Phylion battery and charger.

[Pete]

Just taken delivery today of a new Synergie Mistral. ( I will post re experience later)
While I was putting it together I put the battery on to charge. After an hour I used the charge check button on top of the battery and Nothing lit up. I put the battery on the bike and power meter showed all red.
Checked the output from the charger - zero.
NB just found that the lights on the battery pack itself don't work unless the 'ignition' switch is on! It shows two green lights out of 3 so how does this square with all red lights on the bikes meter?

Some instructions wouldn't come amiss, and I have pointed this out to Synergie. I have seen this complaint before, don't any of these suppliers send out any instructions for the electric side of things? If it hadn't been for this forum I wouldn't have had a clue.

Contacted Synergy who said faulty charger and they are sending another one out.

Pete

 

[Blew it]

Good to hear the bike has arrived.

The LED's on the Battery show the battery level as measured by the Batteries internal management system (BMS).

The "Talent" handlebar meter shows the level measured by the controller. There will always be a slight difference.

The battery will benefit from a couple of full down to near empty charge/discharge cycles to fully balance the cells. There's no need to run it completely flat...just take it down as far as you dare without having to return home without assistance.

Synergie will have a new charger with you pretty quick, they are very good like that.

The three position mode switch on the left handlebar is E= economy----Pedelec off----S= derestrict, You can operate the switch whilst moving and it will give you seamless control on the amount of assist. Full derestricted power is available on the throttle at all times.

Have fun

Regards
Bob

 

[Pete]

Thanks Bob

Synergie will have a new charger with you pretty quick, they are very good like that.

Yes, it seems so, said I would have one by courier in the morning. Big disappointment though to actually have it, put together and not being able to try it out on what was a sunny, though windy afternoon.

The three position mode switch on the left handlebar is E= economy----Pedelec off----S= derestrict, You can operate the switch whilst moving and it will give you seamless control on the amount of assist. Full derestricted power is available on the throttle at all times.

Thats what I mean by being lost without this forum, that is new information to me that it is actually deristricted on 'S' and throttle. I must admit I am at a loss as to why no instructions/tips etc are included. If it was my business that is the first thing I would get right. Really they are all getting it done for free by people like yourself answering questions on here. They are not obscure things I mean the lights on the battery pack itself don't work when charging unless the 'ignition' switch is on. Simples, but why don't they say!

 

[Blew it]

Yes, I understand your position. Allow a little time to make friends with the Mistral, it will quickly wriggle it's way into your affections. All electric bikes do that. Some do it less expensively than others.

Regarding the lack of informations about the mode switch, and the way in which the machine performs. It's all about the constraints of the legislation, Some things are left as a pleasant surprise to be discovered by the owner.....nuff said!.

All the best

Bob

 

[Pete]

Ok Bob, being up to speed from reading all these great posts I know what you mean!
On a practical point do you know of a mirror which will fit the mistral? Having started using a mirror on my normal bike I now feel very vulnerable when I don't have one. It is made a bit worse by the fact that I am deaf and rarely hear anything coming up behind until it is passing me! The one I use now is a nice little round Cateye one which goes into the end of the handlebar, but the throttle seems to rule that out unless the grip can be pared back?

Pete

 

[Blew it]

This is how I fitted mine

 

[Blew it]

Photo showing modded throttle

Usual disclaimer if things go wrong!

have fun

 

[Pete]

Thanks Bob. I don't exactly fancy dismembering my new bike just yet, but well done. I am not sure though that I have the same throttle you are describing - there is no hint of any chrome anywhere.
I will post a picture of it later - how do you do that by the way? The insert image function asks for a web address but I currently don't host any of my photos on the web so how do you manage to include one within a message? Is it through the manage attachments button?

Pete

 

[flecc]

Heres the way to post a photo from your hard drive Pete, but make sure the photo fits the rules for file size and
is not too big, 800 pixels wide or less is best.

"Click the paper clip button above the reply box and have a look at the photo size rules there for different file
types. Then make sure the picture conforms to those rules, and preferably is sized to 800 x 600 pixels or less to
avoid the huge oversize things that some insist on posting.

