Charging Li-ion batteries

[Pete]

I don't think Eddieo or jerry meant any harm, more likely expressing a frustration because if anyone comes onto this forum, as a complete novice, they will get help, I did, in bucketfuls. Obviously it is better all round if this is done before any purchase is made and I think that was probably the point they were really making. I think it is a fair point though that in your price bracket there are a number of alternative machines, mostly known and owned by members of this forum which might have given you better value for your £s.
Pete

 

[Old Timer]

Considering how generic most ebikes are, I really don't think you have a lot to worry about, there are some notable exceptions of very high quality, but there is a premium to be paid; the important thing is that it suits your needs, and that you're happy with it.

Have a nice ride .

Exactly what I thought

 

[Old Timer]

I don't think Eddieo or jerry meant any harm, more likely expressing a frustration because if anyone comes onto this forum, as a complete novice, they will get help, I did, in bucketfuls. Obviously it is better all round if this is done before any purchase is made and I think that was probably the point they were really making. I think it is a fair point though that in your price bracket there are a number of alternative machines, mostly known and owned by members of this forum which might have given you better value for your £s.
Pete

Thanks Pete
I didn`t find the forum till after the purchase (shut gate after the horse has bolted comes to mind. Still, all is not lost, I`ve since phoned the store and they assure me that they have spares available for the foreseable future. Be interesting to hear from anyone else that might have purchased one!

Cheers

Dave

 

[Old Timer]

The guy comes on here for advice about charging his bike and you tell him "you bought a crap bike from a crap dealer" was that necessary, and I wonder where the motor and battery cells for your bike were made.

Hiya Dan

I just wondered if there is someone else with a similar name that has upset a few people

Take Care

Dave

 

[Old Timer]

Not elitism, just common sense. why else would I suggest cheaper alternatives to the bike you bought .

I am not technically minded or bike savvy at all. and started looking at e bikes last summer. Thanks to this forum I have avoided the harsh learning curve that many experience.

why you are still asking about camera batteries re bike I do not know...I have explained how to maintain and condition your battery's to get the best out of them. something any reputable dealer should have done.

I only mentioned camera batteries (not the small stick in your top pocket ones) but large Li-ion batteries which is what I use daily and know just how to deal with them. That`s all, just as a comparison.

 

[Old Timer]

Had a look around again...

and pros and cons on a lot of bikes at or above the Dynamo bike price. It sure is a minefield out their!

They all look nice in the ads but I must agree(as far as I can see) buying a bike from a dealer that gives a decent back up service seems to be probably high up on the list (like most things really)and it seems as though I`m not the only one who didn`t get a decent instruction book and not just the dynamo.

So! only having to call on the supplier just the once for the new rack which was jumped on very quickly I have no foreward knowledge as to just what will happen if things go badly wrong (like quite a number of other makes)although having been in business for many years I know my way around the courts(not many people actually know that (I can`t remember the actual act) under E U legislation we get 2 years guarantee on items brought in the EU by law and although I haven`t had to try this one out, if you buy a top of the range item the E U law actually can extend for up to 6 years so I`m informed. I just hope that the bike continues to please me as much in the future as it does now and I`ll have to worry about it if and when it occurs.
Out of interest a number of riders mentioned that the public have turned heads when they heard a wine from the motors on some bikes and some riders have mentioned hub drag going down hills but I certainly haven`t noticed any such noise or drag as yet.(maybe the hub has been filled with sawdust like the old days

Oh Well, Take Care you lot and Stay Safe

Dave

 

[eddieo]

and I am sure if the worse comes to the worse the lads on here will keep you on the road if necessary, they are a great bunch witha lot of knowledge

you picked an auspicious day to visit the forum......Today is by B Day and I'm on out for a drink!

 

[flecc]

Regarding Eddie's comments about that bike, there's an important point here that's often missed, despite my pointing it out from time to time.

Posts are not just read by the person posting a query and those who answer, they are read by most coming into the forum, and that includes visitors who at any one time greatly outnumber members online.

Those visitors are often people seeking e-bike information before committing themselves, so the availability of any current justifiable criticism about a bike is worthwhile and valuable to them, regardless of the context.

