Author Topic: Dynamo Powered rechargers Various (Read 52911 times)

MattH · « **Reply #25 on:** 12 January, 2012, 12:11:49 pm »

Quote from: PeteJ on 12 January, 2012, 08:17:58 am

I was asking (in a round about way admittedly) if anyone had had any bad experiences with the ewerk.

Not directly, but there was mention of this on the randon mailing list this morning (in the "Garmin Edge Questions" thread)

Quote

After completely killing my Garmin the first night of PBP I have avoided all use of hub powered USB chargers. I think it was the fault of my homemade model, but I know of at least two cases of different eWerk units permanently disabling the USB communications function on Garmins. Riding with the headlight on to stabilize the power spikes on high speed descents appears to provide some protection.

frankly frankie · « **Reply #26 on:** 12 January, 2012, 12:36:58 pm »

Quote from: PeteJ on 10 January, 2012, 09:16:27 am

I just want something to keep my Garmin Dakota running through long Audax without having to faf with batteries. Fortunately the Dakota uses AA's so carrying/buying spares en route is not a problem. I just want reduce hassle/faffage.

Since it's an AA model, I really don't see how anything could be less faff than carrying spares and replacing them at intervals.
NB 'at intervals' not 'when necessary'. I wouldn't wait for the battery to run right down and the unit switch off - I'd have a conservative estimate of runtime (say 12 hours or whatever) and replace when convenient at around that time.

Aushiker · « **Reply #27 on:** 12 January, 2012, 12:39:16 pm »

Quote from: MattH on 12 January, 2012, 12:11:49 pm

Quote
After completely killing my Garmin the first night of PBP I have avoided all use of hub powered USB chargers. I think it was the fault of my homemade model, but I know of at least two cases of different eWerk units permanently disabling the USB communications function on Garmins. Riding with the headlight on to stabilize the power spikes on high speed descents appears to provide some protection.

Interesting. My PedalPower Super-I-Cable ceases supplying power to my Garmin Edge 800 when my Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ Cyo Senso Plus comes on. Don't know if this is a function of having a battery in the Super-i-Cable or my pedalling speed. I wonder to if the battery assists in providing a buffer or protection for the Edge 800.

Andrew

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #28 on:** 12 January, 2012, 01:12:09 pm »

Quote from: frankly frankie on 12 January, 2012, 12:36:58 pm

Quote from: PeteJ on 10 January, 2012, 09:16:27 am
I just want something to keep my Garmin Dakota running through long Audax without having to faf with batteries. Fortunately the Dakota uses AA's so carrying/buying spares en route is not a problem. I just want reduce hassle/faffage.

Since it's an AA model, I really don't see how anything could be less faff than carrying spares and replacing them at intervals.
NB 'at intervals' not 'when necessary'. I wouldn't wait for the battery to run right down and the unit switch off - I'd have a conservative estimate of runtime (say 12 hours or whatever) and replace when convenient at around that time.

FYI, I've had 18hours out of 2AAs in my Garmin Hcx legend. the unit doesn't suddenly switch off either, it gives a warning and you have quite a while before you have to switch batteries.

Kim · « **Reply #29 on:** 12 January, 2012, 02:10:31 pm »

Quote from: PeteJ on 12 January, 2012, 08:39:59 am

So the PP+ has over voltage protection then? Is that what they're saying?

Yes. They actually gave details of how the protection circuit works, and by all accounts it's both clever and extremely energy-efficient.

andrew_s · « **Reply #30 on:** 12 January, 2012, 02:22:52 pm »

B+M quote a miniscule figure for the no load drag on the hub when using an e-Werk - far lower than it would be it the hub were simply shorted. Presumably the no load impedance is such that the 50V or whatever that the hub gives only puts a few mA through it.

Somnolent · « **Reply #31 on:** 12 January, 2012, 02:40:33 pm »

Well if Kim says it's clever that will do for me.
PP+ SuperI cable ordered

PeeJay · « **Reply #32 on:** 12 January, 2012, 03:28:51 pm »

Quote from: frankly frankie on 12 January, 2012, 12:36:58 pm

Quote from: PeteJ on 10 January, 2012, 09:16:27 am
I just want something to keep my Garmin Dakota running through long Audax without having to faf with batteries. Fortunately the Dakota uses AA's so carrying/buying spares en route is not a problem. I just want reduce hassle/faffage.

