Are You an e-Biker? Do You Know Your Way Around the Controller and LCD?

No, but thanks for confirming my fear of e bikes.

I hope a solution will wash ashore.

I suppose you have already checked this,?

https://www.ebay.com/bhp/electric-bike-36v-controller

It is very kind of you to post that link for me, many thanks, but I have literally spent days (soon to be weeks!) just looking for a good/right replacement on ebays, Amazon, TMart, Alibaba, Banggood and the IoT around the world.

The one I have, that I am hoping to replace has actually got 17 connections, some for things that nobody else appears to make or support - sadly! Nice little extras...

The average e-bike electronic unit has between 8 and 12 connections, so the ones easily available do not support some of the really great features of the original unit.

I have actually ordered a replacement that gets close, but does not support the USB charging socket, or the brake light feature, both of which I can at a pinch, do without!

But I will open up my unit and see if I can:-

a) Identify the reason for the short circuit

and possibly:-

b) fix it!

But only possible if I can identify the 6 MOSFETs that drive the 3 phase motor....I cannot read the markings at this time as other components are in the way.....I will keep my fingers crossed!!

There are also quite a few variables that I must also keep my eyes on when searching for a replacement:-

1) Motor voltage, 24, 36 and 48 volts. Mine is 36 volts

2) Brushed motor or unbrushed. Mine is brushless.

3) Maximum allowed current. Mine is 15 amps

4) Motor wattage. Mine is 250 Watts, the only legal motor size in Europe.

5) Motor with Hall effect sensors. Mine has them.

To name but a few!!

I have learned so much more since the problem happened, and in the next 10 days or so, I must remove all the wiring that I do not immediately know what it leads to, to identify what it is and where it goes, as there are no documents available that can identify what two (or more!) identical sockets actually "feed".....guessing would be expensive!!

Generally speaking, the Chinese companies document their electronic parts very, very badly. No schematics either of the PCBs....There is very little of bike electronics that is NOT made in China, at this time!!

Standards exist only partially and do not include color of wiring!!

I tend to "feed on" such problems, as it is always great to learn something new and to document it fully.

With luck I should be able to help others in need by next year!! Hopefully!!

Again, many, many thanks for your friendly interest in helping me, and do have a great weekend.

Found this...

http://www.tradesparq.com/products/1732217/electric-bicycle-conversion-kit-intelligent-electric-bicycle-controller-DMHC-TC488-system-manufacturers

https://lelion74.blogspot.com/2018/04/manual-dmhc-tc488-system-intelligent-electric-bicycle-display-controller.html

https://lelion74.blogspot.com/2018/04/velo-electrique-ebike-richbit-rt-012-plus-specifications.html

These guys sell ebikes with that controller/display TC488

https://richbit.aliexpress.com/store/2787094

Claim to sell this controller

https://detail.en.china.cn/provide/p100959563.html

According to this you can get the entire kit for about $56...but you do need a forwarder in China, but they do advise how...

https://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=14&ved=0ahUKEwj_35-Mr7TMAhUJLMAKHZKtCZE4ChAWCC0wAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ff02.s.alicdn.com%2Fkf%2FHTB191X6FVXXXXbcaXXX.PRXFXXXp.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFlqRvm8VTqD8UFve9FW1O4xw6sxA&sig2=7_HJECEs5VWZedXf0HN4Cg&bvm=bv.120853415,d.ZGg&cad=rja

...and open the pdf , it's a brochure ...

Forwarding service...

https://www.tiptrans.com/

Totally, brilliant, many, many thanks.

Some I had seen, but you gave me some new email addresses to try......that is worth its weight in gold!!

I will let you know how I get on!!

regards

Andy

Well we'll wait to see how it goes.....I think the forwarding service was hanging you up...China has certain rules for mailing overseas...I think it would be a good idea to figure out what went wrong with the one you have now, lest you repeat whatever action caused it to fail...if any....could be random...or maybe it just needs to be opened up and dried out....anyway do keep us updated...

I plan to open it up and do just that. Today is my 72 Birthday, and I simply haven't got around to doing much else!!

I had a quick look, and here are 6 MOSFETs in 3 Darlington pairs, I would hazard a guess that one is shorted....Maybe I will buy "better" MOSFETs and install them if I can get a readable type number off the old ones.....

We will see!!

Thanks again for the great help!

I forget how big a boom that was! Lol thanks

HB AG!

Now i know what to look for in the future.

Although converting an alternator has caught my eye.. se

I understand your dilemma, freight forwarders like Ali Express or Ali baba can make it difficult to get service literature. I found the same issues when looking for China mfg's information. I found more success locating sellers / distributors / service providers networks and contacting them directly, bypassing the intermediary.

I would be a little careful with sites like Richbit. When you open the link it says:

HIGH QUALITY& BEST SELLING S

ERVICE RICHBIT PRLORITY

if they can't spell correctly, how can you be certain they will send you the right part ?