If all's well, browse to your image from that paperclip button box, then upload it and close that box. Then click
the paperclip button again and you'll see the image name, click on that and it will be attached at the point of
your cursor in the text box, shown as "Attach etc Attach". Then complete your reply."
.

 

[Blew it]

In addition to Fleccs advice, here's an alternative way.

Firstly, you will need to open a free account with one of the hosting sites, I use Flicker but there are many others.

Before uploading your photos to flickr, re-size them to a maximum 800 x 600 around 1,4 mb.

Your photos will be diplayed on "Your photo stream". click the thumbnail image you want.

Above thumbnail image click "all sizes". your 800x600 image will appear. beneath the photo in red:

To link to this photo on other websites you can either:

select option 2 "grab the photo's URL":

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/4118417432_1724566fdf_o.jpg
(this is the URL for the modded throttle, yours will be different)

copy this address to your clipboard

log in to Pedelecs UK and start your new post. Give the posting a title, and then your text in the message window in the usual way. To insert the image anywhere within the text, Hit return and move the cursor to a new line.

Click the yellow "mountain" symbol on the editing tools. This may invoke your pop-up blocker. click the pop-up bar and " allow pop-up", click the mountain symbol again which will bring up a box with HTTP// already selected, paste the URL into that box and click OK. The image address will appear in the message window in square brackets.

If you want to add more text below the image, hit return to move the cursor to a fresh line and type as usual. When all is done, instead of clicking "submit reply", click "preview post" You will then see exactly how the posting will appear including the photo.

If all is well, click "submit reply" and it's done.

Now, that should keep you busy for a while, and take your mind off not being able to ride your new machine....yet!

All the best Pete
Bob

 

[Pete]

Thanks Bob and Flecc, I will try both ways, I presume the advantage of using a hosting site is that it is feasable to use larger image files, which may be important if you are wanting to show a particular detail.

Now, that should keep you busy for a while, and take your mind off not being able to ride your new machine....yet!

Yes, it will, my impatience at not having a charger yet is tempered by the weather here (Norfolk) this morning, torrential rain and strong winds, would prevent me going out.
As I said in another post I take my hat off to our commuting members. They must be made of stern stuff.
Pete

 

[Blew it]

Not greater than 800x600 please

Yes that's true Pete, but please keep your images at a maximum 800x600, anything larger will invoke the scroll bars on viewers screens which is annoying. It only takes one oversize image to do this, but the scroll bars remain throughout the entire thread.

The Mistrals looking good so far. I see what you mean about the new controls. The Mistral is now fitted with soft ergonomic grips and soft inserts in the brake levers.

By the way, another forum member not wishing to alter his throttle, fitted a long arm Halfords mirror clamped to the handlebar instead.

All the best
Bob

 

[flecc]

I presume the advantage of using a hosting site is that it is feasable to use larger image files, which may be important if you are wanting to show a particular detail.

I use both ways Pete, having plenty of free private webspace so I don't need Flickr and the like. One advantage of online is that nothing is added to the pedelecs host servers storage, but if something isn't already online, it's slightly quicker to upload direct from my hard drive.
.

 

[Pete]

The Mistrals looking good so far. I see what you mean about the new controls. The Mistral is now fitted with soft ergonomic grips and soft inserts in the brake levers.

OK, I will try a single image into the posting first and if I have a few when it comes to doing a few I will put them on a hosting site.
So, here is my throttle layout, from what you have said this seems to be different to yours?



Pete
Forgot to remove two images from the attached list when I deleted from the body of the message

 

[Blew it]

Yes, it is different, your machine has the recent improvements to the machine. It appears that even the Mistral is evolving, the change to threadless headset is just one.

Have a poke about with a thin screwdriver through that breather hole in the end of the grip. There might be hard plastic behind the rubber, this also may have hole in it. As you suggested earlier it may be possible to cut away just the end cap of the grip, allowing the mirror to be inserted. The mirror you have may have too short a spigot to make secure mounting. You might prefer a "Mirrycle" mirror which has a longer spigot. It's also a very good American made mirror. Just don't lose the allen key that comes with it....it uses good old Whitworth threads in it's construction!.

