[Chris Clean Republic]

Hey all,

I'm posting this on behalf of a customer.

-Chris

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Twin LIBs wired in parallel, duct taped together with a slight offset for ease of switching/charging access, surrounded with high-density foam and tied down to bike rear rack with strap to minimize vibration. Includes extension charging jack at a 45 degree angle on bottom battery (for charger cable access without removing battery package), white binder leaf ring on upper battery charging jack to make it easier to find center in the dark, and a guard glued to upper battery switch to prevent accidentally turning it on simultaneously with lower one (still not sure what would happen if both LIBs ever on in parallel, but don't want to find out by inadvertently leaning on trunk bag). Obviously, lower LIB charge-state lights not visualized, but rather moot with backup battery on line.

Seems to work well. When one LIB runs down, I just switch it off, switch the other one on & go.

HAVE had a few strange/isolated incidents though: After I finished soldering/rigging the dual handswitch/dual LIB multi-connector harness and was out testing it with only the single/original LIB hooked up, it stopped cold. I opened the bag expecting that the switch had likely vibrated off, but it was still in the on position. I switched it off & on a few times (dirty contacts?), and it started up again. Had another similar incident with both LIBs hooked up (though can't recall which battery quit). Also, once when I switched a battery on to take off for a ride, no response from either handswitch. The other LIB also wouldn't respond. After switching both LIBs off & on a few times, everything went back to normal.

Possibly the solid state (?) controller modules are initially sensitive to changes in harness power circuit impedance? I AM assuming that when the power switch is off, the controller module only sees an open circuit (as if the harness was unplugged?). Regardless, no incidents recently, and with the coming mild weather I'm anticipating (with careful power usage/application & pedal assist) a near 50 mile range. I will work the range up gradually as (of course), a major HILL TOPPER downside would be total system failure so far from home that pedaling back against a headwind might be out of the question for non-"Iron Man" competitors (myself included)!

Regards,

Dan Tinder
Winamac, IN

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[touring]

[quote="Chris Clean Republic"]Hey all,

I'm posting this on behalf of a customer.

-Chris

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twin LIBs wired in parallel, duct taped together with a slight offset for ease of switching/charging access, surrounded with high-density foam and tied down to bike rear rack with strap to minimize vibration. Includes extension charging jack at a 45 degree angle on bottom battery (for charger cable access without removing battery package), white binder leaf ring on upper battery charging jack to make it easier to find center in the dark, and a guard glued to upper battery switch to prevent accidentally turning it on simultaneously with lower one (still not sure what would happen if both LIBs ever on in parallel, but don't want to find out by inadvertently leaning on trunk bag). Obviously, lower LIB charge-state lights not visualized, but rather moot with backup battery on line.

Seems to work well. When one LIB runs down, I just switch it off, switch the other one on & go.

HAVE had a few strange/isolated incidents though: After I finished soldering/rigging the dual handswitch/dual LIB multi-connector harness and was out testing it with only the single/original LIB hooked up, it stopped cold. I opened the bag expecting that the switch had likely vibrated off, but it was still in the on position. I switched it off & on a few times (dirty contacts?), and it started up again. Had another similar incident with both LIBs hooked up (though can't recall which battery quit). Also, once when I switched a battery on to take off for a ride, no response from either handswitch. The other LIB also wouldn't respond. After switching both LIBs off & on a few times, everything went back to normal.

Possibly the solid state (?) controller modules are initially sensitive to changes in harness power circuit impedance? I AM assuming that when the power switch is off, the controller module only sees an open circuit (as if the harness was unplugged?). Regardless, no incidents recently, and with the coming mild weather I'm anticipating (with careful power usage/application & pedal assist) a near 50 mile range. I will work the range up gradually as (of course), a major HILL TOPPER downside would be total system failure so far from home that pedaling back against a headwind might be out of the question for non-"Iron Man" competitors (myself included)!

Regards,

Dan Tinder
Winamac, IN



I've had battery failures too. The battery is flaky at times and will not work. I've followed all the instructions on the charging, use and care of the batteries and I've had the following happen to me using 1 large 6 pound Lithium battery hooked up to my bicycle. And I'm not tinkering with them as you are, just using them in the standard manner recommended on here. This is after only several dozen rides, not more than 20 full cycle recharges.

1. BATTERY POWER FAILURE. Battery is fully charged and suddenly no response when you push the throttle button. Like you, I thought maybe the on/off button had accidentally switched off. When I switched the battery on and then off again it seemed to work briefly but then lost power again. Recharging it seemed to fix the problem at least for awhile.

2. BATTERY FAILS ON INCLINE. The battery just quits when going up an incline. I don't go up many inclines like hills but when I do I especially want the Hill Topper to help me out. Twice, the battery has just stopped functioning. I was peddaling while using the battery, I don't think I was using it for more than 30 seconds and it just went dead.

3. BATTERY STOPS AFTER ONLY A FEW MILES. I'll be out riding for no more than 5 miles and the battery will just go dead. This is on fairly level street riding.

Anyone else having these kind of failures? Seems like the battery is the weak link in the kit.