Rain effects

[Tibby2]

Should I be worried about water getting into battery mount ? I fitted swytch kits to two lightish bikes as my door mounted campervan bike rack can only carry max 30 kg . I was reasonably happy with the swytch components being water proof and have driven through lots of rain and the bikes seemed fine once dry . However after early battery failure and poor range I fitted a yose frame battery . Because I want to travel with the battery off the bike to keep the weight down , the battery mount and contacts look quite susceptible to water ingress .. do I need to cover it somehow when battery is not on ? Thanks in advance . Ps I will be sleeving the cables shortly this was just first test to see if worked .

 

[saneagle]

Should I be worried about water getting into battery mount ? I fitted swytch kits to two lightish bikes as my door mounted campervan bike rack can only carry max 30 kg . I was reasonably happy with the swytch components being water proof and have driven through lots of rain and the bikes seemed fine once dry . However after early battery failure and poor range I fitted a yose frame battery . Because I want to travel with the battery off the bike to keep the weight down , the battery mount and contacts look quite susceptible to water ingress .. do I need to cover it somehow when battery is not on ? Thanks in advance . Ps I will be sleeving the cables shortly this was just first test to see if worked .

Generally, it's nothing to worry about, but it's different on a rack behind a vehicle, where they get a continuous soaking from every direction, so in that situation, I'd tape a bin bag around it.

 

[matthewslack]

On some mounts the bottom compartment can be opened up, and it is sometimes used as a space to house the controller. So you can probably open it up, have a look and decide what level of protection is needed.

If the compartment can drain, and you dry the battery connections thoroughly before refitting the battery, probably fine. If you think more protection is needed, a simple waterproof wrapper strapped to the frame above the mount will keep water out. Bin bag and a bungee strap would do.

 

[AndyBike]

I have a built in battery on the down tube, and at the base of that in heavish rain get a little bit gathering at the base inside the battery compartment.
Thus far though it seems not to make any difference, and therefore in the heavy Scottish rain i cycle in, hasn't effected the electrics of anything.

I do remove the battery and leave it in ambient house temp for an hour before recharging all the same, not that i think it would cause issue, but it seems best practise.

 

[guerney]

You can buy so-called "Waterproof" covers for downtube batteries. Personally, I don't trust anything with seams to be waterproof for long... which I why I simply rainproof using two "Waterproof" seamless hiviz rucksack covers, because I don't trust just one to be waterproof enough. Secured with velcro. Also available in stealth Rinja black.

(I've tidied the wiring since this old moonlit long exposure pic on a hill eating a kebab one summer night, added four 1800LM and 2400LM headlights, two Oxford lollipops etc.etc.)

 

[chris_n]

The biggest thing to remember when trying to 'waterproof ' anything is to leave somewhere for the water that gets past your seals to get out!

 

[Tibby2]

Thanks for all the replies .. I will open up the base bit and take a look , if it’s just the contacts I won’t worry quite so much , I feared it might have some balancing boards in there but perhaps they in the main battery bit which makes sense . Probably end up wrapping that area with a cover of somesort or cling wrap it when on the bike carriers .