OptiBike Touring Battery replacement
w1...@arrl.net
The three year old optional touring battery for my OptiBike R11 weakened and went totally dead over a period of a couple of months. I opened the case, removed the battery and determined that the BMS was partially dead and six batteries in one of the 13 groupings were dead.(0.6 volts)
Internet exploration and phone calls were initially negative and I finally, long story, ended up corresponding with Mrs. Jenny Lee at AAATECH in China. I had seen quotes of $78 each in minimum quantities of five for the BMS but Jenny lent a sympathetic ear and the promised price ended up at about $25 and she could agree to sell me just one piece.
But - as I explored further into my battery pack I discovered a great deal of difference in my 18650's after carefully discharging and recharging them one group at a time. I inquired further about buying 18650's and learned that Mrs. Lee's company not only dealt with BMS's but their primary business was fabricating complete battery packs. I further learned that at some point they were actually a battery supplier to Opti.
I opted to have a complete battery (seventy eight 18650's)with BMS built at a cost of just under four hundred dollars. Design was a detailed procedure beginning with photos I sent to show the shape and dimensions of the TOURING BATTERY interior. When the battery was complete Jenny returned almost a dozen photos with an accompanying metric ruler to show compliance (length, width & height) with my dimensional needs. The original battery was 48 volts @ 15Ah and the new pack is 48 volts at 20Ah.
Should this information be of value to anyone, it is accompanied with my utmost satisfaction for how patiently and professionally Mrs. Jenny Lee dealt with my need.
Respectfully,
John Maguire
Seattle
Tel: 86-755-26471535-8008 Mb: 86 185 6669 6146
Fax: 86-755-26471537 Skype: jenny.lee1989
Email: sal...@ayaatech.com sal...@ayaatec.com
Web: www.ayaatech.com www.ayaatech.en.alibaba.com
6M unit,Maple Leaf building, NanShan Avenue, Nanshan District,
Shenzhen city, Guangdong Province, China PC:518054