This is one thing I've experienced my whole life. I have never been satisfied with off-the-shelf products. I have always had to customize them for my own use. You never know what kind of environment the product was designed for. In the real world, you need to "weather-proof" it for your own local-weather/personal-environment/use. There's a reason for Dealer-prep fees. To ensure proper quality, it's best to be qualified to be your own "prepper". Whoever you bought from might not be interested in going "above-and-beyond the call of duty". An ounce of prevention is worth a pound cure. Sometimes the warranty is not worth proper prepping. I have voided warranties many times by prepping my purchases properly. I've never regretted it. It's worth the effort. The real problem is, recovering your investment when somebody steals it from you. THAT's never covered by insurance. Good luck.

Minor Update.

I had contact with the seller, it turns out that the reason that I cannot find anything similar, or get hold of an original from the manufacturer, is that the unit has been custom programmed for that bike.

The manufacturer is forbidden to sell them to anyone, only via the manufacturer of the bike. He will sell me a new one for $120!! So he is making a huge profit there.....But at least I can get hold of one.

I have another unit on its way to me, not as sophisticated, but I may just make my own little bit of extra electronics to fill that gap.....or repair the original one!! With a bit of luck!!

Huge profit = 1. Beschwindeln betrugen 2. Ausholen.

PDF f02.S.alicdn.com>HTB191X6FVXXXX

You posted:- "PDF f02.S.alicdn.com>HTB191X6FVXXXX".

Can you be a tiny bit more explicit as to where the pdf was posted,

I was unable to "decode" what you meant! And I am pretty sure you posted it for a good reason!!

I even tried to find the website "www.alicdn.com", but it apparently does not exist!

Many thanks for your help.

Andy

Seems to be batteries...

http://www.sz-worldsales.com/

Not what I was expecting really......

dmhc tc 480 service manual pdf ( Google )

Provider of advanced resolution of electrical vehicle About Us DMHC

TC units 428 - 488

Also see :

Hangzhou Yi Qi shun electronic technology co Ltd

HANGZHOU, China, List of Companies | info - clipper.com > china.cn > hang...

List of Chinese importers - Import - Export ...

xls Societe Generale > fr > import - export > I. .

The list of Companies is especially useful. It will show a list of all of the Companies in Hangzhou.

This will help you trace (locate) who and where your components were manufactured.

I do believe that I have all the infos from your previous posts!!

That is assuming a lot maybe, my apologies if I have misunderstood something....

I am unable to purchase the units in China, as they are ONLY to be supplied to the bike builder, who will sell me one now for $120, over twice the "normal" price. Its a version just for that bike builder....

I have decided to try and repair the original one, or if that does not go well, then I will fit one I recently bought on ebay. Not so many nice extras, but it will get me mobile again...

Many thanks for your really "energetic" assistance, I am truly most grateful. But if you find out anything further that I may not have, please post details.

I do believe that I have corrected the short on the electronics unit, at least the meter thinks its fixed.

But no guarantee as I need to reassemble the unit with heat transfer paste, which has been ordered but not yet arrived!

Wish me luck.

Furthermore, I have received "a" replacement unit from ebay, not quite as good as mine (was!), but far, far cheaper.

Very spotty instructions (none)!

So I have asked for documentation or it goes back to the seller!!

I know all the connections, but it needs setting up for the correct voltage, correct motor power, and the setting up of several things that I have never heard of!!

My post:-

Hello, the unit looks very good, and very complete but I need more information:-

1) How is the unit programmed for 36 volts only as it does either 24 and 36 volts?
2) How is the unit programmed for 250 watt motor? as the unit can power a 250 watt or a 350 watt.
3) How is the Adjustable speed limit poti set, while driving? Not while driving? Some other method?
4) How is the master switch used/programmed, and what does it do?
5) What is the 1:1 power assist and how is it used and set up?
6) How is the "intelligent Identify" used and set up?
7) on the picture you kindly sent, it is impossible to read the definitions for the LCD display button "C", totally unreadable! Not good!

Unless all this info can be supplied by next Saturday 10th November 2018, because I do not trust myself to simply "guess" what to do, as I may damage the unit and lose my guarantee. So I will return the unit after saturday, completely unused, and request my money back, within the 14 day period, that I am allowed to return your unit without saying why!!

It does not help much, but you may be interested to know that I have not found a single supplier of such e-bike equipment on ebay, who actually supplies ALL the needed information to safely and correctly install the electronics for any e-bike.....sad really.

All the infos anyone needs could be on 3x A4 sheets of paper, using both sides, or they could even be downloadable!!

I do believe that the first company who manages to supply full information with such equipment, written in either good German or English, will sell more units than any other company on ebay...

Think about that!!

--------------------------------------------------

I will send it back if my repair works anyway, but he need not know that! YET!!

Comments would be, as always, most welcome!