Shimano steps e6000 - alternative battery?

[romsey]

I'm looking to buy a bike fitted with e6000 Shimano Steps motor. It comes at a good price because it's got no battery.

Looking at Shimano specific batteries reveals them to be quite expensive compared with run of the mill e bike batteries.

Which begs the question can I power an e6000 motor with a non Shimano battery? I note the battery has 4 pins, but having scoured the internet I can't find much information. No pin out, or details. Of the 4 pins I know two will be the 36v, and one thread I read suggested the other two are a lower voltage for the controller. If this is true, it'll be simple enough to replicate with a dc-dc converter as it won't be high current. But I need more info. If it's some kind of canbus comms between controller-battery, this probably isn't a goer. But there's so little info out there I'm struggling. Anyone rightly know? If it is a low voltage output, what's the voltage?

 

[soundwave]

batts are can bus comm locked so no e6000 shitmano motors are to be avoided if its free its to much motor is unserviceable and you cant buy a new one either.

 

[matthewslack]

Shimano batteries used to turn up quite often on Ebay, but are now not permitted on there from private sellers. You will be able to find one somewhere, and nothing else will do. The ones I have bought have averaged about £200, and they use good cells, so value for money.

But it does not necessarily have to be a bt6000 battery, it is likely the more modern BT8014 8010 8016 will also work. They need different mounts, but they are also available.

 

[Nealh]

Good doesn't mean good value with these proprietary bikes, sourcing a battery is one issue. The next issue is system repair cost should there be no warranty.

 

[matthewslack]

Yes, costs will add up if anything else is wrong. But all parts turn up secondhand, and Shimano systems of this age don't need dealer intervention to swap parts around. Just plug in 3 cables to the motor and see if it powers up.

Main issue for me with this particular bike is that it is the ancient E6000 system, which has different motor mount bolt pattern so cannot accept a more modern motor, and BT6000 battery mount, which is years old, which means secondhand batteries are also years old and more likely to be trouble.

 

[matthewslack]

I just reread the original post, and realised the OP has not bought the bike yet!

Don't, therefore, is my advice, and I guess they may already have got that message.

 

[Nealh]

Yes the buy is under consideration, imv a huge gamble .

 

[saneagle]

If it's cheap enough, it would be a good project for an external controller conversion, then you can use any battery.

 

[romsey]

I just reread the original post, and realised the OP has not bought the bike yet!

Don't, therefore, is my advice, and I guess they may already have got that message.

Yup, I've decided not to buy!

 

[romsey]

If it's cheap enough, it would be a good project for an external controller conversion, then you can use any battery.

Interesting idea!

 

[soundwave]

Motor Cabinet: Shimano Steps — TI CYCLES FABRICATION

TiCycleTubes design Lightweight Steel Motor Mount Bracket E6100, E7000, E8000, EP8

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now get the angle grinder out

 

[Apples24]

If it's cheap enough, it would be a good project for an external controller conversion, then you can use any battery.

Is that possible on these older bikes?
Be interesting

 

[saneagle]

Is that possible on these older bikes?
Be interesting

Yes, it's possible on nearly every bike. Shimano Steps has been done.

 

[thelarkbox]

Is that possible on these older bikes?
Be interesting

Its essentially a rewiring job, the motor will have 3xphase feed wires (THICK) from its control circuitry. If you select a sensor less controller as a replacement these will be all you will need to determine the correct order of (trial and error) and connect up.

The motor is probably fitted with sensors (hall sensors - for motor position) and perhaps temperature and or speed sensors too. If also employed these will probably provide a smoother/quieter motor operation, and more info on the display but could complicate the determination of wire connections although the sensor wires will probably follow the same colour coding of the phase wires??

And chances are the blue/yellow/green colour coding of the motor will match a replacement controller, its just not guaranteed.. and can differ.
Check the pcb etching for clues if wires are not colour coded with the usual Blue/Yellow/Green

 

[Apples24]

Interesting Thankyou

I have a Saracen e6000 juice bike that has been sat around without a battery

 

[saneagle]

Interesting Thankyou

I have a Saracen e6000 juice bike that has been sat around without a battery

The requirements for the controller are:
1. Sinewave for smooth operation
2. Current control, otherwise you'll get power limited to different max pedal speeds, which would be diabolical. Even a throttle will work on pedal speed, not bike speed.
3. Dual mode or sensorless mode because STEPS has a weird hall sensor arrangement. I think it can be run in sensor mode, but best to have the option of sensorless in case you can't make it work with in sensor mode.

For testing or if you just want a bike that can help you to pedal, you can use any cheap dual mode controller, but the riding experience won't be anything like the original.

 

[matthewslack]

Interesting Thankyou

I have a Saracen e6000 juice bike that has been sat around without a battery

An E6000 motor should work with the more modern 8014 or 8010 or 8020 batteries. You need the right mount, and would have to check the socket at the motor is the same as the battery mount cable plug, and mount the new mount...so might not be worth the trouble.