When I post replies they are often aimed at the wider audience as well as the person I'm responding to and that often leads to some misunderstanding, but I think that risk is worthwhile for the potential benefit to the many.
.

 

[Old Timer]

and I am sure if the worse comes to the worse the lads on here will keep you on the road if necessary, they are a great bunch witha lot of knowledge

you picked an auspicious day to visit the forum......Today is by B Day and I'm on out for a drink!

Eddieo

Happy birthday (21 again is it

 

[Old Timer]

Regarding Eddie's comments about that bike, there's an important point here that's often missed, despite my pointing it out from time to time.

Posts are not just read by the person posting a query and those who answer, they are read by most coming into the forum, and that includes visitors who at any one time greatly outnumber members online.

Those visitors are often people seeking e-bike information before committing themselves, so the availability of any current justifiable criticism about a bike is worthwhile and valuable to them, regardless of the context.

When I post replies they are often aimed at the wider audience as well as the person I'm responding to and that often leads to some misunderstanding, but I think that risk is worthwhile for the potential benefit to the many.
.

Flecc

It`s good to see someone taking a firm hand to help people to decide on what to buy and I am in full agreement with that. Way to often you`ll read articles and reviews in magazines and web sites where you can read between the lines and know that they are being lead by companies that spend huge amounts on advertising or the giving of free gifts with the said publications. There was a case I was following some time ago where the reviewer gave a poor rating to an item and that was the last time for a while that the site was sent any new equipment from that company to review. I don`t think it happens in most organisations but people have to be aware of it IMHO. So! good to know that we can come to an unbiased forum and get the info that we need.

Of course there does have to be some grounds for making statements and in the case of my dynamo E-bike I`ll be keeping tight notes and rest assured I`ll be posting honest and transparent findings as the mileage creeps up for everyone`s information. It should be noted after all, that I have only owned it for a couple of weeks so time will no doubt tell.

Great web site where it seems people are actively encouraged to tell it as it is. Keep up the good work.

Now! let me get back on that bike

Dave

 

[flecc]

under E U legislation we get 2 years guarantee on items brought in the EU by law and although I haven`t had to try this one out, if you buy a top of the range item the E U law actually can extend for up to 6 years so I`m informed.

The six year is not quality related Dave, it applies everywhere where such a limit is justified, but it's for the individual courts to decide how much warranty time is reasonable for differing goods.

It's important to remember that it doesn't apply to consumables though, and batteries are consumables. There are no consumable legal minimum warranty periods for consumers, it's up to suppliers who reach a consensus on what is reasonable. For a long time that consensus on our batteries was six months, but currently there's been a trend towards one year, with the occasional company giving two years.

If some of those seem shockingly short, remember that TV CRT tubes and electronic valves had only three months warranty, so very short periods have always been around for equipment with unpredictable reliability.
.

 

[Old Timer]

uksportimports

Aren't these the clowns mentioned in another post here.

Hold on I will have a look round.......

Yep thought that name rung a bell take a look at this

Anyway I guess I should have said welcome and not started with such a negative post. You have come to the right place lots of helpful friendly people here, so should be able to help out.

PS Is this the bike ?

PowerTrek Dynamo Electric Trail Bike (MEB01B) [Powertrek Dynamo Electric Trail Bike36v Li-Ion Battery Technology25kph Top Speed50km RangeOff Road Kenda MTB Tyres6 Speed Shimano GearsFront Suspension ForkRear Pannier Rack] - £699.95 : UK Sport Imports

It does seem to be Lithium Ion, though quite a weighty machine.

Regards

Jerry

Afternoon Jerry

This is just for me to explore the roots of my new bike.

I`ve done the google and other searches and found lots of info on Mark Rao.
Definitely a man to avoid from what I`ve read.
Now, nowhere after staying up all night nearly can I find any remarks (good or otherwise) on his products. so! maybe he was just a con artist that was selling on a decent product(i hope) and just taking peoples money. I just can`t find any bike anywhere that looks like mine. Can you throw any light onto how it was ascertained that the Powertrek Dynamo was in fact one of his bikes (did he have it manufactured or just was the wholesaler) and any links to where I might find a similar bike (obviously other than sportimports)
I might find that because of the outlet where they were sold from those kind of buyers might never visit a web site like this.

