e-bike got rained on
Posted by Mir01_@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 18 comments
My scooter type e-bike got rained on quite heavily earlier. Once the rain stopped, I rode it and at first it was working normally. Until when I was at a full stop, the motor wasn't moving. It only moved when:
- i turned it off then on again (but this eventually stopped working)
- i pressed on the brakes again and released. (10% of the time works, motor powers on then cuts off again).
Everything else is working - lights, horn, and all.
The compartment was dry when I opened up the seat as well but i'm not sure how dry.
InvestigatorSenior@reddit
waterproofing costs in engineering time and manufacturing complexity. IP certification is most likely expensive. Apparently it's one of the corners cut to make cheap Chinese special hit they target price.
'Overpriced' factory built bikes come with legit IP certification for 'concentrated water spray' or better. Anything electronic is covered in hard epoxy, all enclosures are watertight. As a result the only thing that happens when I'm caught in a downpour with my Bosch bike is bad braking performance till it stops raining.
I got soaked on two rides this year and many times before, rode in the snow for two seasons, forded streams. Nothing bad has happened so far.
Familiar9709@reddit
I don't understand, you can't use an ebike in the rain?
trtsmb@reddit
The cheap ones aren't designed for getting wet.
MonzellRS@reddit
I have many times 5.5k miles
Familiar9709@reddit
So what is op talking about?
MonzellRS@reddit
What are you talking about?
Familiar9709@reddit
Op is saying bike doesn't work after rain
LetoTheTyrant@reddit
Some people think since it’s electric it will short if it gets wet, not thinking that these things are designed to be in the elements, at least some times.
BadluckyKamy@reddit
Really depending of the model, but the cheaper ones tend to not be really water proof and dust proof
slacknsurf420@reddit
in the future I can only recommend a cover and bungee strapping it down so it doesn't fly I. the wind
let it dry out in the sun
private_homer@reddit
the motor cutout is classic water bridging the throttle or controller contacts. Since the lights and horn work fine, you've likely got moisture still sitting on the motor controller board. Let it sit somewhere warm and dry for a full 48 hours without touching it, then try again. If it still glitches, grab some isopropyl alcohol and carefully clean around the motor connectors and controller once the battery's out, but honestly waiting is your best bet first.
ronniearnold@reddit
Did you put it in a bag of rice before using? I’m curious why you decided to use it while all wet…
Mir01_@reddit (OP)
If you mean why I used it after getting rained on, I had to go home and didn't have the time to let it dry out before heading out. I had to park it somewhere, but unfortunately, there aren't any spots that had overhead cover.
serialband@reddit
You likely got water in your controller. You should have had a rain cover for your e-bike if you have to leave it out in the rain.
Riding in light rain versus leaving it parked out for hours in pouring rain is a different thing. Most e-bikes I've seen only got up to IP67 maximum and most e-bikes are generally lower rated to IPx5 or IPx6 ( https://www.heybike.com/blogs/heybike-blog/best-waterproof-electric-bikes )
Even with IP67, it means you can drop it into a swimming pool for a short periods, but you can't leave it there. If you're in a pouring rain, depending on how long it is, it could still exceed the IP67 rating for immersion.
ronniearnold@reddit
Hmm. I’ve ridden in the rain a lot. I wonder if you had something exposed that got wet? I’d try to park it in front of a fan for a long time. Take out what you can remove, then let it dry and try again. Good luck.
DirtyBeard443@reddit
likely the screen or some other component got shorted out after using it when wet. Lectric specifically states that their screen is not waterproof and to cover with a bag in the rain. My guess is something shorted out and will need to be replaced.
fhgui@reddit
Well lesson learned… when electronics get wet you must wait until all the water is dried up before using it. Water doesn’t ruin electronics. You could dump your scooter in a 50 gallon drum filled with water for a full day and it will likely be fine assuming the water wasn’t dirty, you let it dry properly, and the battery was removed. The bridging of electrical components from the water and turning on the device is what ruins it. The other damage from water is caused by left over minerals and other impurities in the water being left behind when it dries causing electronic components to still be bridged after the water dries. For the future if something gets rained on wait till it’s all dry, if you want to make sure it will function after turning on you can check the electrical components for any buildup or dirt left from the rain and clean any build up with isopropyl alcohol. In your case without having more info I suspect the motor is being shorted or an electrical component that controls the motor got fried likely from water causing a component to get significantly high power then it should from an adjacent power line. You might be able to fix the scooter by cleaning the electronics with isopropyl alcohol, do some research before attempting this and make sure the battery is removed.
iSellNuds4RedditGold@reddit
Didnyou give it 24-48h to dry out?