You're absolutely right with your initial comments, it's great content like this that's building you trust and a loyal following. FWIW, I recently purchased a Vruzend kit and a bunch of other items from your online store because of your contribution to the ebike community and your dedication to quality content. My first ebike build went very smoothly, thanks to all the info I learned from your videos and your book. Thanks!
Knowing that all the content on this channel is top notch and honest is what we like. I think several people would be willing to support the channel with donations as you provide great info to the ebike community.
I make up the story you have no problem being factual rather than coerced. It's easy to fall victim to a false sense of self (ego) but I bet you would do a fantastic job reviewing the various products and bikes offered you. You also carry a sense of kindness and that would benefit viewers seeking reliable and solid products. Thank you.
As someone who just built an ebike, I really appreciate good unbias reviews like this! Also, I strongly support having well-made ads in youtube videos! The only reason that people generally hate ads is that they are frequently done poorly (just keep each ad original and there is no issue ... meaning please don't just re-use them)
You're correct. I come here for great technical knowledge just like you provided in this video. The nickel test, the explanation of the terminal thickness on the power wires... I will use that for sure. Micah is my only ebike subscription on youtube (i'm a 2wd m365 builder)
I would have taken the weight of the cell into account if I found that they used nickle coated Steele. 18650 should be 18 mm x65 mm and have a weight of between 41 and 45 grams obviously the heavier the cell the more the capacity. also if you had pealed a cell cap you could have checked for a protection circuit and venting in the top of the battery. This is another strong indicator as to the quality of the battery and lastly hook the battery up and check its discharge rate. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I have learned so much by watching your videos. You have brought so much useful information and done so much for us guys that hack around at home. Have a great day and please keep making lots of videos. As far as the length of the video goes the longer the more information.
Thanks! As someone intending to build a custom battery housing (and then have someone better informed solder and wrap the cells) this was very useful. One note: you say the cells are going to get really hot when discharging at the highest rate. However, the 2C reading is rated for -20C...0C. If we're like -10C, overheating is not going to be the first and foremost problem unless you really somehow manage to keep the max load on on continuous basis. On subzero temps it's usually different things than overheating that dominate the risks.
I really appreciate your honest and comprehensive reviews, not like some others who only look at the most obvious your nickel test , awesome and simple.
Thank you for this VERY enlightening examination of a bike battery. My E-CELLS Super MonarchCrown 2 wheel drive E-MTB has two SAMSUNG batteries, 17Ah front and 14.5 Ah rear (under the rear rack) Dave Cleveland, the designer/owner of E-CELLS did a very good job of sourcing high quality parts for a great price ($5,100.) Chinese motors, Japanese gearing, Korean batteries, Thai Vee tires, Taiwanese aluminum frame, American rear shock, etc.
Content like this is why I subbed ages ago, and why I bought your books on battery building and ebikes. Practical information delivered in a concise, easy-to-digest format.
Amazing video! Great to see you reviewing this with great care and honesty... Would love to see a little experiment if you fancy that: what happens with your thermal camera when you pull 30 amps from this battery; how much better does it get if you replace the discharge bits of nickel plated steel with pure nickel...
Hi Micah, as usual excellent and very informative video, thanks! The only thing I miss is that the cells are SUPPOSED to be 2500mAh from the technical sheet but this should be checked to really know if this is a good quality battery. It would have been nice if you had been able to charge/discharge 1 cell and see if we are close to theoretical specs (or not...)
Great video. I’m a NZ physics teacher and am happy to share your video because it is accurate, paced well and with great visual reference. Top marks, and many thanks, nga mihi nui!
again you blow my mind with the how easy you make it all look. it's actually quite encouragingso old high school dropout like me becoming quite the electrical engineer thanks to your UA-cam channel. if I had copies of your books the future would be Limitless.
The electrical resistance of Nickel is about 70% of that of Iron, so the difference isn't very big. There are plenty of cross sections between cells in series, so it wouldn't be a problem at all. You could have actually measured the width and the thickness of the strips and do some calculations instead of using words like 'I guess' and 'probably'. The point that worries me is the (dual layer) strips of the first and last row. Furthermore, you didn't measure the capacity of the cells. You went for the datasheet. If there is one thing you cannot trust it's the specs of Chinese cells. They are sold to up to 9999 mAh which is nearly 3 times of what is even possible at the moment. Most of them perform way below their (fake) specs.
Those are really only the UltraFire cells. If you get branded cells that weigh the right amount, you can be confident they have decent capacity. Internal resistance on the other hand...
this is why i subbed this channel. useful information, unbiased opinions, hands on examples of how to understand what, and why. you never fail to deliver on the goods.
I'm so glad I'm watching this video again. I have a couple cells that are not fully charging. When I took the battery out of the sleeve (I have a ancheer step through, no longer available on Amazon ☹️) they hot glued the wires and hot glued it to stay in the sleeve. It was a fight getting it out! I removed it very carefully without pinching any wires. Just waiting for my money to come in so I can order a couple parts. Spot welder and heat shrink wrap that you recommend in one of your videos.
I heard your book is the best thing to read for anyone wanting to build their own electric bike I'm here for this wonderful knowledge thank you for all the help man
A longer video is still good, if it's all actual content. Good work. You're creating a channel with quality information that I think I'll be able to trust.
Thanks for doing the breakdown on the battery, I learned a lot! I had wondered how there could be such great differences in battery costs from different vendors and manufacturers.
Thanks for taking care with clear and intelligent explanations. I appreciate your attention to detail and you clearly value good quality design. I look forward to learning more from your videos and articles. Thanks again!
There's another way to find out how good your battery is, without taking a hacksaw and dremmel to it, use a larger controller and motor for the battery and see how the BMS manages it
At about 6.25, remember that the max current is quickly derated based on the temperature INSIDE the CELL...not the temperature in the case or general environment. So in most cases if one tries to take it up to the max current without derating for the cell's internal temperature one would quickly have a possible explosion, fire, and/or other catastrophic cell failure.
Great job, you just made a very informative and important job checking that battery. I've checked my myself many batteries and what I found in some cases was very small BMS'S with small heat sinks. And all bad. I think that if BMS'S are too small they won't last to long.
Very good video. I do not mind longer videos with great content. Thank you for making this video. I’ve been contemplating on converting my existing bike to electric, and your videos have been a great help.
Your analyses are at such a higher level than I've yet to see regarding these batteries. I think I purchased a quality ebike (2019 Cannondale Synapse Neo with a Bosch system) but I'm sure the technology is so much better 2 years later! Thanks for putting your knowledge out there..
Thats all good but you still need to buy it first and probably void warranty opening it up so you carnt send it back if you have voided the warranty by opening it.
That's an excellent review! You examined every important points including common CONS that cheap battery have. Btw, sometime when a parallel group have the main positive or negative wire soldered to one end of a parallel group, there chance that the opposite polarity have a serie link to the other end, which conpensate for current balance.. but in that design where serie parallel connections are in majority in "W" there is les chances. Also i would have been curious to see if teh ON/Off switch is connected to the BMS SW1 input.. usually located close to the external temp sensor connections... in fact BMS with switch input and temp sensor are usually input that are connected in serie.. and when there is no external switch used, the connections on teh PCBare simply jumped together to close the loop and enable the BMS FETS.
I learned so much about cycle battery design and technology from this video. Excellently produced with superb audio, lighting, focus and video-photography. Many thanks.
Very interesting. I have a Bosch mid drive system...I bought it in 2014 in Europe....I still run the original battery...I remember reading about a fire in NY city where a person was charging multiple batteries and they caught fire....I have a simple rule of thumb....I never leave my battery charging when I am not present....
Im thrilled to see that they have some balance leads in there. Being an RC car guy just getting into big scooters i was unsure if the manufactures would cheap and and just do a fast charge everytime with no balance leads.
I'd run an electrical test first. Could save a lot of my time. At the end of the video you still don't know if the battery pack can in fact deliver the advertised Ah. In addition to the visual inspection, I'd have to use a battery tester before concluding it could be a quality battery. A "constant current" battery tester for up to 200V and upto 180W total dissipation is available for less than US$40 and can rapidly give you pretty good insight into the Ah the battery can deliver in reality...not just as claimed by the seller. I'd run the electrical test first. It's a fast, easy and definitive way to tell if the battery is even capable of delivering anything near its claimed specs. It may take 3 or 4 charge/discharge cycles. Only then, if it passes that testing would I worry about taking it apart for visual examination of build and component quality. Running the electrical test first could save a LOT of my time if the battery is low quality, and it generally should be safer, too. BATTERY PACK PERFORMANCE ISSUES: There are batteries out there that use counterfeit lithium cells, or even intentionally low-quality cells, so even if they are marked like they came from one of the known high-quality manufactures (Samsung, Panasonic, etc ####mAh rated cells) the cells themselves may in fact not be from that company nor provide the claimed mAh rating. Even the battery pack manufacturers may unintentionally get counterfeit cells once in awhile which can cause major underperformance. These are common issues for example in USB powerbanks. Example: one powerbank brand CLAIMS 10,000Ah capacity while using what turn out to really be 800mAh cells in a 6p1s 18650 configuration...which could at MOST rightly claim 6x800mAh=4800mAh (yet they are LABELED as 1800mAh NCR/Sanyo/Panasonic cells which they clearly are not)The same issues exists in many battery packs for many different uses (including e-bike packs) available on eBay and Amazon.
