The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Bafang BBS02: Assist Power Levels

    Although Gee’s Terry Symmetry is sized for female bodies, I managed to ride it up and down the driveway while watching the power display:

    Voltage52.5
    Rated Current24
    Max current18
    PowerPower
    PASAssistAmpCalcObservedRatio
    00%0.000~
    14%0.7382669%
    26%1.1575292%
    39%1.6857892%
    413%2.312310485%
    520%3.618918296%
    630%5.428425891%
    750%9.047345396%
    885%15.380367584%
    9100%18.094590095%
    Bafang BBS02 on Terry Symmetry – actual voltage

    The variations in the last column suggest my data-taking is … wobbly, at best.

    I think the displayed power does not come from actual current and voltage measurements, because recalculating the power using the nominal 48 V battery value produces an unnatural agreement:

    Voltage48
    Rated Current24
    Max current18
    PowerPower
    PASAssistAmpCalcObservedRatio
    00%0.000~
    14%0.7352675%
    26%1.15252100%
    39%1.67878100%
    413%2.311210493%
    520%3.6173182105%
    630%5.4259258100%
    750%9.0432453105%
    885%15.373467592%
    9100%18.0864900104%
    Bafang BBS02 on Terry Symmetry – nominal voltage

    The motor controller may measure the actual winding currents while generating the BLDC waveforms, but the values may not be available to the display at the end of the cable. If Bafang documented the commands & responses, we’d know for sure, but they don’t.

    Those assist values come from Mary’s Tour Easy, a much heavier bike than the Symmetry, but the first few levels work well in my limited tests. The highest levels may be too peppy for Gee’s normal routes, but having some serious boost in reserve can defang (hah) the worst hills.

    Terry Symmetry - Tour Easy
    Terry Symmetry – Tour Easy

    IMO, the bike would burn rubber at the motor’s full 24 A current …