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Author Topic: Roasting hot power tank  (Read 1404 times)

CrashCash

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Roasting hot power tank
« on: March 07, 2016, 12:57:09 AM »

So I was in the garage and my SR was on charge for about 7 hours. I happened to put my hand on top of the "tank" and it was roasting hot. I think this is the little "bump" housing underneath that has the power tank contactor, but I'm not sure what's in that little box. It wasn't hot enough to burn you, but it was too hot to hold, like a really hot ceramic coffee cup.

The main battery was cool to the touch and it was about 73F in the garage.

Is this normal?
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Electric Terry

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2016, 02:48:02 AM »

Just to be clear, you took off the tank plastics and were feeling the heat coming from the little bump at the top rear of the main battery box?  I've never felt mine while charging but contactors use about 30 watts or so to stay active and can get really hot 125C or 260 degrees F) and still operate just fine.

I just want to make sure it's not the power tank battery itself you are taking about.

I'll have to check my contactor next time I charge to see how hot it gets.  But 30 watts is like a soldering iron amount of heat, and if it has no airflow or way to cool I can imagine it could get quite hot.

I wish phones had a FLIR camera and you could just take and post a picture for us lol.

But if you didn't take off the tank plastics and feel this heat through them then that concerns me.  I haven't ever really felt around when charging but I've never noticed any heat when charging either.

« Last Edit: March 07, 2016, 03:00:54 AM by Electric Terry »
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CrashCash

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2016, 04:46:47 AM »

No, this was through the tank plastics, in the little raised area in the middle of that indent on the top, about 5" aft of the center pivot nut. It's a good spot to put your left hand when unplugging the bike.

I guess it's just a case of I've never gotten to the bike *just* as it finished charging that long, and it's probably not something to worry about.

I guess I will have to get that FLIR attachment for Android! :-)
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Electric Terry

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2016, 08:22:01 AM »

Ok that concerns me, because that is where the powertank is not the contactor.  That is further back towards the front of the seat.  Although it might be heat from the charger that was rising over 7 hours and hitting the top of the tank plastic from underneath.  i'll have to check it next time I charge from very low and see if there is heat like you describe.  My bike sits outside however, so there is constant wind and airflow currents, even if just a little.  I wonder if its nothing to worry about, but just because in the garage there isn't as much breeze blowing around. 

If you feel it again, it might be worth sending your logs to Zero and just ask them to tell you your battery temp of the powertank on the dates and times you noticed it.  I'm hoping the battery was very far from 50C and if it was, I think it might just be heat from the charger.  If your powertank battery is regularly at 40-50C when charging and the monolith isn't, there might be an issue with the powertank.  I hope not.

Whatever resistance would be causing heat in the powertank (loose bolt on the fuse or contactor) it would create much much more heat while riding vs charging.  If its not hot after riding, I can be fairly certain its just rising heat from the charger then in a location without any airflow which means the heat will just go straight up causing the hot plastic tank you describe.

Follow up and let us know what you find out.
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PhreaK

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2016, 05:47:01 PM »


I wish phones had a FLIR camera and you could just take and post a picture for us lol.

You mean this http://www.flir.com.hk/flirone/
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Erasmo

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2016, 08:41:54 PM »

Cat has your back with the S60 with integrated IR cam: http://www.catphones.com/en-gb/phones/s60-smartphone

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CrashCash

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2016, 08:59:42 AM »

Went to check it tonight after charging from about 40%.

Noticed it was at 78% but not charging.  Unplugged it.

Switched it on. Nothing. No clicks, no lights, no dash.

Plugged it back in and got the blink-blink blink-blink-blink that indicates a CAN error. And I don't have a dealer. Sigh.

The power tank's not hot though! ("Look on the bright side of life")
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grmarks

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2016, 05:01:33 PM »

Could it be a loose power tank connection? Now monolith and power tank are unbalanced? Definitely sounds like a trip to the dealer.
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Electric Terry

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2016, 10:38:35 PM »

So maybe the power tank is loose, or maybe the night you felt the heat the charger was failing and burning up inside.  Either fix should be simple, but yes you need to rent a uhaul or truck and roadtrip one Saturday to the closest dealer and pick it up the next.  Where do you live, florida right?
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CrashCash

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2016, 11:15:40 PM »

Well now it seems the power tank has failed. See "2015 SR with CAN error" for what happened and my troubleshooting.
http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=5591.0

My current dealer is a bit of a distance now, from east Orlando to Sarasota, Florida.
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grmarks

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2016, 04:02:01 PM »

Well now it seems the power tank has failed. See "2015 SR with CAN error" for what happened and my troubleshooting.
http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=5591.0

My current dealer is a bit of a distance now, from east Orlando to Sarasota, Florida.

Thats really sad news. Will it be covered under warranty? Hope it can be fixed without too much hassle.
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CrashCash

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Re: Roasting hot power tank
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2016, 06:35:39 AM »

I assume it'll be warranty since the bike's only about 15mos old. I'll give the shop a call when they open on Tuesday. I should have called today but I am too lazy! I missed going to Bike Week too. :-\

I'm *HOPING* they'll have a spare power tank and don't mind exchanging it, so I can avoid a couple nasty bus rides. That'd be extra nice with a cherry on top. I hope if I can demo the problem to the tech and he can get ahold of Zero and they have a spare, it'll all fall in line.
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