Merv

Hi Haku, Like your idea using Led's. I should include a fuse in one of the lines though as they can go short circuit, specially when driven hard! Another point worth knowing... The "Pound Shop" sell LED camping lights_ 24 very very bright led's in a circular plastic housing. All you need do is to carefully remove them from the PCB. That's what I call real value for money.

Thanks for all your replies. Most of the journey takes me along busy country lanes and drivers take short cuts to avoid hold ups at peak times. So footpaths are not an option. I can take an alternative route though for part of my journey using a dissused railway line, it's a fantastic nature walk and goes on for miles. The only problems here are four legged... that bark and go berserk... totally out of control as they give chase, snapping at your ankles or running in front of you. But thats another problem. The terrain along the walk way is made up from smaller grade compressed hard core for most of the route, but for some reason a couples of seasons ago several parts of the old track route had areas of larger grade grey road stone spread everwhere! try cycling over that on an electric bike. With the weight of my the bike it would probably shake apart. No I'm not complaining. We are most fortunate to live where we do.

Hi all, After nearly seven weeks of convalescing following my E-bike accident. I'm looking for a left side rear brake handle bar lever and brake light switch. The lever has a chrome rear view mirror & arm assembly attached to it, which also has been completely smashed. The mirrors supporting arm is attached to the brake lever's securing clamp ring by it's threaded end and locking nut. The clamp is an integral part of the lever assembly which has completely severed, and looks beyond repair. So I have also lost my left side rear view. The bike was supplied by C.E direct east_ who sell it under their own name as CE Deluxe. Imported from China. An E_mail to them revealed no help as they don't supply any spares for this model!... or undertake any repairs. It's a shame, quite well made and generally sturdy, and prior to being knocked of it, I replaced the battery pack. As to regaining my battered confidence to actually venture out on it again_I'm still not certain! It's back to the battered old Metro. Cheers everyone.

Hi, Footie. I agree with your comments... the biggest problem with any electric powered form of transport is the power source & power to weight ratio. And the eventual cost of replacing the power pack. No doubt battery technology will steadily improve as time goes on and will only be successful when power delivery and weight can be dramatically improved. You hit the nail on the head when you mention alternative power sources, i.e. Hydrogen power!! it's only a matter of time to overcome the seperating processes in such away that it can be done cheaply to produce the fuel cell. And yes_it will the guy working away in the garden shed so to speak that will do it. IT WILL COME and the power plant will be the humble electric motor, so hang onto your E_bikes folks.

Hi, With ref to rear flashing LED. As with most flashing LED bike lights, they use a dedicated micro chip embeded on the printed circuit card. Much the same as the ones sold in many stores. Basically it's faulty and unrepairable. May be you can improvise using an alternative type... they are quite cheap and also use 2 AAA batteries. If you can't get the original.

Many thanks to you all for your kind messages_Take care.

Hi all, bad news I'm afraid. Had my bike only a few weeks and managed to sort out a few technical issues to get me going...thanks to yourselves. On Tuesday 4th. March a bright sunny morning I was involved in a road traffic accident. I'm on a main road approaching a left side "T" junction, heading towards this giveway junction to my left is a silver car. Cautiously cycling on and in the corner of my eye I notice a bonnet... TO LATE... in what seems like a nano second, I've parted company my bike. While lying in the road and probably more concerned for my bike than myself, I noticed a brite shinning light. Yes thank God, I was still in the land of the living, it was only the front lamp. Soon after the sounds of sirens could be heard, and more lights, these ones being BLUE. Any way my not too serious injuries will heal after time_need to some how occupy myself during the comming weeks until the plaster casts come off. So after taking every sensible precaution to make myself conspicuous to other road users i.e. Hi_Visibility long sleeved yellow jacket. Lights switched on etc. that appologetic phrase will never be forgoten from the drivers lips as she muttered ... "I'm so sorry it as an accident"_"I didn't see you comming" Take care ALL.

Cheers, thanks again flecc. Crude braking method! I suppose you only get what you pay for, it seems quite a sturdy built bike I didn't pay a fortune for it secondhand.

Thanks John, will give it a try.

Thanks Richard, I'll try the Halfords liners for 24" wheels and fit those then. Thanks for your help merv

Hi all, I've had to revert back to my trusty mountain bike temporarily until I can repair a rear puncture in my ebike (CE Deluxe). Due to past experiences with thorns from local hedgerows penetrating bike tyres I purchased tyre slime liners from Halfords for my mountain bike. Now either I've been lucky or they are working well.... had no punctures. I visited my local Halfords store earlier today but they don't stock liners for my tyre size (22x1.75) Talking to their cycle guy suggested cutting up worn out treadless tyres, and use them as liners!! I've noted elsewhere in the forums, liners have been favoured. So where can I obtain liners quickly and can they be fitted without the need to remove the rear wheel? Also this bike has an annoying squeal when applying the rear brake... I need to take a look into this and would appreciate advice on tackling the inspection / dismantle, as it seems likely I would have to remove the wheel.. in which case how do I go about it?_ The bike pulls up onto a stand which shares the same mounting point as the rear wheel spindle and drop arm for the pedal crank. Cheers Merv

Cheers Tony, I thought I could sit back and let the motor do all the work for a change. This morning I managed 3 miles into my journey to work when a familiar repetitive bumping noise comming from the rear alerted me to the fact that the rear tyre was infact deflating fast. Without a puncture kit or the inclenation to tackle this job in near zero temperature, I decided to push the bl---y thing all the way back home. Never mind back to the mountain bike again until I can get another puncture repair kit, as the adhesive has all dryed up _ adding insult to injury. Never mind, I'll pedal to work until the weekend in the sound knowlege that my trustee pedal bike is keeping me so fit, certainly fit enough to push a very heavy e_bike 3 miles back home and uphill at that.

