Is this a normal warning which will come with any electrically assisted bike, or is my bike not fit for purpose leaving me at risk of fires?

 

Yes. It looks like your bike might catch fire when left in the rain.

 

 

On a serious note you might like to take some time and waterproof your bike. Sounds like Eleglide didn't make that effort.

Edited May 9, 20241 yr by Az.

They are covering their backsides in case any thing goes wrong.

I ride my bikes all year round in all weather come rain, mud snow and sun, never yet had major issue .

Simply don't leave your bike out in standing rain or wet condtions , if planningto do so use a bike cover.

They are covering their backsides in case any thing goes wrong.

I ride my bikes all year round in all weather come rain, mud snow and sun, never yet had major issue .

Simply don't leave your bike out in standing rain or wet condtions , if planningto do so use a bike cover.

 

 

Thank you. That is what I was hoping.

 

I have no need to leave it put in rain, am glad I can ride it even if the sun isn't shining.

 

On a serious note you might like to take some time and waterproof your bike. Sounds like Eleglide didn't make that effort.

 

Thanks for the clarification, how do I do this please?

Thanks for the clarification, how do I do this please?

That isn't really necessary. Your bike will be fine. Ride it and enjoy it. Just don't do anything extreme, like leave it out all day in a downpour, especially after riding it. You can save a lot of water problems by wearing a poncho/cape when it rains because it covers the whole bike, not just you, and it can be used as a bike cover if you have to park it in the rain.

 

If you're going to use it for commuting every day, including on winter salty roads, the only thing I'd do is put a gob of silicone grease in any exposed connectors.

Thank you. That is what I was hoping.

 

I have no need to leave it put in rain, am glad I can ride it even if the sun isn't shining.

 

There is only one thing I would check on your bike, and that is the motor cable that exits the rear hub motor. Make sure the axle slot/cable exit is on the underside and the motor cable does exit out from the underside and forms a small drip loop .

 

Often we see with cheaper catalogue type bikes that the motor is fitted incorrectly and the cable enters directly from above , this allows any mositure/rain to run down the cable which then tracks into the motor.

This then causes rusting and motor seizure issues.

 

If this is the case the fix is an easy one and simply needs the axles nuts undoing to drop the wheel out and then rotating it by 180 degrees before refitting.

I wonder how many of these fires are down to sub standard replacement parts or the I’ll informed using higher capacity chargers to get a speedier charge time and cooking the battery in the process.

i always remove the battery to charge it in the garden in a vented steel box lined with 6mm superlux so if a fire starts it doesn’t burn my shed down.

i always remove the battery to charge it in the garden in a vented steel box lined with 6mm superlux so if a fire starts it doesn’t burn my shed down.

 

Sounds like a good idea. What temperature can 6mm Supalux withstand for 30 minutes?

Sounds like a good idea. What temperature can 6mm Supalux withstand for 30 minutes?

 

2000°C

i always remove the battery to charge it in the garden in a vented steel box lined with 6mm superlux so if a fire starts it doesn’t burn my shed down.

2000°C

 

If the shed isn't steel... would flammable lithium fire fumes igniting as jets of extremely hot flame... as seen in a Youtube video near you, set fires to other things, burning down the shed?

If the shed isn't steel... would flammable lithium fire fumes igniting as jets of extremely hot flame... as seen in a Youtube video near you, set fires to other things, burning down the shed?

 

Quite likely, but who cares? I need a bigger shed anyway

 

IMO when storing battery in the shed it is more important to protect battery from moisture than shed from fire.

I wonder how many of these fires are down to sub standard replacement parts or the I’ll informed using higher capacity chargers to get a speedier charge time and cooking the battery in the process.

i always remove the battery to charge it in the garden in a vented steel box lined with 6mm superlux so if a fire starts it doesn’t burn my shed down.

 

One would say most are down to inappropriate/poor charging practices , using an incorrect charger voltage and also charge current to high and fast. Some batteries may almost immediately short and go hot others some time later when high current draw is used .

