don't want you to use a 100% assist on a hill, or is there something different with the torque in climb mode?

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/electric-bikes/carrera-crossfire-e-mens-electric-bike

The technical jargon suggests the Climb Sport 100% mode is for riding up hills at speed. I reckon it'll live up to the name with a fresh battery, but will struggle to provide the amps the controller needs, once the battery pack empties to a certain level.