Author Topic: Batteries instantly discharge  (Read 4474 times)

Offline Adventureross

  • Confirmed
  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Batteries instantly discharge
« on: May 04, 2016, 09:19:39 AM »
I have several smp4s with 36v10ah bottle batteries as part of a hire fleet in Samoa.  The batteries show as fully charged and will spin the wheel on a stand.  But they instantly cut out under load.  On the charger the batteries blink between green and red. 

Help appreciated. 

Ross

Offline Bikemad

  • Global Moderator
  • Professor
  • PhD. Magic
  • ******
  • Posts: 5,497
Re: Batteries instantly discharge
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2016, 01:30:38 PM »
Hi Ross andto the forum.

Were the batteries purchased from GoldenMotor or were they purchased from another seller?
I'm just asking as a non GM battery may not be able to supply the required current output for the Smart Pie.

You can try the following to see if it helps:
  • If the battery charger has a selectable input voltage setting (120V or 240V) make sure it is set correctly for your country.
  • Make sure that the controller's voltage setting is correctly set to 36V.
  • Leave the batteries on charge overnight to allow the cells to balance properly (battery charger indicator should remain steady on green when fully charged and balanced).
  • Measure the battery voltage at the end of the charge and see how it compares to the voltage stated on the charger.
If none of the above helps, try gradually lowering the maximum current setting until it prevents the cutting out.

Alan
 
« Last Edit: July 04, 2017, 09:44:59 PM by Bikemad »

Offline Adventureross

  • Confirmed
  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Re: Batteries instantly discharge
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2016, 09:38:07 PM »
Alan
Batteries, chargers and motors purchased together from Golden Motor.  Worked fine when new last year.  Battery seems to trip out and around 160watts . 
Will leave on charge overnight and retest.  No adjustments on charger. 

Will check output voltages again but remember both being the same and in line with recommendations on other posts.

Thanks

Ross

Offline Bikemad

  • Global Moderator
  • Professor
  • PhD. Magic
  • ******
  • Posts: 5,497
Re: Batteries instantly discharge
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2016, 10:08:28 AM »
How old are the batteries and how many normal charge/discharge cycles have they had so far?

Have they been unused for a long period of time? If so, would they have been charged occasionally during storage?

As you have been able to measure the wattage, are you also able to see the battery voltage just before it cuts out as well?

Alternatively, if you are reading the wattage from the BAC-601 Smart Display, do the five bars in the battery capacity gauge disappear completely just before it cuts out?



Do you have to turn the battery off and on again to make it work again or does it reset itself automatically?

I don't know if the bottle batteries use the same connection for charging and power output or whether it might be possible to test the battery voltage at the charging port during use to see how much it drops under load.

It will be interesting to see if the overnight charge has had any effect on "blinking between green and red", and also the cutting out.  ;)

Alan
 
« Last Edit: July 02, 2017, 04:28:51 PM by Bikemad »