Since it's an AA model, I really don't see how anything could be less faff than carrying spares and replacing them at intervals.
NB 'at intervals' not 'when necessary'. I wouldn't wait for the battery to run right down and the unit switch off - I'd have a conservative estimate of runtime (say 12 hours or whatever) and replace when convenient at around that time.

Agreed, the faffage of changing batteries is minimal, especially if coincided with controls. But it is still something to remember to do.
Also if I could use the generator to keep the Garmin running, I could use the backlight more or even have it permanently on during the night.
Besides, I like the idea of the technology

and I'm carrying a hub dynamo around so I might as well use it!

PeeJay · « **Reply #33 on:** 12 January, 2012, 03:34:06 pm »

Very interested in the PP+ SIC now.

However.....

Quote from: Aushiker on 12 January, 2012, 12:39:16 pm

Interesting. My PedalPower Super-I-Cable ceases supplying power to my Garmin Edge 800 when my Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ Cyo Senso Plus comes on. Don't know if this is a function of having a battery in the Super-i-Cable or my pedalling speed. I wonder to if the battery assists in providing a buffer or protection for the Edge 800.

Andrew

Does the cable not power the Garmin at all with the light on, not even from the cable's internal battery?

tom_e · « **Reply #34 on:** 12 January, 2012, 03:41:01 pm »

Quote from: PeteJ on 12 January, 2012, 03:28:51 pm

Also if I could use the generator to keep the Garmin running, I could use the backlight more or even have it permanently on during the night.

You might find you can leave it on anyway at night. I did some testing on the Oregon (very similar to the Dakota, I suspect), and on a low level it doesn't have too great an impact on the battery life. You don't usually need or want a high level at night.

I discovered later that leaving it on in the dark seems to make me travel sick, mind...

Frere · « **Reply #35 on:** 12 January, 2012, 04:17:25 pm »

Which system - ewerk - dahon- PP+ or the Tout terrain has the tentative consensus for being a robust, solid, well designed, faffree system?

Frere

Kim · « **Reply #36 on:** 12 January, 2012, 04:21:53 pm »

Quote from: tom_e on 12 January, 2012, 03:41:01 pm

Quote from: PeteJ on 12 January, 2012, 03:28:51 pm
Also if I could use the generator to keep the Garmin running, I could use the backlight more or even have it permanently on during the night.

You might find you can leave it on anyway at night.

I've done numerous FNRttCs with the backlight of my Vista HCx permanently on at low brightness, and still had change from a single set of NiMHs.

aidan.f · « **Reply #37 on:** 13 January, 2012, 07:12:45 am »

Update from food processor man

I have a design for a simple limiter circuit that should be compatible with Dahon + Other models (ie home brew) as an after market fit.
will be deveoping and testing soon....

As previously posted if anyone would like to send me some hardware ~~I will food process it~~ test it to see if it has a similar limiter to the Pedal Power and return in working condition. I can do this by external meausurment using the processor

I have been told that the PP limiter has less drag than running with the hub switched off. The eWerk appears to be the same.

Quote

B+M quote a miniscule figure for the no load drag on the hub when using an e-Werk - far lower than it would be it the hub were simply shorted. Presumably the no load impedance is such that the 50V or whatever that the hub gives only puts a few mA through it.

Counter intuitively shorting the hub reduces the drag

Interesting that we now have reports of Faulty eWerks.....

Colin's PP had a simple assembly fault - the input lead was trapped under a brass pillar and shorting the Hub

Deano · « **Reply #38 on:** 13 January, 2012, 07:19:00 am »

Sleepy, do you want the (broken) governor thingy off my Reecharge? I'm sure you could fix it and work out how to get it to charge something other than the proprietary USB battery.

If not, it's going in the bin.

aidan.f · « **Reply #39 on:** 13 January, 2012, 08:29:59 am »

Probably not. Repairing is hard have you seen modern circuit boards? For components read size of grains of sea salt.
Might be worth an autopsy when you get back

aidan.f · « **Reply #40 on:** 13 January, 2012, 08:40:36 am »

Quote

Which system - ewerk - dahon- PP+ or the Tout terrain has the tentative consensus for being a robust, solid, well designed, faffree system?

Frere

Ask an engineer .. depends on what you want

Dahon. We know it is fundamentally flawed when used with a SON and Possibly Shimano Hubs. but will be O.K. with bottle
eWerk......