What not to do when your battery is "overheated"

 

 

Action starts around 9min

https://endless-sphere.com/sphere/threads/dogman-dans-e-bike-burns-his-house.87975/

The hidden explosives in all our tech – especially ‘green’ e-bikes

 

“The first thing that’s emitted is like a high pressure steam,” explains Ellis. “It looks like steam but is actually a highly toxic, flammable, explosive gas cloud.”

 

The seemingly innocuous nature of the malfunction often prompts people to move closer,” says Ellis – which can be a deadly mistake.

 

“Because it looks like steam, people think ‘Oh, what’s that?’ and go over to investigate,” says Ellis. “And then before you know it, you’ve got that chemical reaction, the thermal runaway, the explosion.”

 

“Going from maybe noticing a slight hissing sound, or noticing white vapour, to having your whole front room compromised can be as little as 15 seconds,” says Ellis."

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/music/the-hidden-explosives-in-all-our-tech-%E2%80%93-especially-green-e-bikes/ar-AA1eEa1j

Edited July 28, 20241 yr by lenny

Saw the news this morning a house destroyed in Doncaster due to e bike battery charging.

I'm very sorry for the people who's lives are destroyed in this way, but the news item came across as all batteries are bombs and we will all be killed.

Just need a slow news period when Olympics are done, and Andrew has a night in and we could get the full media feeding frenzy demanding e bikes are banned from all buildings and roads.

It's very annoying. This may be unjust and unfair, but I tend to think many of these fires are the result of very unsound bikes or unsound behaviour. I tend to think the people who have these very bad results are the kind I snapped on Friday on my dashcam. He was riding at speed along a pedestrian/cycle path shown below. Maybe I am being unfair..

 

Someone I know saw these two earlier weaving in and out of traffic like maniacs in another part of the city.

It's very annoying. This may be unjust and unfair, but I tend to think many of these fires are the result of very unsound bikes or unsound behaviour. I tend to think the people who have these very bad results are the kind I snapped on Friday on my dashcam. He was riding at speed along a pedestrian/cycle path shown below. Maybe I am being unfair..

 

Someone I know saw these two earlier weaving in and out of traffic like maniacs in another part of the city.[ATTACH type=full" alt="1722246554707.png]59060[/ATTACH]

It is very annoying but I think the media have to shoulder the majority of the blame, we can't be sure what the real problem was could be a badly made battery or charger, may be a reputable make which has developed a fault and we need to be vigilant, or could be a battery being charged with the wrong charger.

We are not given a clue, but how long before insurance companies stop paying out on fire damage if you own an ebike?

the news item came across as all batteries are bombs and we will all be killed.

 

All except me. My batteries are in the shed

All except me. My batteries are in the shed

OH No

Does this mean all shed dwellers are going to die!!

So many possibilities for battery issues I think stem from the user .

 

Fast charging beyond the BMS and cell type specs.

Reverse charging , seems at time to becoming a trend on here . Simply bad advice followed .

Over current draw useage of batteries not suitable for some power diy builds.

Wrongful charger usage.

Attempting to charge damaged batteries or ones with issues.

 

One can go on and on.

Worst thing is that there were so many fires and not even a single case was properly analyzed and data published to learn from.

Worst thing is that there were so many fires and not even a single case was properly analyzed and data published to learn from.

 

Yes media etc ,etc jump on the band wagon blaming batteries as unsafe , but we never know the cause of such instances.

The unknown is always the procedure /practice leading up to and includung charging.

I suspect as in my #71 that for the diy fires , one of the causes is one that is listed may be a combo of more then one.

The causes of the fires are usually not the batteries but arson (especially when it's a stolen car), faulty components other than the battery, chargers. When it's an ebike, illegal conversions. Just count those with a triangle battery in the frame and a DD motor.

When it's an ebike, illegal conversions. Just count those with a triangle battery in the frame and a DD motor.

 

Yes it is a factor.

And most likely dodgy practices.

Too high current draw for cheap celled batteries on full throttle .

 

See too many of them around here now, not an ounce of human power input.