Hi all, I wonder how many others of advancing years are enjoying electric bikes!! I have only had mine a few weeks having purchased it second hand and really enjoying the benefits. I try not to use my car unless the weather is extremely bad, prefering to cycle the journey to work and back _8miles round trip. This I have done for the last few years using my mountain bike and at 62 years of age I must keep using it from time to time to keep in trim. I must say I'm most impressed with help I've received from this site especially flecc. and others who dedicate so much of their time well done.

Cheers Flecc, I'll give it a try when I get chance__ Thanks again for your Help Merv

Hi, I need to insert picture images in reply to a thread, I would appreciate some detailed help to start me off. Pictures saved as jpg.files I'm new to the forum so need to know how to use the message facilities. Many thanks.

Indicators I'll take a pic and send in if any body is interested ___ In my case I am disabled in my right hand and arm so I find it difficult to use good hand signals.

You have the best idea _ charge a lead acid battery and use that to charge / power other devices, only remember to include fuses of course!! from time to time Maplins have 12 volt solar panels intended to trickle charge car batteries and at just under £30.00 I woudn't normally bother, however occasionally they sell them for £9.99 which is a good price for experimenters. I use them to supplement an automatic irrigation and ventilation system i designed in my wifes greenhouse. It's just long sunny days we need!! cheers Merv.

Bike Indicators Hi, I designed my own turn indicators for my push bike, The front and rear lights are spaced out on plastic conduit bars away from the centre line of the cycle. I used flashing front and rear led's but when turning these refer to a steady state while the indicators flash. Drivers generally take notice when approaching from behind, but I've had several who have ignored them!! I still use hand signals as well. The indicator housings are front led lights with the innards removed, and replaced with ultra bright amber led's_ three in each housing. The system uses a micro controller circuit. The front and rear lamps flash alternatively to save power. The whole system is powered by a 3.8 volt NiMh battery pack and lasts for weeks between charges. I have an advantage as a electronics engineer but was an interesting project to install.

NiMh charging Hi, being new to electric bikes and keen to pick up tips I've been looking around the various contributions and topics, having just fitted my new SLA battery packs and put on charge. I was interested to look at batteries as a topic and noticed many experimenting with NiMh types. Fine for those who know and understand their characteristics but dangerous if not charged and monitored correctly. A sensible warning I noticed previously posted as a result of a fire. These batteries should be charge controlled as an individual series combination_ the characteristics being that as they reach their fully charged point (constant current of course) the terminal voltage begins to fall and this is when the charge should be terminated, and reduced to a low trickle charge state. If this situation is overlooked the cells will go into thermal runaway and eventually explode! I'm not familiar with bikes that use these NiMh cell packs, but i would not trust charging methods that don't detect a change in the charging characteristics_ most low voltage chargers either use dedicated micro controller devices and sometimes include thermistors as an added precaution should the charge not terminate. I've designed my own low voltage chargers using a combination of charge level termination, thermal sensing and time out. A bit belt and brases but better safe than sorry. Nothing wrong with experimenting and learning from the results but please be careful. Regards Merv

Hi every one, just ordered a replacement set of SLA batteries (12v_12AH) Most suppliiers I found, including trade costed out at arround £35.00_£38.00 + vat. I contacted MDS Battery Ltd. £25.00 inc vat + just under a fiver delivery for the three. Supplied within three days. I call that exceptional value for money. Worth taking note of.

Many thanks Ian. Merv

Yes thanks, I've had a look, the one I have is black and silver (The front basket has been removed) _ not street cred is it, otherwise not a bad looking bike with a 180 watt motor. I notice bikes with motors over 200w advertised has the legal limit moved up a notch! _ Thanks for taking the trouble to assist. Kind Regards Merv

Many thanks for your info, I have since opened the battery pack and you are correct_3x batteries in series, so I'll seek replacements. While free wheeling down hill, does the motor still have speed restriction control? as these two meters go into the red, or does the motor act as a generator!! kind regards. Merv

Hi everyone, I'm not new to cycling but new to electric bikes having just purchased a secondhand CE_Deluxe Model. It has been stored unused for sometime and I fear the battery pack may have deteriorated, a full charge only powers me approx 2_3 miles! I need to know what type of battery pack this is? together with the motor Wattage rating, also if anybody can e_mail possible service information/maintenance details etc. The handle bar cowling has three half moon dials, two set aside each other have green/amber/red lighted segments. They both display the same information, and together either show amber or red on increasing motor load, but also show similar on a declining run. (Is the motor trying to hold the bike back?) and why two dials. The third dial set in a centre position under the other two obviously shows remaining battery power. As an electronics engineer I would be keen to have a circuit diagram also, should I encounter problems in the future. I did request help from the distributors CE_DIRECT_EAST but they were unable to oblige. No other details on the bike, but appears to be well built. Sorry for a lengthy note, but keen to go electric. Cheers Merv.