Solex E-bike

[NeilP]

Just been given a Solex e-bike / scooter

Need a bit of info if anyone has any

Anyone know what the battery chemistry is? I am wondering what voltage to charge the pack to, as it did not come with a charger.

it is labelled as a 36 volt 16Ah pack

Cells inside are Kokam pouch cells

It sys Lithium polymer on the outer case but I was wondering if they are actually LiFEPO4 as opposed to the more volatile LiPO.

I tried to charge via the charge socket with a 42 volt supply and there was not charge current flowing, so that got me wondering about the BMS..maybe it is a dud and that is why they got rid of it because they could not charge it.

I have done a brief 20 minute charge via the outlet pots at a modest 5 amps.
The bike runs fine otherwise, horn, headlights, indicators, brake light ..all work .
Not quick..only about 22kph. but that could be all it will do, or it is because the battery is a bit low

Any info on this bike appreciated

Neil

 

[banbury frank]

Hi Lithium polymer cells are 3.7 volt so 13 cell packs to get 16 AH probably 3 X 5 AH cell joined together so 39 cells Look at The BMS see how many small wires connect

LIFe04 Are 3.2 volts So 16 cells

I would open the pack and charge the individual cells or packs As if odd ones have discharged they wont charge In bank Each Cell If below 2.2 volts may not recover Give each small pack a good Hour Each


Frank

 

[flecc]

I'm sure you'll find they are Lithium compound cathode polymer and not Lithium iron phosphate chemistry (LiFePO4), but forget about the volatile Lipos so common in the RC world etc. E-bike li-polymer ones are BMS protected and use very stable chemistries.

 

[eddieo]

I saw a lady riding the petrol version in Barritz a few days ago......It was gloss black and locked new and very smart

 

[flecc]

I saw a lady riding the petrol version in Barritz a few days ago......It was gloss black and locked new and very smart

Must have been well looked after or refurbished, from memory they were last made in 1986.

 

[eddieo]

what! It looked new.....I only noticed it because it had the petrol tank on front like the starter bikes in velodrome cycle tracks. does the electric version have a tank up front as well?

 

[banbury frank]

Hi Is It one off these Looks Great

Solex | Europe (English)


Frank

 

[eddieo]

Ah...It could well be one of these as it was an upright stepthrough bike.even the e version has tank on front very oddlol

 

[flecc]

what! It looked new.....I only noticed it because it had the petrol tank on front like the starter bikes in velodrome cycle tracks. does the electric version have a tank up front as well?

Yes, the electric version has a mockup of the tank/motor arrangement at the front, to make it look like the original. I think from memory they put the controller in there. They come in two frame styles, one like the original and the other very modern. Here's a photo of the electric one:

 

[eddieo]

That's probably it.....It did look very smart in the flesh. More sleek then one pictured or maybe it was the young women riding it......

 

[NeilP]

It is a bit different to the one pictured
See the " endless sphere Face book group" page I have a picture of it there

Good advice Frank, and I will open the pack up again to count and check the cell count and balance when I can
I did take pack partially apart, but could not get it fully open without some non reversible dismantling . The BMS board seems to be two part, and one part seems to be plastic rivited to the top of the case, you know the sort of thing, melted plastic pins securing it
Ok could have drilled it out , but wanted to see if the bike ran
So I popped it back together, charged with a string of PC POWER supplies to 41 volts, direct via the output plug and not the charge plug

I did try the charge socket on the pack but there was no voltage on the pins, and applying volts to it, it did not take any current

So yes, I can and will strip the pack and balance the cells individually, but for now I posted really to see if anyone did actually have one of these packs and correct charger and could measure the real charger output voltage
I can work it out once open, but stupidly when I last opened it I did not count the number of cells

See pic of bike on ES Facebook
http://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/photo.php?fbid=10150622999216157&id=620131156&__user=620131156