Electric Bikes - Orange "empy" light always on.

Ignorant as I am (a temporary state I hope) about this e-bike stuff, I have another paranoid question.

Ping lifepo4 with golden motor kit. The three throttle lights...Full, Half, and Empty...are all on all the time when the motor and controller is connected, even after a 10 hour charge. Tho I've only charged it twice.

Could this be an indication of a bad cell in the battery pack, just a cheap throttle or does 'empty' mean something else in electric speak?

Got a Watts Up on the way for a bit more enlightenment.

This stuff is scary for an Iowa farm boy but I spent the day running up and down the main drag through town @ 20+ miles an hour with no peddling (I went to school with the local police chief and the mayor is my neighbor).

What a gas!

84173

Thanks for sharing your hard earned knowledge folks.

Measure the open voltage with a simple volt meter. Do the same under load.
These are low cost and work great.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92020

Radio shack also carries something similar but at a higher price.

Post the numbers.
Another indication if you are getting the charge complete light on the charger. If so you are getting the correct voltage at charge.
So something must be wrong with the indicator.

Throttle shouldn't be saying full and empty at the same time - that immediately makes me think the throttle's battery-gauge doesn't work. If you're subject the throttle to higher voltage than it's meant for, that could explain why the battery-gauge is broken.

(throttles are commonly made for 36v lead acid, which are 39 volts at full charge, a 36v lifepo4 is a little higher, and a 48v lifepo4 is a lot higher in voltage.

the voltage meter has cheap resisters inside, i fried the one i got the first day i set it up. better to
remove it just use the watt meter. just in case it shorts out.:)

Thanks for the quick response.
tested with my multimeter with full charge...44v. tested with rear wheel off the ground running wide open...44v.
I have a watts up ordered and should be here in a few days.
Any recommendations on a good throttle with an on/off switch?

500watt, 36v,20a

never seen any on the market with one, not a bad idea. you could allways use a pocket bike kill switch and mount it next to the throttle.

http://www.tsunamibike.com/catalog/item/2387506/1922612.htm

on my next order of parts ill try one see if can handle the amps.

cheers

hmm there are ones out there :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ebike-Throttle-switch-24-volt-for-EVG-Ebikes_W0QQitemZ330278795042QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081015?IMSfp=TL081015165006r36796

The EV Global only works with the EV ebike controller. It is not generic.

ahh sorry i allways diy everything, heres a link with a proper throttle and kill switch.
for the goldenmotor.

http://www.goldenmotor.com/e-Bike-DIY/DIY-ebikekit.htm

cheers

Yeah, that's the throttle I have with all the lights, all the time.

84281
I hate to settle for a different one.
I'm talking with Min to try to get another.

order a higher voltage.


this one in the pic is the model with the bad resisters.

I'm not really clear on what you are asking. However, I have the same throttle and all three lights are on when the throttle is on. Eventually the Full light will go dim when you have run the battery down. Usually by the time it shows half, in my case the battery is almost down to 36V. The gauge is not very accurate. The red on/off button turns the lights on and off, if that is not working on yours then maybe something is wrong with the throttle.

I'm not really clear on what you are asking. However, I have the same throttle and all three lights are on when the throttle is on. Eventually the Full light will go dim when you have run the battery down. Usually by the time it shows half, in my case the battery is almost down to 36V. The gauge is not very accurate. The red on/off button turns the lights on and off, if that is not working on yours then maybe something is wrong with the throttle.
My red button doesn't turn off the lights.
Looks like Karma was right about getting a higher voltage throttle though. I'm not going to worry about it, just a reminder for me to unplug and recharge.

I really wan't asking anything but reassurance that everything was cool with my set-up.

Lots of bucks invested + ignorance = paranoia.

Thanks everbunny...awfully glad you're here.:love: