An Ebike controller is an integral part of the Ebike. Without the controller, an Ebike just won’t function. It won’t be wrong to say that Ebike controller is the heart and soul of an Ebike. This is because the Ebike controller is responsible for all key functions of the Ebike such as driving mechanism, braking, motor controls, battery etc. If you are searching for the ways to test an Ebike controller at home, it means you have a problem with your Ebike controller. This article will solve your problems related to testing Ebike controller at home. You just need to follow the given steps and you will be able to solve the malfunctioning Ebike controller at home with ease.
Functions of an Ebike controller
Before we begin with ways to test an Ebike controller at home, let’s look at the key functions which an Ebike controller performs. This will help you understand why the Ebike controller is so important to the Ebike
- Prevents Overheating: The Ebike controller prevents overheating by monitoring the temperature and shutting down the motor when the temperature reaches at max. This is done through the transistors in the Ebike controller which sends signals to the controller for the motor to be turned off.
- Over voltage and over current prevention: The Ebike needs to be charged to function properly. Sometimes during charging, the bike may face over voltage or over current. This is dangerous and can possibly damage the Ebike. The Ebike controller prevents this by shutting down the motor in case of over voltage or over current.
- Low voltage protection: Low voltage leads to over discharge and can eat up the battery. This is again quite damaging to the Ebike. The controller follows the same mechanism as over voltage and shuts down the motor in case of low voltage.
- Brake functionality: The Ebike controller shuts down the motor when brake is applied so that the bike can slow down and come to a stop. This is a key feature for driver safety.
- Battery performance: All stats of the battery are shown on the Ebike controller. As a user, you can see on the monitor how your battery is performing.
Read More :- How Do I Reset My E-bike Controller?
How does an Ebike controller work
By going through the functions of an Ebike controller, you would not be wrong to think that the controller is the heart and soul of an Ebike. Without it, or with a malfunctioning controller, a lot of problems would arise. After all, the Ebike controller has to work smoothly in order for the Ebike to work smoothly as well.
An Ebike controller works in a simple way. You have to first charge the bike. The Ebike controller will take energy from the battery and perform all functions mentioned above. It is equipped with sensors which send signal to and from different parts of the bike. Any issue like low voltage is immediately reported to the controller which then shuts down the motor instantly to prevent damage. The Field Effect Transistor (FET) is a key sensor in the ebike which sends signals to the Ebike controller.
Components of an Ebike controller
One last thing to know before we learn how to test an Ebike controller at home is to know about the components of an Ebike controller. Knowing this will help you test the Ebike controller at home with ease.
|Motor Wire||As the name suggests, sends power to the motor|
|Throttle wire||Connects the throttle to the controller|
|Battery line (-)||Connects to the negative terminal of the battery|
|Battery line (+)||Connects to the positive terminal of the battery|
|Light line||Connects light with battery|
|Pedal Assist wire||Connects to the pedal assist system|
|Hall Lines||Connects to the hall sensor|
|Horn Line||Connects horn with battery|
How to Test an Ebike Controller at Home
Finally we come to the ways to test an Ebike controller at home. This is quite a handy skill to have if you own an Ebike. Knowing this will help you troubleshoot any Ebike issue you have yourself without having to go to a mechanic or technician.
There are 2 methods of testing an Ebike controller at home. Both methods work fine. You can pick a method you find easier.
Method 1: Using a Multimeter
Things you need: A multimeter, a controller and a battery
There are 2 kinds of tests you can do with a multimeter. The first one is the continuity test and the second one is the resistance test. In simpler terms, continuity checks if there is a short connection i.e. two wires are connected to each other. The resistance test on the other hand checks for the resistance in the flow of the current.
- Step 1: Set up the multimeter. The black wire is connected to the negative terminal (COM) of the battery while the red wire is connected to the positive terminal (VΩmA) of the battery.
- Step 2: To test for continuity, set the multimeter to the wave (similar to Wi-Fi) sign. The black wire should be connected to the negative terminal.
- Step 3: Connect the multimeter to every wire of the controller. This will determine which wire is short.
- Step 4: The moment you hear a beep, it means that wire is faulty. This is an easy way to test for continuity.
- Step 5: To test for resistance, the red wire should be connected to the positive terminal.
- Step 6: Connect the controller’s wires to the multimeter. Keep an eye on the reading. 8 kilohms is the benchmark. Anything below it means the wire is damaged and should be replaced.
Method 2: Using a Tester
Things you need: You just need an Ebike tester. There are a number of options available in the market. All of them more or less do the same thing. The advantage of using an Ebike tester is that you will also be able to test all parts of the Ebike.
- Step 1: Remove the Ebike controller from the bike
- Step 2: We have to check throttle signals. To do this, we connect the throttle wire to the controller.
- Step 3: Connect the Ebike tester’s controller to the Ebike’s controller
- Step 4: Switch ON the tester and turn the throttle ON.
- Step 5: Observe the light signal. If the tester light is blinking, it means everything is fine and working. If only the middle light is on, it means there is an issue with the controller.
Testing your Ebike controller at home is no rocket science. Anyone can do it with some basic knowledge. It may seem overwhelming at first, but it is quite easy. Having gone through this article, I am sure you will also agree that it is easy to check an Ebike controller at home all by yourself.
You just need to have a few things in hand before testing the Ebike controller at home. You should have a multimeter or an Ebike tester. Having this will help you solve continuity and resistance problems as well as throttle of the Ebike. Just follow the steps mentioned above and do let us know how it went for you in the comments. You can also share more tips and tricks for other readers if you want.