Any help you can give me on this would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

Dave
BTW I have a friend of a friend popping round this weekend who has been involved in E bikes for some years and knows a thing or two to take a look at my bike and gives his verdict (holds breath) it might cost me a couple of pints down the local but might be worth the exercise. It will probably turn out to be "Mark Rao" who will just ride off into the sunset on my bike, never to be seen again

 

[Old Timer]

More info on the Dynamo

Got some more details

36V 10Amp Lithium ion
Low voltage safeguard 31.5V
Overload current safeguard 15A
Max speed 25Km
Max range 80km
Weight 25Kgs
Energy Consumption per 100km <1.2kw/h

Motor Brushless with gears
rated power 250W
rated voltage 36V

Warrantee
Welds on main frame, front forks, splashboard or wheel rims 2 years
Gears, bearings,motor shell and hub motor 2 years
Handlebar controls,brakes( excluding shoes) controller, charger, or battery capacity 1 year
Paintwork,6 months
Front and rear axle, flywheel, chain wheel or driveline 6 months
Battery casing,battery leak,battery capacity step down more than 40% 1 year
Electro plating on handlebars, wheel rims,crank, bracket or kickstand 3 months

Beyond the period of assurance a life long repair service is offered at cost.

Don`t know if this helps identify it but details look pretty standard to me.

Dave

 

[jerrysimon]

Dave,

I was merely refering to the post I had read previously and don't know anything about these bikes.

FWIW I think if the bike rides well, does not have any problems and you can get support from the company if you need to (which you seem to say you did when they exchanged the rack) I would just sit back and enjoy the bike.

Others may be able to comment on the bike itself. I am not familiar with the model.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Old Timer]

Afternoon Jerry

This is just for me to explore the roots of my new bike.

I`ve done the google and other searches and found lots of info on Mark Rao.
Definitely a man to avoid from what I`ve read.
Now, nowhere after staying up all night nearly can I find any remarks (good or otherwise) on his products. so! maybe he was just a con artist that was selling on a decent product(i hope) and just taking peoples money. I just can`t find any bike anywhere that looks like mine. Can you throw any light onto how it was ascertained that the Powertrek Dynamo was in fact one of his bikes (did he have it manufactured or just was the wholesaler) and any links to where I might find a similar bike (obviously other than sportimports)
I might find that because of the outlet where they were sold from those kind of buyers might never visit a web site like this.

Any help you can give me on this would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

Dave
BTW I have a friend of a friend popping round this weekend who has been involved in E bikes for some years and knows a thing or two to take a look at my bike and gives his verdict (holds breath) it might cost me a couple of pints down the local but might be worth the exercise. It will probably turn out to be "Mark Rao" who will just ride off into the sunset on my bike, never to be seen again

OK, the guy came over, boy did he know his stuff. He has a project coming along that will revolutionise E bike sales in the UK by the sounds of it. A top of the range bike at the affordable price. Can`t go into much because he asked me to keep quiet but it does sound good.

Anyway, he looked at the bike, he sniffed it, picked it up, sniffed it again, put pressure on it from all sides, checked out the running gear (that he recognised and was happy with that). Then he cleared off with it while I made his wife a cuppa tea (as you do) He returned quite some time later and had a smile on his face. He couldn`t guarantee that I wouldn`t have some sort of problem in the future because as he stated "things are in their infancy" and all makers have had and are still having some problems. So! the thumbs up so far which makes my £600 seem a bit better.
There is even a chance that I might get to be a beta tester if things turn out right and it only cost me two cups of tea mind you he was this way anyway but said that he likes to see all the different bikes on the market so knows what to improve.

One main thing he mentioned was to keep as much water and crud away from all the things on an E bike that aren`t on a normal road bike and complained about my narrow Halfords mudguards also pointing out where I should apply some clear silicon sealant (got plenty of that in the garage). Funnily I had already noted that and ordered a set of SKS 65mm guards from Wiggle on saturday evening and a extra large front mudflap that were delivered here not 15 mins ago (Monday) by City Link. That`s a great service from wiggle as no doubt lots of you already know.