@@hchalmoepas6544 I can't recommend any specific ones, but there are some custom battery pack assemblers that have very good reviews on ebay. There are a number of individuals and companies you can find recommended in electricbike.com/forum You can find some sources recommended by DIYers that can provide just what you're asking for. The generally provide good battery packs because of the feedback on the forum. I've found the group very helpful and knowledgeable.
Yep exactly I seen so many falsely advertised and using junk, or fake cells. I finally got one that was as advertised and using LG IMR 18650 cells 2850mAH and tested on discharge pretty close, or slightly above, so definitely genuine and was cheaper then this pack in this video. I was actually surprised as was expecting Chinese FST cells, or one of the 3 common Chinese cells they use. A few packs even have had where BMS was miswired on discharge side and literally could drain battery down to zero as they bypassed the low voltage cutoff on the BMS? Don’t get me started on those packs claiming to have Panasonic cells using Sanyo and not the GA cells, so technically not Panasonic, or not even using neither and lying completely and charging $400 plus for the pack. I guess they figured out most won’t open the pack?
Your videos are very informative. I was hoping to see part 3 of the e-motorcycle build but I guess that is in the future. Keep up the good work. By the way. Motorcycle screws especially those connected to the engine are impact screws and you need to use a impact screwdriver to get them off without stripping the heads. In expensive tool but essential for motorcycle work.
You do seem quite knowledgeable , I like your style Also happy that you do not usually use factory or other providers to do the free advertizing ,that usually is redundant Thanks and keep up the good work
Thanks, really enjoyed your informative video. I've recently purchased an Emove 30A e bike and I believe they use LG batteries. Hope they are a quality build.
I find all of this stuff SUPER fascinating, I always try avoid batteries because I thought they were too easy to mess up but this seems almost straight forward. Maybe I will make an ebike
Great video, lots of insight. Just saying if you want to do an ad at the end of your video and you are clear what is content and what is an ad I have no problem with that. Obviously this is your channel and you do what you think is best.
I really enjoyed this video! 👍😁 I’m just getting started with ebikes and am burning up the “airwaves” so to speak in educating my self. I have a nice class II ebike that was fairly inexpensive. I use it as a commuter bike to go back and forth to work. It’s called a VIVI
Thanks for the informative video. I am a bicycle tech just starting with ebikes. I picked up a defunct ebike at a garage sale, and It seems that the battery is bad, so I am looking at inexpensive replacement or refurbish options. Your video has given me some vital information to use when selecting a replacement.
Fair and balanced, thanks! I trust your expertise so much I bought the Verund battery kit and some good 'top five' cells. Can't wait to learn hands-on!
Very informative. I wish you repaired Ebike batteries, having a hard time finding someone I can trust to send my battery off to. There has to be a trustworthy battery repair business somewhere, so far nothing but negative reviews on any place I can find.
I seem to remember there were some battery pack builders and repairers that got quite good reviews on website: electric-skateboard.builders/ Hope my memory is good enough to help you with this. It was quite a while ago when I read the reviews.
You mean Court's fawning over everything was not heartfelt and sincere? I thought that EVERY ebike was just WONDERFUL! after hearing him. Now you tell me he was paid. Crushed. I am crushed.
Ok, I'm subscribed! I'm beginning my research with the intention of building an electric motorcycle. I know virtually nothing yet, but I was impressed with your presentation, and will be looking at more of your videos, and considering reading your books. Thanks for the quality presentation
I think these days it's more than okay for creators to do sponsored videos as long as they don't compromise on their own integrity - Just be honest if they are legit they will respect it and improve where needed.
very good. cheers. manufactuerer quality batteries are expensive and we all are thinking cheaper batteries are fine. your inspection and conclusion throws this out of the window. good work.
For the price, it sounds to me like it's a pretty good pack. Sure, high quality Samsung cells would be nice, higher quality nickel strips, etc, but then it would be a high quality, high priced battery. The fact that the performance isn't going to be amazing, but it's safe and decently constructed sounds like an understandable, and reasonable compromise for the low price.
Hi James here from SC. This is a great website, very informative helpful and complete. I have an e-bike, three wheel. I turned it into e-bike, my first attempt. The company I bought from is gone, my battery is dead, so I learned an important lesson. I can't find a battery replacement so I'm going to build myself. That's how I found you. I'm going to build one no weld with one of your kits. It's 36 v, but I'm going to add more batteries for more distance and you have all the info and materials I'll need. I'll be looking up where to get the kit. I'm so happy I found you!!
Is there a E-bike battery brand you recommend, one that meets all items on your wish list? I've purchased two different brands, one leaked (failed) and the other doesn't seem to work as advertised (drains rather quickly). Just curious since they are not cheap.
Convert to using a outdoor power equipment battery platform depending on your voltage and Ah setup. Lack of consistent quality control and “buyer beware “ should be the exception for batteries used for transportation, not the norm. Ego 56 volt is perfect platform for 48 to 52 volt controller and motor. 3 year warranty. And thermal management done right. How did this standard black plastic brick with cells jammed in there with no airflow become the ebike norm?
This may sound like a dumb question to you guys, but just something that has been at the back of my mind.. Pros/Cons or no difference at all in how to configure 7S3P ? Better to parallel first and then series up the parallels? or Do 3 independent series, and then parallel them after? Only difference I could think of is being able to balance charge if you parallel the batteries first, then series them? or am I being an idiot here?
One other thing that I would like to mention: the battery casing is black, which will undoubtedly heat up in the sun, and build up heat inside the battery which is definitely not good for the cells. Especially since there isn't any temperature probe inside. Why do bike accessories manufacturers insist on making them black is beyond me? Black water bottles, black seats, black handles, etc. All of these become very hot in direct sunlight in the summer!
Thanks for doing this. Your one of the last true reviews out there. EBR was so good in the early years. Well everyone has to make their money, they “give in to step in” and capitalize on the interest generated. The public is a fickle beast. Leverage your pull while you have it. We all have bills to pay. Till then yippy hi yo hi yay! You know Bafang has a new hub 750w I read it’s great maybe do a vid on that? Can’t trust the others. I must say though looks good and much needed. Hats off to Bafang. Want one for my 2018 RadMini that currently has blasé quasi’ sudo 750w fart. I don’t blame Rad Power good people there selling weight to power=distance> quality for right money. Still 80n torque!? Etc not! Why not offer “true” more 4 deal i.e. upgrade RPBpage that “let’s us eat more cake”. !’d pay for it.
thank you so much, alot of ebike batterys on the cheap side are built so bad they basically are bombs, good idea to make sure you know what your getting
@@StigBSivertsen Ah. First second third doesn't matter. It depends on what you want the bike to do. The battery decision comes after you have sorted what motor you need. And the motor selection depends on the type of riding you do. Look at previous videos on this channel and he tells you all of this.
Very educational video , I learned so much. Just minutes before watching this information I was looking for a second battery for my e-bike. This helped me make up my mind.. Thank you David Hankins Ozark Mo.
This is an educational video. I’ve always wanted to know how these battery are made. I have used AA rechargeable batteries by Sanyo on a shaver and toothbrush for about 10 years.....Never been replaced, they continue to recharge every time. The lasting time has not diminished. I use them until the appliance quits, then I recharge them overnight and reinstall them for another cycle of use. I’ve always surmised that the bikes would use something other than a bunch os AA cells.Are Tesla auto batteries also made up of AA cells? Good job
Man, this video was well over 25 minutes in the first cut. Even after hacking it down it's still a beast. I hope you guys don't mind the long ones!
What is the highest watt motor and battery that I can buy and still be a moped in Pennsylvania.
There's some good videos over an hour and no worries at all.
It takes time to explain everything shortly. 👍
It's OK by me! sometimes I watch them twice and take notes. Great info!
Not at all... great video!!! Thanks
It has the necessary time to know how to inspect a battery!
Can you show us the other methods to know if the nickel strip have steel?
You're absolutely right with your initial comments, it's great content like this that's building you trust and a loyal following. FWIW, I recently purchased a Vruzend kit and a bunch of other items from your online store because of your contribution to the ebike community and your dedication to quality content. My first ebike build went very smoothly, thanks to all the info I learned from your videos and your book. Thanks!
Knowing that all the content on this channel is top notch and honest is what we like. I think several people would be willing to support the channel with donations as you provide great info to the ebike community.
I make up the story you have no problem being factual rather than coerced. It's easy to fall victim to a false sense of self (ego) but I bet you would do a fantastic job reviewing the various products and bikes offered you. You also carry a sense of kindness and that would benefit viewers seeking reliable and solid products. Thank you.
As someone who just built an ebike, I really appreciate good unbias reviews like this! Also, I strongly support having well-made ads in youtube videos! The only reason that people generally hate ads is that they are frequently done poorly (just keep each ad original and there is no issue ... meaning please don't just re-use them)
You're correct. I come here for great technical knowledge just like you provided in this video. The nickel test, the explanation of the terminal thickness on the power wires... I will use that for sure. Micah is my only ebike subscription on youtube (i'm a 2wd m365 builder)
I would have taken the weight of the cell into account if I found that they used nickle coated Steele. 18650 should be 18 mm x65 mm and have a weight of between 41 and 45 grams obviously the heavier the cell the more the capacity. also if you had pealed a cell cap you could have checked for a protection circuit and venting in the top of the battery. This is another strong indicator as to the quality of the battery and lastly hook the battery up and check its discharge rate. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I have learned so much by watching your videos. You have brought so much useful information and done so much for us guys that hack around at home. Have a great day and please keep making lots of videos. As far as the length of the video goes the longer the more information.
Thanks!
