The black charger in my hand is the old one. The shiny blue box inside the bike is the new charger. What are the improvements over the old charger, you ask? Oh, you didn't ask? That's fine, I will tell you anyhow.
It can automatically charge only up to 80, 90 or 100% depending on the setting. Charging only to 80% can double the lifespan of a lithium battery.
Lithium batteries take nearly as much time going from 80% to 100% as they take to go from 0% to 80%. This means it will charge noticeably faster even though the current is the same.
Why are lithium batteries like that? Well imaging charging a battery as if it were a spring that you're trying to compress as much as possible. Squeezing the spring is easy and goes quickly at first. But the more you compress it, the harder it becomes to compress it any further and the more time it takes to get it to 100% compression.
There are two downsides to this charger, however.
I will need to open the bike up and set it to charge to 100% once every six months to make sure the cells are balanced. They cannot balance unless charged all the way up.
It is a parasitic load. That means unlike the old charger, this one is constantly using a small amount of power from the battery to check on how full it is. This means I can't leave it unplugged for long periods without opening up the bike and disconnecting the charger from the battery.
Overall I think this was a worthwhile upgrade. I may install an external switch that will let me connect or disconnect the charger from the battery without opening up the bike, but that's for another day. Hopefully the addition of this charger will save me from having to buy another big, expensive battery pack too soon.
@alexbeyman,
Is it recharging automatically? Now a days I am thinking to buy a HYBRID motor bicycle. One of my friend told me it's recharging the battery itself.
In this charger has 80%, 90%, 100% settings. That's a good sign. This is the 1st time I have seen something like that!
Thanks for sharing this great experience with us!
Cheers~
It's been a while since we had a bike update , I can tell that the new charger is better in its way , it's brolic lol , looks double the original size . I think you should just use it regardless it's downsides until you find one that corrects those mistakes . It's annoying in some ways
Thank you. A wonderful post.
Opening each time to charge seems like too much of a hassle. Nonetheless is quite the good update. Soon batteries will reach the charge/weight ratio of freedom.
I don't have to open it every time, just once every 6 months to change the charger setting to 100% for a balance charge. Then I can change it back and don't need to open it up again for another 6 months.
6 months? Wow, that makes me sound lazy.
Congrats with new Charger.. I think new one have over charging protection.. old one doesn't.. so that why there is switch for 80, 90 and 100 percentages..
Cool... upvoted.. 😊😊👌👍
@alexbeyman - Sire, I love this charger. Because, it has something innovative. Changing percentage of charging level is a nice idea & it can protect your battery from over charging. Love your post Sire.
+W+ [UpVoted & ReSteemed]
Good update, they are more practical to handle and to use, and you do not grease
Great update sir. really post . 1005 like and sharing.
Steady @alexbeyman post, I love you, this is an additional science for me. Thanks
Thank you. A wonderful post.
amigo #resteemia at your service
'The shiny blue box charger with lithium battery' feeling awesome & has a changer to set charging % to 80, 90 or 100% feeling amazed @alexbeyman
ReSteemia
'UpVote ReSteem Comment'
I didn't know that much about batteries. Nice info. How many km can you make with it?
About 80km.
In my case, I will buy a new one because I am not a real handyman.