Quote

I know of at least two cases of different eWerk units permanently disabling the USB communications function on Garmins. Riding with the headlight on to stabilize the power spikes on high speed descents appears to provide some protection.

Pedal Power one failure due to poor assembly (short on input lead) that any 1/2 compotent technician could have fixed in 15 mins.
Tout Terrain I know nothing.... but If you only have one bike seems a neat idea. Who here has only one bike?
As we all kno.......n+1. The ideal number of bikes

Frere · « **Reply #41 on:** 13 January, 2012, 08:46:38 am »

Can't be the Dahon for me then. 2 x SON 28's and a Shimano N72. Leaning towards the PP+ SIC at the moment.

Frere

andrew_s · « **Reply #42 on:** 13 January, 2012, 01:43:16 pm »

Quote from: Sleepy on 13 January, 2012, 07:12:45 am

Counter intuitively shorting the hub reduces the drag

Have you tried that?
When I first had DIY switches for 2 x Lumotec Oval, I got the wiring* wrong so that both lights off shorted the hub. I noticed because of the increased vibration through the forks.

*
the intention was to have an independent switch for each light. With the normal primary/secondary set up, if the primary bulb blows you've no light until you replace it - you can't just switch over to the other light without stopping.

Aushiker · « **Reply #43 on:** 13 January, 2012, 02:03:39 pm »

Quote from: PeteJ

Does the cable not power the Garmin at all with the light on, not even from the cable's internal battery?

I have looked into this a bit more and I suspect my issue as reported might have been operator error. I was using the Super-i-Cable switch off, so in effect it was an interface between the dynamo and the Garmin.

It seems from my reading of the instructions

is that I should have had the Super-i-Cable turned on. This way it would have provided power to the Garmin from its battery and in turn it would have shared the dynamo power with the light and recharging of the battery at the same time. I also think my slow speeds (I averaged around 12 km/h IIRC) wouldn't have helped.

Regards
Andrew

Kim · « **Reply #44 on:** 13 January, 2012, 02:12:15 pm »

Quote from: Deano on 13 January, 2012, 07:19:00 am

Sleepy, do you want the (broken) governor thingy off my Reecharge? I'm sure you could fix it and work out how to get it to charge something other than the proprietary USB battery.

Quote from: Sleepy on 13 January, 2012, 08:29:59 am

Probably not. Repairing is hard have you seen modern circuit boards? For components read size of grains of sea salt.
Might be worth an autopsy when you get back

It's easily repairable: basic through-hole components on a single-sided PCB. The case prises open without special tools. I repaired boab's a while ago. Assuming the same failure mode, it'll need a new electrolytic capacitor and 7806 regulator.

Unfortunately, there isn't room inside the case to cram in some sort of voltage limiter, or even a capacitor with a higher voltage rating. So unless the rider is slow or does the job of the voltage limiter manually, it's likely to fail again in the same way.

aidan.f · « **Reply #45 on:** 13 January, 2012, 05:25:11 pm »

Kim, looked through your Dahon thread - that's a toy!

andrewc · « **Reply #46 on:** 14 January, 2012, 11:16:03 am »

A write up on the PedalPower unit here http://middleagecyclist.blogspot.com/2011/05/pedal-power.html

At their current offer of £89.39 inc delivery that's quite tempting. http://www.pedalpower.com.au/page30.html

Aushiker · « **Reply #47 on:** 14 January, 2012, 11:56:29 pm »

Quote from: andrewc on 14 January, 2012, 11:16:03 am

A write up on the PedalPower unit here http://middleagecyclist.blogspot.com/2011/05/pedal-power.html

That is a good review. It tipped the balance for me in favour of Super-i-Cable. That plus the battery setup in the PedalPower.

Andrew

aidan.f · « **Reply #48 on:** 15 January, 2012, 03:59:42 pm »

I have just posted the solution to the Dahons terminal failure onto the end of Kim's review
http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40524.msg836662#msg836662

aidan.f · « **Reply #49 on:** 15 January, 2012, 04:05:07 pm »

If you buy a Pedal Power keep it dry this one was out in Scottish mist - The case is unsealed.

After soldering on a new contact (piece of springy brass and greasing the contact points, the connection was still intermittent so I added an O ring to pull the clip tight. This clip could be a reliability problem even without the ~~water~~ Scottish mist

This was the unit with the Cable fault - the lead had been trapped under a fixing here you can see what happened