Electric Bikes - I got my new LiFePo4 battery! how do i connect it to e-bike?

OK, its seems simple enough to connect it, but i wana make sure before i do it. this is the battery.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1398.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1401.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1403.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1404.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1405.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1406.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1407.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1408.jpg

any help?

That looks like pingbattery's product from ebay. I have the same battery.

Lessee if I can recap how mine is set up from memory. Don't take any of this on faith. Work it out for yourself before doing anything.

I had a number of things to figure out.
- how to protect the battery from getting bounced around and from wind/rain
- how to switch between power and charging...I didn't want to have the charger in the loop if the power to the controller from the battery was on.
- how to turn the battery off completely when I wanted to
- how to fuse it
- how to make solid connections that I could unhook occasionally when necessary

For protection, I used a plastic toolbox with a rounded lid. I found on this forum one guy's explanation of using a lucite plastic box he made from scratch but didn't want to go that route. My plastic toolbox is pretty sturdy. The battery fits inside fairly well, then I braced it with styrofoam on the sides so it can't slide. Low-tech but works. I can also easily strap the battery/tool box on my rear recumbent rack.

For connections, I use Anderson Power Poles. Nothing else works as well or is as easy to do.

For a fuse, I use a standard 30A fuse. My positive off the battery connects directly to it, first thing in the circuit.

I wanted to switch out the charger from the power circuit and also be able to turn off the battery. Rather than using two switches, I used one, a single pole, double throw switch. The simplest explanation is that if I throw the switch to one side, the charger female port is connected to the battery ready to charge. If I throw the switch to the other side, the battery is connected to the controller and the motor is ready to go. That way the battery is either supplying power or it's ready to receive a charge.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2733722957_c5631d2336.jpg?v=0

Hopefully that link shows the image. I've got the female charger port mounted on the back of my battery box next to the DTSP switch. The female charger port has got charging negative wire on it from the battery (on the correct post obviously to mate with the male charger negative), and the other pole has a positive wire going to the charger side of the switch.

The middle pole of the switch is going to the battery + fuse. The third leg of the switch goes to the motor/controller. So, switch to one side, the positive leg is connected to the charger port. Switch to the other side, positive leg is going to motor/controller. If the switch is on the charger leg, and there's no charger plugged in, then that disconnects the battery from motor anyway, so it functions like an on/off switch.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2733731821_b746026532.jpg?v=0

Hope that helps. Your mileage may vary.

looks good keep a eye on the charger, mine just burned out.

Karma, take a look at this and let me know if you get any ideas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT-MMBeUlCw

that would work, im using at the moment two chargers in series a 36v and a 12v to charge my pack till i order another one. :)

can you give me links to the parts you used? and how long did it take you to do all this? and how much did it cost to do this?

sorry for double post, but i think i know how i want to connect everything. I want the battery to have a 3 hole XLR female port, and the charger and connection from the bike to both have 3 prong XLR male adapters. what do you all think about these here products?


http://www.fullcompass.com/product/247766.html ------male & female for battery and male for bike +

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-35-ft-10-gauge-automotive-hookup-wireblack--pi-2062650.html ---10AWG wire +

http://www.ronshomeandhardware.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=598984&click=1014 ----ring terminal to connect to the motor


do you think all of this is a wise decision? I don't see why this wouldn't work. and i want the 3 pin connectors because that makes it more universal.

can anyone comment on the hardware i have selected?

So the ping battery doesn't come with any connections? Just 3 wires and then that 3 prong connector on the charger?

So the ping battery doesn't come with any connections? Just 3 wires and then that 3 prong connector on the charger?

When you say "connection" you mean.. like.. a plug or adapter at the end of it? IMO it shouldn't come with any plug because there are so many different applications for these batteries, it is more than likely the connector they use may need to be cut off anyway.

When you say "connection" you mean.. like.. a plug or adapter at the end of it? IMO it shouldn't come with any plug because there are so many different applications for these batteries, it is more than likely the connector they use may need to be cut off anyway.

It would be odd for it to come with a motor plug, but if it comes with a charger, the charger&battery should have compatible plugs.

how would i put a fuse on this? is there a certain type i am supposed to use? and what one should i use?

^ Good question. What's a good thumb rule for amperage? I just ordered my ping battery today!

i use a 40amp never pops under load to leave you pedaling home. but if theres a short it pops.

car audio fuses work good.

please refer to this thread as well, since i need a lot of help here

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=454265

i know how to do it now. its just been a pain in the butt finding the connectors i need. but know i know everything i need to do it. thanks anyway =)

Just FYI...

I just realized looking at this pic below... your charger ALREADY comes with BOTH female and male plugs attached. Go to your charger and pull the end off, thats the end that gets soldered to your battery. So.... ping does AFTERALL provide the compatible male/female plugs, its just in one piece that looks deceiving.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m265/fungusboy/CIMG1406.jpg

indeed. found this out a while ago. i just ordered a new set of these to connect to the bike.

I have been using Anderson powerpoles- but they don't hold together. When I plug them together there is no "snap" or resistance to them coming apart. Is this anyone elses experience with these connectors?

Wow, I forgot I posted here last year.
The Anderson's are supposed to snap. You have to redo the connection until it does. You have to push pretty hard when you put the crimped wire through the plastic housing the first time. It will make a click when it is right.