As someone intending to build a custom battery housing (and then have someone better informed solder and wrap the cells) this was very useful.
One note: you say the cells are going to get really hot when discharging at the highest rate.
However, the 2C reading is rated for -20C...0C.
If we're like -10C, overheating is not going to be the first and foremost problem unless you really somehow manage to keep the max load on on continuous basis.
On subzero temps it's usually different things than overheating that dominate the risks.
Awesome . you showed us the simple ways of checking the battery quality check . thanks for this video.
I really appreciate your honest and comprehensive reviews, not like some others who only look at the most obvious your nickel test , awesome and simple.
I have no problems with longer movies when they are well made, as this one is. Well done Micah
This video was definitely not too long, because there was a lot of information to learn. Thank you so much, Micah
Thank you for this VERY enlightening examination of a bike battery.
My E-CELLS Super MonarchCrown 2 wheel drive E-MTB has two SAMSUNG batteries, 17Ah front and 14.5 Ah rear (under the rear rack) Dave Cleveland, the designer/owner of E-CELLS did a very good job of sourcing high quality parts for a great price ($5,100.) Chinese motors, Japanese gearing, Korean batteries, Thai Vee tires, Taiwanese aluminum frame, American rear shock, etc.
Content like this is why I subbed ages ago, and why I bought your books on battery building and ebikes. Practical information delivered in a concise, easy-to-digest format.
Amazing video! Great to see you reviewing this with great care and honesty... Would love to see a little experiment if you fancy that: what happens with your thermal camera when you pull 30 amps from this battery; how much better does it get if you replace the discharge bits of nickel plated steel with pure nickel...
Hi Micah, as usual excellent and very informative video, thanks!
The only thing I miss is that the cells are SUPPOSED to be 2500mAh from the technical sheet but this should be checked to really know if this is a good quality battery.
It would have been nice if you had been able to charge/discharge 1 cell and see if we are close to theoretical specs (or not...)
Great video. I’m a NZ physics teacher and am happy to share your video because it is accurate, paced well and with great visual reference. Top marks, and many thanks, nga mihi nui!
again you blow my mind with the how easy you make it all look. it's actually quite encouragingso old high school dropout like me becoming quite the electrical engineer thanks to your UA-cam channel. if I had copies of your books the future would be Limitless.
Good job explaining without talking over my head. I'm still gonna need to rewatch parts though.
The electrical resistance of Nickel is about 70% of that of Iron, so the difference isn't very big. There are plenty of cross sections between cells in series, so it wouldn't be a problem at all. You could have actually measured the width and the thickness of the strips and do some calculations instead of using words like 'I guess' and 'probably'. The point that worries me is the (dual layer) strips of the first and last row.
Furthermore, you didn't measure the capacity of the cells. You went for the datasheet. If there is one thing you cannot trust it's the specs of Chinese cells. They are sold to up to 9999 mAh which is nearly 3 times of what is even possible at the moment. Most of them perform way below their (fake) specs.
Those are really only the UltraFire cells. If you get branded cells that weigh the right amount, you can be confident they have decent capacity. Internal resistance on the other hand...
@@kevincai96 Most of them are also recycled and rewrapped.
this is why i subbed this channel. useful information, unbiased opinions, hands on examples of how to understand what, and why. you never fail to deliver on the goods.
I'm so glad I'm watching this video again. I have a couple cells that are not fully charging. When I took the battery out of the sleeve (I have a ancheer step through, no longer available on Amazon ☹️) they hot glued the wires and hot glued it to stay in the sleeve. It was a fight getting it out! I removed it very carefully without pinching any wires. Just waiting for my money to come in so I can order a couple parts. Spot welder and heat shrink wrap that you recommend in one of your videos.
I heard your book is the best thing to read for anyone wanting to build their own electric bike I'm here for this wonderful knowledge thank you for all the help man
That price for that small
capacity is totally insane!
A longer video is still good, if it's all actual content. Good work. You're creating a channel with quality information that I think I'll be able to trust.
Thanks for doing the breakdown on the battery, I learned a lot! I had wondered how there could be such great differences in battery costs from different vendors and manufacturers.
Thanks for taking care with clear and intelligent explanations. I appreciate your attention to detail and you clearly value good quality design. I look forward to learning more from your videos and articles. Thanks again!
There's another way to find out how good your battery is, without taking a hacksaw and dremmel to it, use a larger controller and motor for the battery and see how the BMS manages it
At about 6.25, remember that the max current is quickly derated based on the temperature INSIDE the CELL...not the temperature in the case or general environment. So in most cases if one tries to take it up to the max current without derating for the cell's internal temperature one would quickly have a possible explosion, fire, and/or other catastrophic cell failure.
Thanks for taking the time to educate us. E- bikes are coming!
Would like to see a more expensive name brand battery tear down to see if you actually get what you pay for. Great video.
