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[DonTom]

How does Zero keep the clock time when the contactor is open?


My 2017 Zero DS losses its time when the key is out for more than a few minutes. It either loses the time and starts the clock from near when I turned the bike off last time, or if off for a longer time, such as overnight, it resets to "0000" and the bike boots up with "EEEE" on the screen.


It has no effect on riding, just the clock memory is acting like it had a dead clock battery somewhere. By any change does it have its own clock battery somewhere or what powers the time when the bike is off?




-Don-  Gila Bend, AZ (RV trip with my Zero DS).

[ESokoloff]

My DS has a clock? (In other words I gave up on it years ago).

[Richard230]

The clock on the dash of my 2018 S works well and only gains a few seconds a month. My guess is that the display has a small rechargeable button battery in the device.

[TheRan]

The dash does have a battery in it, I don't know if it's rechargeable though. The manual only says that it's non-replaceable, however that could just mean that it's soldered in place so you may be able to get a replacement put in.

[DonTom]

The dash does have a battery in it, I don't know if it's rechargeable though. The manual only says that it's non-replaceable, however that could just mean that it's soldered in place so you may be able to get a replacement put in.

Have you seen it? Can you explain how to get to it? If I can get to it, I am sure I can fix it one way or another.


I kinda expected it had its own little battery. I wonder if it is in the unofficial service manual. I have not yet checked there.


-Don-  Gila Bend, AZ

[DonTom]

The clock on the dash of my 2018 S works well and only gains a few seconds a month. My guess is that the display has a small rechargeable button battery in the device.

I bet your guess is correct. And that will explain my problem. I mainly only ride my Zero DS on RV trips like the one I am on now. Used for very short trips, like to the Spaceage Restaurant I am in right now, from the Sonoran Desert RV Park, around two miles.


I am not giving the clock battery enough time to charge, as the contactor must be closed to charge it. But I assume it also charges the clock battery when the bike is charging, as well as when riding.  But that is not often either. I have not charged the bike for many months. I am still above 60% SOC. I have not charged at all during this trip.


-Don-  Gila Bend, AZ

[TheRan]

The dash does have a battery in it, I don't know if it's rechargeable though. The manual only says that it's non-replaceable, however that could just mean that it's soldered in place so you may be able to get a replacement put in.

Have you seen it? Can you explain how to get to it? If I can get to it, I am sure I can fix it one way or another.


I kinda expected it had its own little battery. I wonder if it is in the unofficial service manual. I have not yet checked there.


-Don-  Gila Bend, AZ

I haven't, I'm just going by what I've read. The unnofficial manual doesn't have any photos or instructions, just says that it's non-replaceable. I can't imagine it's too difficult to take it apart.

[DonTom]

It is a 2032  battery, not rechargeable, but this is a 2015 model. I assume it's the same, It looks like I could easily replace it.

OTOH, perhaps in later models as in my 2017, it uses a rechargeable. When I find out, I will update the info. here. But that won't be until I am back home.


-Don-  Gila Bend, AZ

[rgutt]

No model with that dash has a rechargeable battery. That dash is the same for all years that have it. And the battery is spot welded in place, if memory serves.

[DonTom]

No model with that dash has a rechargeable battery. That dash is the same for all years that have it. And the battery is spot welded in place, if memory serves.

Thanks for that info.


But does Zero only expect their bikes to last five years? Why else would they weld in a nonchargeable battery?


-Don- Tucson, AZ

[Richard230]

I am surprised that Zero didn't use a rechargeable coin battery in their display. I have a solar-powered remote temperature gauge and wind speed instrument in my backyard. It has been operating for years and uses a rechargeable and removable backup coin-size battery, which I found could be purchased on Amazon for not much more than a premium alkaline coil battery. Why use a battery that will die after a few years, especially one that is not replaceable without pulling the dash apart? It just doesn't make sense to me.

I wonder if that coin battery is covered by their 5-year battery warranty? 

[DonTom]

I am surprised that Zero didn't use a rechargeable coin battery in their display. I have a solar-powered remote temperature gauge and wind speed instrument in my backyard. It has been operating for years and uses a rechargeable and removable backup coin-size battery, which I found could be purchased on Amazon for not much more than a premium alkaline coil battery. Why use a battery that will die after a few years, especially one that is not replaceable without pulling the dash apart? It just doesn't make sense to me.

I wonder if that coin battery is covered by their 5-year battery warranty? 

Even the cheap Timex watch I am now wearing has a solar powered rechargeable battery that should last forever and a day. That would be a good idea for Zero too since the display gets a lot of sunlight.


-Don-  Tucson, AZ

[TheRan]

Don't rag on Zero too hard, they're not the OEM for the dash so using a rechargeable battery may not have been an option.

[DonTom]

Don't rag on Zero too hard, they're not the OEM for the dash so using a rechargeable battery may not have been an option.

Is Zero the OEM for anything in/on  the bike?  I think almost every part in it comes from China. It's glued together in CA with the Chinese parts.


-Don- Tucson, AZ

[TheRan]

Don't rag on Zero too hard, they're not the OEM for the dash so using a rechargeable battery may not have been an option.

Is Zero the OEM for anything in/on  the bike?  I think almost every part in it comes from China. It's glued together in CA with the Chinese parts.


-Don- Tucson, AZ

The frame, swingarm, motor, parts of the battery assembly, some of the electronics, the plastics, possibly the wheels (doubtful, but I also haven't seen them on any other bike before). Some of the components may have been manufactured in China but Calex is an American company, Sevcon was British, J-Juan is Spanish, Showa is Japanese, Gates is also American. The dash and headlight as well as some other small electronic components like the bar controls are probably the only parts that may come straight from a Chinese OEM.