Use your own discretion, I really don't want to be held responsible for spoiling a brand new bike.

All the best
Bob

 

[Pete]

Have a poke about with a thin screwdriver through that breather hole in the end of the grip. There might be hard plastic behind the rubber, this also may have hole in it. As you suggested earlier it may be possible to cut away just the end cap of the grip, allowing the mirror to be inserted. The mirror you have may have too short a spigot to make secure mounting. You might prefer a "Mirrycle" mirror which has a longer spigot. It's also a very good American made mirror. Just don't lose the allen key that comes with it....it uses good old Whitworth threads in it's construction!.

If its whitworth I'll have it! then I can get my old spanners out of storage.
Actually, and it will sound Heath Robinson, the cateye mirror on my normal bike is just pushed into the soft part of the grip after taking the end plug out. When I first bought it I just stuck it in like that to see if I was going to like it before I started to butcher the grip with a knife The expanding spigot grips reasonably tightly and it has never looked like falling out. There is a bit of an odd advantage in that is you can make minor adjustments whilst riding by just twisting the grip up or down very slightly and there is enough movement to re-align the mirror. The spigot in fact never reached the handlebar as the bar is so crowded with stuff that I was unable to put it on to its full length, but again, no problems.
I have had a look at the Mirrycle one and it looks promising as I am probably going to fit bar ends which will probably have to be clamp types for the same reasons as the mirror.
What about those split twist grips that are used for gear changers where only about the first 3rd turns. I wonder if anyone has tried it?

 

[Blew it]

I hate the darn things. In the summer, when not wearing gloves, the inside of my forefinger and thumb used to get as sore as hell!, I much prefer thumb shifters.

 

[flecc]

What about those split twist grips that are used for gear changers where only about the first 3rd turns. I wonder if anyone has tried it?

I prefer split twist for both throttle and gear change and converted my bikes to them. Many others have done the
same on their eZee bikes following the instruction page on my website:

Improved twistgrip

There's a view of both gear and throttle twistgrips on my Q bike here:

Q-bike bars

I've found it's important to have the inner part swollen in the shape shown for them to be comfortable.
.

 

[Pete]

Thanks again, that sounds like a job I could do.
Bob - I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear, I wasn't meaning to change the gear selector with a twist type, but adapt one to use as the throttle.
Flecc's solution is cheaper and reversible so I have fewer nerves about butchering my new bike. As it happens I couldn't have used your solution because the throttle is even more different that it would appear. The Bit that loos like a stop end isn't, it is moulded as part of the grip. I did probe through the hole in it, and nothing! - my probe, a knitting needle, went all the way to the centre of the bars. When I looked it had an inboard bearing and the whole assembly is just clamped to the handlebar. The piece with the white index mark is the outside of the clamping arrangement.


Your design is an elegant one Flecc but I am not too sure it will work for me as the hand grips are very short and I span the whole length easily when holding it - my other bikes grips stick out past my hand by an inch or two - so I suspect it will not be long enough but I will think about it - it certainly is what I want.

An update on the faulty charger. About this time yesterday I sent an email to Mistral about the problem. He said I would get one delivered today which I took with the usual cynical pinch of salt. I should be ashamed of myself! - it arrived an hour ago. So well done Synergie. It is plugged in now but I won't know if it is working for a while I guess but if it is, weather permitting I will baptise it tomorrow.

Pete

 

[flecc]

You can lengthen the grip Pete, and on that article the photo is of a lengthened one, the original being a bit short. All that's needed is to cut the existing rotating part back to the correct amount to leave the inner grip the right width, remount it further onto the bar and then use more of the replacement fixed grip to make the extra length. The only downside of that is that it's not possible to reverse it with a re-used outer rubber grip, reversing the procedure means a new rubber grip for the rejoined rotating sleeve.
.