Great job, you just made a very informative and important job checking that battery. I've checked my myself many batteries and what I found in some cases was very small BMS'S with small heat sinks. And all bad. I think that if BMS'S are too small they won't last to long.
Very good video. I do not mind longer videos with great content. Thank you for making this video. I’ve been contemplating on converting my existing bike to electric, and your videos have been a great help.
Your analyses are at such a higher level than I've yet to see regarding these batteries. I think I purchased a quality ebike (2019 Cannondale Synapse Neo with a Bosch system) but I'm sure the technology is so much better 2 years later! Thanks for putting your knowledge out there..
Thats all good but you still need to buy it first and probably void warranty opening it up so you carnt send it back if you have voided the warranty by opening it.
Got one of your book hope to win another......this is about quality, and I'm glad your covering this.
That's an excellent review! You examined every important points including common CONS that cheap battery have. Btw, sometime when a parallel group have the main positive or negative wire soldered to one end of a parallel group, there chance that the opposite polarity have a serie link to the other end, which conpensate for current balance.. but in that design where serie parallel connections are in majority in "W" there is les chances. Also i would have been curious to see if teh ON/Off switch is connected to the BMS SW1 input.. usually located close to the external temp sensor connections... in fact BMS with switch input and temp sensor are usually input that are connected in serie.. and when there is no external switch used, the connections on teh PCBare simply jumped together to close the loop and enable the BMS FETS.
I learned so much about cycle battery design and technology from this video. Excellently produced with superb audio, lighting, focus and video-photography. Many thanks.
Very interesting. I have a Bosch mid drive system...I bought it in 2014 in Europe....I still run the original battery...I remember reading about a fire in NY city where a person was charging multiple batteries and they caught fire....I have a simple rule of thumb....I never leave my battery charging when I am not present....
I'm a Bosch mid drive rider. Got a new battery and love it 6000 miles riden
Im thrilled to see that they have some balance leads in there. Being an RC car guy just getting into big scooters i was unsure if the manufactures would cheap and and just do a fast charge everytime with no balance leads.
I'd run an electrical test first. Could save a lot of my time.
At the end of the video you still don't know if the battery pack can in fact deliver the advertised Ah. In addition to the visual inspection, I'd have to use a battery tester before concluding it could be a quality battery. A "constant current" battery tester for up to 200V and upto 180W total dissipation is available for less than US$40 and can rapidly give you pretty good insight into the Ah the battery can deliver in reality...not just as claimed by the seller.
I'd run the electrical test first. It's a fast, easy and definitive way to tell if the battery is even capable of delivering anything near its claimed specs. It may take 3 or 4 charge/discharge cycles. Only then, if it passes that testing would I worry about taking it apart for visual examination of build and component quality. Running the electrical test first could save a LOT of my time if the battery is low quality, and it generally should be safer, too.
BATTERY PACK PERFORMANCE ISSUES:
There are batteries out there that use counterfeit lithium cells, or even intentionally low-quality cells, so even if they are marked like they came from one of the known high-quality manufactures (Samsung, Panasonic, etc ####mAh rated cells) the cells themselves may in fact not be from that company nor provide the claimed mAh rating. Even the battery pack manufacturers may unintentionally get counterfeit cells once in awhile which can cause major underperformance. These are common issues for example in USB powerbanks. Example: one powerbank brand CLAIMS 10,000Ah capacity while using what turn out to really be 800mAh cells in a 6p1s 18650 configuration...which could at MOST rightly claim 6x800mAh=4800mAh (yet they are LABELED as 1800mAh NCR/Sanyo/Panasonic cells which they clearly are not)The same issues exists in many battery packs for many different uses (including e-bike packs) available on eBay and Amazon.
@@hchalmoepas6544 I can't recommend any specific ones, but there are some custom battery pack assemblers that have very good reviews on ebay. There are a number of individuals and companies you can find recommended in electricbike.com/forum
You can find some sources recommended by DIYers that can provide just what you're asking for. The generally provide good battery packs because of the feedback on the forum. I've found the group very helpful and knowledgeable.
Yep exactly I seen so many falsely advertised and using junk, or fake cells. I finally got one that was as advertised and using LG IMR 18650 cells 2850mAH and tested on discharge pretty close, or slightly above, so definitely genuine and was cheaper then this pack in this video. I was actually surprised as was expecting Chinese FST cells, or one of the 3 common Chinese cells they use.
A few packs even have had where BMS was miswired on discharge side and literally could drain battery down to zero as they bypassed the low voltage cutoff on the BMS? Don’t get me started on those packs claiming to have Panasonic cells using Sanyo and not the GA cells, so technically not Panasonic, or not even using neither and lying completely and charging $400 plus for the pack. I guess they figured out most won’t open the pack?
