Can electrical components actually handle rain?
Posted by IDK-__-IDK@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 20 comments
It’s true that e-bikes are water-resistant to various degrees, but it’s often hard to say if it pays off to risk it. Commuting in the rain sucks anyway, so I hate to worry about my bike as well. Most manufacturers say it’s generally okay, and it often is, until it isn’t. Short, quick routes are fine, but for actual, long, repeating commutes in the rain, do you think it pays off to use an e-bike in these kinds of conditions, or are problems too common? Yes or no?
Relative-Display-676@reddit
majority of ebikes aren't rated for rain.
Ur-in-a-tor@reddit
Neither are the majority of bicycles, and I suspect the reason is the same: they'll take pretty much whatever you throw at them. My ebike has a charging port, if it is closed then all the electrics are sealed off from the elements. It has no IP rating because what's the point in that. This naturally does not apply to all the ebikes out there, but anything worth its price should take some rain with no issues.
spleen79@reddit
I was on a road trip and don’t account for a storm while driving. My e-bikes are quite old and doesn’t have any water resistant rating. So I just stopped at a supermarket to get Saran Wrap to cover the digital display, battery and any other sensitive areas but didn’t cover motor. Bikes still working fine.
Ur-in-a-tor@reddit
I only make sure that the charging port is properly closed when it is rainy. I can't think of anything else that could suffer from wet.
ScrewySiu@reddit
Years ago, my cousin rented an ebike for our White Mountains ride and a sudden rain storm appeared. The charging port got wet because there was no cap to protect it, and it died. Luckily we were near the top and able to coast back down most of the mountain trail.
Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit
If you must riding on the rain, it's good dry all bike with air compressor and microfibre cloath...👍
Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit
Some are waterproof, untill one something happend... The best is ride on the rain only when you must,but is good have some protection... I was riding on the rain and mud few times,and I have a Luck... The same is with washing bike with water under pressure, it's not recommended...
Bucksin06@reddit
My bike is safe to ride in the rain I'll put over 8,000 miles through rain storms and Wisconsin winters with no issue
regieshiki@reddit
Using the bike as a commute to work has its obstacles but in general if it’s pouring down rain and you are blasting through puddles, it should be okay, as long as it’s not daily and you are keeping the wire box and motor from being fully saturated
chocolateboomslang@reddit
Can electric cars drive in the rain?
Such-Importance-9253@reddit
Most of the components are not exposed to rain, the shell of the car is.
Zloiche1@reddit
How much more engineering goes into a car than a bike
Wind_Advertising-679@reddit
I think the key is not going into unknown puddles, even streams, potentially getting in deeper than intended. I have not yet ridden in the rain. I have heard other people using a leaf blower or small hand held blower device and Air drying their bike after being in the rain. Just a quick disconnect for the motor and dry it out in case moisture got in there. Light rain vs. a downpour? Take some precautions and be diligent about drying out y'all's bike ⏩
Taddgoods@reddit
I used my old Chinese dual motor keqjsk brand 2 years straight all year round here in eastern Canada for 10 thousand kms...its rating was IP54...zero issues
cleadus_fetus@reddit
I've seen stories like this and I've also seen where a person gets rained on once and the bike is toast.
Taddgoods@reddit
I believe, all it takes is one connection be exposed an thats all she wrote
chucklestexas@reddit
U just wrap the controller and handle bar stuff in bags and tape a trash bag over the battery. U din't wrp the motor though, but it's under a big rear basket which helps a little, but motion probably slings most of the water off. Never thought of feeling it to see how hot it gets, maybe enough to evaporate it quick, don't know.
Full-Part2427@reddit
They usually have ingress ratings like ip67 the first dust second is water. You might see ip65 which would have the same dust rating as ip67 but a worse water ingress rating. 5 is worse than 7.
Regardless after a season of beating on your bike that rating isn't necessarily the same as it was when new gaskets break, seals where plastic and rubber and glue all break down in sun and vibration.
So we do our best to keep it dry, especially the screen, controller, and buttons.
RodsofGod2350@reddit
I usually carry ziploc bags and zip ties to cover the screen and controller, and regarding the battery, I use the neoprene winter cover I bought from China.
TheTarragonFarmer@reddit
There's a surprising variety, even within a single bike :-)
Mine had nifty sealed cable connectors all around, and a completely unsealed controller. I didn't even ride it in the rain, it shorted out and died from just the drips splashing up.
I'm in the process of sealing the replacement controller with silicone caulk...