Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[There707]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and just purchased a 2014 Zero Zf11.4 DS with the power tank option. I have noticed now about 4 or 5 times that when I am charging the bike, it just seems to stop before it gets to 100%. If I just unplug the turn the ignition on/off and plug it back in it starts to charge again. There has been two times now that the LCD flashes when it stops so I assume that that is some error, but have not been able to figure it out yet. Any ideas?

BTW, Is there anyone on this forum from Calgary, AB?

[Richard230]

My 2014 S, with the power tank, stops charging at 98%.  Then it will start charging about 24 hours later and be back up to 100% after a few minutes.  However, this does not happen when I take my bike to my daughter's home and charge there.  At her house, it will charge up to 100% without stopping at 98% first.  The only difference that I can find between her power and mine is that she has 118V at her outlets and I have 123V at my home.   

Regarding your flashing green charging indicator, when it flashes slowly, that means that the bike is charging normally.  When it flashes fast, that means that the BMS is balancing the battery cells so that they all will have the same voltage before the charging stops.  It may do this a couple of times before charging is complete.  Assuming that the LCD you are referencing is the green charging light in the display that is normal and is nothing to worry about.   

[There707]

Thanks Richard. Interesting that you mention the voltage at your place. Mine is also higher at 123 -124 VAC.

About the green LED, it was not on or flashing during one of the "error" episodes. It was the LCD that had all characters flashing. It sort of looks like when the system boots up initially.

[Richard230]

interestingly, my entire LCD screen started going nuts on Saturday morning when I booted up for the first time.  It kept booting up and booting up without the screen returning to normal and the contactor clicking.  So I shut down the ignition and then turned it back on again and everything functioned normally after that.  But I belive I have an explanation for that behavior:  The night before I had reprogrammed the "custom" mode and I think I tuned off the ignition before the bike had finished reprogramming the change and then the BMS became confused when I turned the ignition back on the next morning.  That was the first time that I had seen that type of out-of-control display, before. I rode the bike for 80 miles on Saturday and Sunday and everything is operating normally again, plus my "custom" mode programming is functioning in accordance with my setting (0% regen with the throttle closed and 100% with the brake on). So all is well again.   

[AustinSZF8.5]

interestingly, my entire LCD screen started going nuts on Saturday morning when I booted up for the first time.  It kept booting up and booting up without the screen returning to normal and the contactor clicking.

Mine did the same thing when I turned the bike on, then off, then on again within a few seconds. After turning the bike on, I caught the key when pulling my hand back which shut it off, and I immediately turned it back on. It did this "rolling reboot" thing that you describe above. I turned it off, let it sit for 10 seconds or so, then back on and it started up fine. Really freaked me out, this was maybe 3 or 4 days after purchase, I thought I'd broken my new baby!

Did your headlight come on? Mine stayed off while it was doing this.

[Richard230]

interestingly, my entire LCD screen started going nuts on Saturday morning when I booted up for the first time.  It kept booting up and booting up without the screen returning to normal and the contactor clicking.

Mine did the same thing when I turned the bike on, then off, then on again within a few seconds. After turning the bike on, I caught the key when pulling my hand back which shut it off, and I immediately turned it back on. It did this "rolling reboot" thing that you describe above. I turned it off, let it sit for 10 seconds or so, then back on and it started up fine. Really freaked me out, this was maybe 3 or 4 days after purchase, I thought I'd broken my new baby!

Did your headlight come on? Mine stayed off while it was doing this.

I was outside at the time and was looking at the screen dance and not at my headlight, so I don't know if it was on or off.  I was just happy to see the screen go back to normal, hearing the contactor switch click and then being able to ride off.   

[Mr. Fusion]

I had kind of the same Situation lately (2014DS, powertank):
Either charing stoped before 100% or the display was not correctly updated. Once the display showed 74% with solid green charger light. When I plugged the bike off, waited some time and then plugged it in again it continued charging.

Maybe the BMS has probems with the power tank?

[There707]

I had kind of the same Situation lately (2014DS, powertank):
Either charing stoped before 100% or the display was not correctly updated. Once the display showed 74% with solid green charger light. When I plugged the bike off, waited some time and then plugged it in again it continued charging.

Maybe the BMS has probems with the power tank?

I am convinced this is a bug. Mr. Fusion is seeing what I am and it happend again last night.  After yesterday's ride (132km with 10% left) I plugged it in. I looked at it this afternoon with a charge of 91% a solid green charge light and a charge time left of 00:00. I then tried to connect my phone to the system and it appeard to work but would not show the bluetooth icon on the LCD or update the realtime stats on my phone. At this point I just turned on the ingintion and imediately my phone connected and I heard the contactor switch in. It started charging again showing 01:01 time left to charge. I turned the ignition off to continue the charge.

This isn't tough to workaround, but sure isn't convienent

[Richard230]

I seem to recall having issues like this when my power tank was first installed and not communicating properly with the main BMS.  However, after a new power tank module was installed, my BMS firmware updated and a bent connector pin located by a Zero technician at my dealer's shop, all of my problems went away and everything has been working perfectly since then.  It does sound like a bug is running around your electronics and perhaps a new firmware flash is in order.

Until you can get a re-flash I recommend that you continue riding and charging.  Maybe things will sort themselves out while you are waiting for an appointment with your dealer.  If not, you certainly have a warranty claim that should be addressed as this is not the way the bike with a power tank installed should function.