Your videos are very informative. I was hoping to see part 3 of the e-motorcycle build but I guess that is in the future. Keep up the good work. By the way. Motorcycle screws especially those connected to the engine are impact screws and you need to use a impact screwdriver to get them off without stripping the heads. In expensive tool but essential for motorcycle work.
You do seem quite knowledgeable , I like your style Also happy that you do not usually use factory or other providers to do the free advertizing ,that usually is redundant Thanks and keep up the good work
Why not use a magnet to check for steel/iron?
Great video. I am starting out with e bikes and this helped demystify lithium batteries as well as describe best practices for construction
I like your honesty , so in a nutshell you're scotty kilmer of bike world
Awesome video. Not only did I learn how to check if a battery is good quality, but I also learned things I can improve on my DIY 18650 batteries.
Thanks, really enjoyed your informative video. I've recently purchased an Emove 30A e bike and I believe they use LG batteries. Hope they are a quality build.
I find all of this stuff SUPER fascinating, I always try avoid batteries because I thought they were too easy to mess up but this seems almost straight forward. Maybe I will make an ebike
To test for solid nickel or Nickelplated steel just take a magnet! Love all your videos they are sooooooo cool
Great video, lots of insight. Just saying if you want to do an ad at the end of your video and you are clear what is content and what is an ad I have no problem with that. Obviously this is your channel and you do what you think is best.
These videos are excellent tutorials for ebike owners & DIYers. Also great for segment teaching Industrial Technology skills & procedures
I really enjoyed this video! 👍😁 I’m just getting started with ebikes and am burning up the “airwaves” so to speak in educating my self. I have a nice class II ebike that was fairly inexpensive. I use it as a commuter bike to go back and forth to work. It’s called a VIVI
Thank you, very informative, batteries are a very important ebike component and knowing what is inside the case is very helpful.
I love seeing this kind of breakdown and review!
one of the most useful videos i seen on this topic loved it.
Thanks for the informative video. I am a bicycle tech just starting with ebikes. I picked up a defunct ebike at a garage sale, and It seems that the battery is bad, so I am looking at inexpensive replacement or refurbish options. Your video has given me some vital information to use when selecting a replacement.
Fair and balanced, thanks! I trust your expertise so much I bought the Verund battery kit and some good 'top five' cells. Can't wait to learn hands-on!
Mack Collister ..So what’s your thoughts on the verund kit and the building process today? :)
Thanks for that review and being loyal to your viewers 🙏
Very informative. I wish you repaired Ebike batteries, having a hard time finding someone I can trust to send my battery off to. There has to be a trustworthy battery repair business somewhere, so far nothing but negative reviews on any place I can find.
I seem to remember there were some battery pack builders and repairers that got quite good reviews on website:
electric-skateboard.builders/
Hope my memory is good enough to help you with this. It was quite a while ago when I read the reviews.
I appreciate the detailed and honest review. I was actually looking at this battery on Amazon.
Thorough review with balanced specificity. Now I am curious as to what battery manufacturers you like the most.
So interesting on ebike batteries! Thanks so much for doing this; I had no idea on how complex these ebike batteries can be! Thanks again.
EBR got roasted 🔥🔥🔥 I can see no colab videos coming up 🧯
Naah.. It's just honest, EBR should agree
You mean Court's fawning over everything was not heartfelt and sincere?
I thought that EVERY ebike was just WONDERFUL! after hearing him.
Now you tell me he was paid. Crushed. I am crushed.
One of the best video I have seen so far. Thanks
Ok, I'm subscribed!
I'm beginning my research with the intention of building an electric motorcycle. I know virtually nothing yet, but I was impressed with your presentation, and will be looking at more of your videos, and considering reading your books.
Thanks for the quality presentation
Same!
Wow, I learn so much watching these vehicles. I'm sure I'll be a lot more educated when I buy my new eBike.
I think these days it's more than okay for creators to do sponsored videos as long as they don't compromise on their own integrity - Just be honest if they are legit they will respect it and improve where needed.
Pity about the missing thermal sensor on the pack. Often even cheap packs have this connected to the BMS.
As well as inspecting a commercial kit, you also give good advice to DIY a clone. Thanks!
very good. cheers. manufactuerer quality batteries are expensive and we all are thinking cheaper batteries are fine. your inspection and conclusion throws this out of the window. good work.
For the price, it sounds to me like it's a pretty good pack. Sure, high quality Samsung cells would be nice, higher quality nickel strips, etc, but then it would be a high quality, high priced battery. The fact that the performance isn't going to be amazing, but it's safe and decently constructed sounds like an understandable, and reasonable compromise for the low price.
loved your intro man, im at 1:30 and already liked it
Great video, it would be great to see more of the same from some other more well known Chinese battery manufacturers. EM3EV, unit pack power etc.
Do batts from the big brands like shimano come up to the expected quality standards?
Many thanks, sir, for this. Now we know how to choose wisely in buying e-bike batteries.
