Troubleshooting common ebike issues.

Battery Balance:  See my instructional video:
Checking Balance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxgUNxrbJ_s
Re-Balancing batteries
http://youtu.be/J2MO0-2RLZE
NO POWER.  *Cycle analyst shows no display
POSSIBLE CAUSES:
1. BATTERY NOT PLUGGED IN
2. BATTERY PLUG / CONNECTION DAMAGED
  UNPLUG RED/BLACK PLUG LOOK AT THE INSIDE OF THE RED/BLACK PLUG TO MAKE SURE THE METAL TABS HAVE NOT PULLED OUT. 
 3. BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED TO UNSAFE LEVELS
  TEST THE BATTERY WITH THE CELL CHECKER, or USE A MULTI-METER TO DETERMINE BATTERY VOLTAGE AT RED/BLACK PLUG.  IF VOLTAGE IS LESS THAN 40V (FOR 44V BATTERY) OR LESS THAN 60V (FOR 66V BATTERY CONTACT VESSEL BIKES. DO NOT CHARGE!!!
4. SWITCH DAMAGED ON CONTROLLER.
  IF THE BATTERY HAS CHARGE, AND IS PROPERLY CONNECTED, THE ON/OFF SWITCH ON THE CONTROLLER MAY BE AT FAULT.  REMOVING THE 4 SCREWS HOLDING THE SWITCH PLATE WILL GIVE ACCESS TO THE SWITCH.  TEST/REPLACE IF NECESSARY.

CYCLE ANALYST SHOWS POWER BUT THROTTLE / MOTOR DOES NOTHING
1. Check that the e-brake lever is not damaged or engaged.   If engaged, this will keep the throttle / motor from operating.
2.  Check the connection between the motor and the controller.  This is a 3 wire square plug and a 5 wire rectangular plug.  You may have to clip a few zip ties to access this plug.   Dis-connect both plugs and inspect the pins for damage or pulled out pins.  Re-connect and re-test.  
3.  Throttle may have become dis-connected or damaged.  The throttle connector is the 3 pin connector usually with red, black and green wires.   With a multi-meter you can test the pins for voltage:  Black to red approx 5V.  Black to green should vary from 1-5V with throttle engagement.  The throttles are reliable, and rarely cause issues unless damaged.
4. Cycle analyst may cause the system to not operate for some reason.  You can temporarily dis-connect the cycle analyst connector from the controller and the system should work if this is the problem.  *DO NOT OPERATE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS THIS WAY< THE BATTERIES WILL NOT BE PROTECTED FROM LOW VOLTAGE.

MOTOR ERRATIC / JERKY OPERATION
1.  CYCLE ANALYST SETTINGS MAY HAVE BEEN CHANGED CAUSING UN-INTENDED RESULTS.
2.  MOTOR HALL SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.
  -CONTACT VESSEL BIKES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TESTING FOR THIS CONDITION.
3.  E-BRAKE MAY BE CAUSING THIS ISSUE IF ACCIDENTALLY BEING PRESSED.

 FAQ's

• Q. Does pedaling re-charge the battery?
  A. Not really.  Pedaling turns the rear wheel just like any bicycle.  Braking, however does re-charge the battery, so yes, you could charge while pedaling by depressing the brake.  This would make pedaling difficult, however. 
  
  Q.  How fast, how far and how long to charge?
  A. 30-40mph can be achieved on flat land.   With no pedaling batteries can get you 15-30 miles; although hills and hard acceleration decrease this.  1hr charge is standard, but larger batteries take larger chargers to achieve this.
  
  Q. How does it re-charge?
  A. Using a charger specifically designed for Lithium batteries, you simply plug the charger into the wall outlet and the battery pack. 
  
  Q. Do I need to drain the battery before re-charging?
  A. No.  Actually it is best to not drain the battery each time.  You will increase the life of your batteries by keeping them topped off.
  
  Q. Do I need to do anything special for storage?
  A. Yes!  If not riding the bike for weeks/months at a time, these steps are recommended:
  1.  Store the battery at a median voltage instead of fully charged.  For 44V batteries, 46V is a good storage voltage.  For 66V batteries, 70V is a good storage voltage.  This will increase the lifespan of your battery.
  2.  Dis-connect the battery from the charger and from the controller.  Nothing should be plugged into the battery for long term storage as a safety precaution.  
  
  Q. How long do the batteries last?  
  A. LiPo batteries can last 3-500 charge cycles; or typically 3-4 years before you notice much decrease in range.  At this point they may get 12 miles instead of 15 or 23 instead of 30.  Over dis-charging, over charging or poor balance can decrease the life.
  
  Q. How long do I have to wait for my custom build? 
  A.  Contact Vessel Bikes.  Depending on backlog, typical wait is 1-3 months.  Products in stock can be ready as soon as 1-2 weeks.
  
  
  


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