Thank you for your honesty and integrity!!
Hi James here from SC. This is a great website, very informative helpful and complete. I have an e-bike, three wheel. I turned it into e-bike, my first attempt. The company I bought from is gone, my battery is dead, so I learned an important lesson. I can't find a battery replacement so I'm going to build myself. That's how I found you. I'm going to build one no weld with one of your kits. It's 36 v, but I'm going to add more batteries for more distance and you have all the info and materials I'll need. I'll be looking up where to get the kit. I'm so happy I found you!!
Green insulator rings saves batteries ass!
Great video! Thanks!
Is there a E-bike battery brand you recommend, one that meets all items on your wish list? I've purchased two different brands, one leaked (failed) and the other doesn't seem to work as advertised (drains rather quickly). Just curious since they are not cheap.
Convert to using a outdoor power equipment battery platform depending on your voltage and Ah setup. Lack of consistent quality control and “buyer beware “ should be the exception for batteries used for transportation, not the norm. Ego 56 volt is perfect platform for 48 to 52 volt controller and motor. 3 year warranty. And thermal management done right.
How did this standard black plastic brick with cells jammed in there with no airflow become the ebike norm?
This kind of product review is exactly what I like.
This may sound like a dumb question to you guys, but just something that has been at the back of my mind..
Pros/Cons or no difference at all in how to configure 7S3P ? Better to parallel first and then series up the parallels? or Do 3 independent series, and then parallel them after?
Only difference I could think of is being able to balance charge if you parallel the batteries first, then series them? or am I being an idiot here?
I have found with your videos no matter how long they are they are worth watching
Wow what a great evaluation of a ebike battery cant wait for your next one ,Thank you PD
One other thing that I would like to mention: the battery casing is black, which will undoubtedly heat up in the sun, and build up heat inside the battery which is definitely not good for the cells. Especially since there isn't any temperature probe inside.
Why do bike accessories manufacturers insist on making them black is beyond me? Black water bottles, black seats, black handles, etc. All of these become very hot in direct sunlight in the summer!
Thanks for the explanations. I'm going for my second electric bike kit, I'll check the battery construction.
"Bad publicity is free publicity...but I do have to charge you for mentioning me in your video."
- EBR probably...
Thanks For your videos. I like the way you explain your techniques and don't get to academic with electrical engineering stuff.
Thanks for doing this. Your one of the last true reviews out there. EBR was so good in the early years. Well everyone has to make their money, they “give in to step in” and capitalize on the interest generated. The public is a fickle beast. Leverage your pull while you have it. We all have bills to pay. Till then yippy hi yo hi yay! You know Bafang has a new hub 750w I read it’s great maybe do a vid on that? Can’t trust the others. I must say though looks good and much needed. Hats off to Bafang. Want one for my 2018 RadMini that currently has blasé quasi’ sudo 750w fart. I don’t blame Rad Power good people there selling weight to power=distance> quality for right money. Still 80n torque!? Etc not! Why not offer “true” more 4 deal i.e. upgrade RPBpage that “let’s us eat more cake”. !’d pay for it.
Nice video, I could of lived with the 25 minute one, the more information the better. Good work
Yeah, we're here for the information so the length doesn't really matter.
Thanks for the very informative video. Been very interested in creating my own battery packs for a while, and your videos are helping a lot.
Thanks for sharing all of this useful info. Very helpful getting up to speed with what's inside the e-bike battery
Great video idea. Really helps us learn in a very practical way.
thank you so much, alot of ebike batterys on the cheap side are built so bad they basically are bombs, good idea to make sure you know what your getting
Would you say that this battery is ok for a beginner?
A beginner what?
@@grantadamson3478 Your very first e bike.
@@StigBSivertsen Ah. First second third doesn't matter. It depends on what you want the bike to do. The battery decision comes after you have sorted what motor you need. And the motor selection depends on the type of riding you do. Look at previous videos on this channel and he tells you all of this.
@@grantadamson3478 Thanks Grant
Very educational video , I learned so much. Just minutes before watching this information I was looking for a second battery for my e-bike. This helped me make up my mind.. Thank you David Hankins Ozark Mo.
It may be worth beefing up the weaker power connections on the first/last rows with extra copper wire?
Thanks for battery review. What I get from this video is.This battery would be good for about 20 amp draw system.
This is an educational video. I’ve always wanted to know how these battery are made. I have used AA rechargeable batteries by Sanyo on a shaver and toothbrush for about 10 years.....Never been replaced, they continue to recharge every time. The lasting time has not diminished. I use them until the appliance quits, then I recharge them overnight and reinstall them for another cycle of use. I’ve always surmised that the bikes would use something other than a bunch os AA cells.Are Tesla auto batteries also made up of AA cells? Good job
thx for the insight of what a batterypack shall look like!