overtonmath
10 W
Does anybody have any experience with the company V-Power? Their batteries, motors, delivery time, and/or customer care? Thanks [*]http://www.vpower.hk/index.php
V Power Batteries
- Thread starter overtonmath
- Start date
999zip999
100 TW
They are just a roll of the dice. Do you fill lucky and can you afford to loose money.
Takemehome
1 kW
The last thing you want in life is a map because you can only see watt others have seen before you. Codes, regulations, precedence--the preconceived notion of what's right and wrong all pile up until you realize you’re an adult and swimming the formulae of other people's lives. 
DAND214
10 MW
In my experience, STAY AWAY.
Gets ther fast and dies even faster.
Dan
Gets ther fast and dies even faster.
Dan
dogman dan
1 PW
They have had a long history of hit or miss quality for batteries, when the packs were made from hundreds of sloppily assembled 18650 cells. The typical problem was that connecting tabs popped during shipping, and a 20 ah pack would arrive to your door with only 15 ah worth of the cells still connected. So 5 ah or more less capacity than expected was the norm.
However, if they are now using 5 ah pouch cells, they could be just as reliable now as other pouch cell lifepo4 packs. No more spot welded tabs, no more problem with them popping. The pouch cells connect with solder.
They tended to come with pretty cheap chargers too, but lots of bike batteries also come with the same inexpensive chargers.
The motor kits are "china cheap standard" To me they look like old designs of motors without built in disk brake mounts, similar to what was typical 5 or so years ago from golden motor, conhis, etc.
Back to the batteries, compare the weight of a 48v 20 ah pack with a 48v 20 ah pouch pack, such as pingbattery. If the weights are pretty close, the V power cannot be still made from 18650 cells.
However, if they are now using 5 ah pouch cells, they could be just as reliable now as other pouch cell lifepo4 packs. No more spot welded tabs, no more problem with them popping. The pouch cells connect with solder.
They tended to come with pretty cheap chargers too, but lots of bike batteries also come with the same inexpensive chargers.
The motor kits are "china cheap standard" To me they look like old designs of motors without built in disk brake mounts, similar to what was typical 5 or so years ago from golden motor, conhis, etc.
Back to the batteries, compare the weight of a 48v 20 ah pack with a 48v 20 ah pouch pack, such as pingbattery. If the weights are pretty close, the V power cannot be still made from 18650 cells.
Jason27
10 kW
Avoid Vpower and any batteries sold on eBay. They are horrible quality.
999zip999
100 TW
what do you want the battery for ? If for and ebike the battery must match the controller and motor. Cheap batteries cost a lot more.
overtonmath
10 W
999zip999 said:
The battery is for an ebike. The only thing that I seem to find when looking at controllers is the Amps with 25A seeming to be the standard, although that is just my observation, I really don't know. When you say the controller and motor must match, what exactly must match?
overtonmath
10 W
I'm still trying to decide whether I want a 48v 15Ah or a 36v 15Ah? Is speed the only difference between these two choices besides price? I haven't purchased a motor yet. If I run a 36v motor with a 48v battery will the motor get too hot? Can I even run it like that? I'm getting antsy to make a purchase, but am still feeling a bit in the dark as to which one to buy.
999zip999
100 TW
just buy a D.D. kit from em3ev.com and a battery with a C.A. and torque arms. Done . How many hills ?
overtonmath
10 W
All the hills that I that are in front of me?? I guess I don't know just yet. I think the longest is a 2000 ft climb over 5 miles.999zip999 said:
Which rpm do I want? The lower one for going up hills? Also what controller would be appropriate for me? I see 6 fet, 9fet. The only fet I know of is Boba fet and Jango fet. What are these controller mosfets anyway?
dogman dan
1 PW
1 figure out what you need. Go to map my ride or something like that, and find out what % grade you will be climbing. Short enough, like less than a quarter mile, can be charged up on momentum good enough. Anything over 8% for many miles, then I would start recommending a specialty motor. Weight matters, so if you are way over 200 pounds, it will take more power to get up hills.
In general, a typical kit has a 22 amps controller, which might be called 20 or 25. It will run well on a 36v 15 amp hour, 36v 20 ah, or 48v 15 ah battery. A 48v 20 ah battery will run fine, but be a real bitch to carry on most bicycles.
You should have no trouble with most steep hills up to 10% grade, with a 22amps controller, and a 48v 15 ah battery. Unless you weigh 300 pounds, or will tow a trailer.
Pingbattery.com has been selling reliable lifepo4 bike batteries for many years now. I have had two of them, and many thousands of happy miles.
In general, a typical kit has a 22 amps controller, which might be called 20 or 25. It will run well on a 36v 15 amp hour, 36v 20 ah, or 48v 15 ah battery. A 48v 20 ah battery will run fine, but be a real bitch to carry on most bicycles.
You should have no trouble with most steep hills up to 10% grade, with a 22amps controller, and a 48v 15 ah battery. Unless you weigh 300 pounds, or will tow a trailer.
Pingbattery.com has been selling reliable lifepo4 bike batteries for many years now. I have had two of them, and many thousands of happy miles.
USAEBIKECO
10 kW
We used V power batteries for a short time in 2009. It seems they have not changed much. Its hit or miss with those packs. Great price, but support and returns are non existent.
friendly1uk
1 MW
Takemehome said:The last thing you want in life is a map because you can only see watt others have seen before you. Codes, regulations, precedence--the preconceived notion of what's right and wrong all pile up until you realize you’re an adult and swimming the formulae of other people's lives.
You could at least look at the map.
early 20s ?
Takemehome
1 kW
friendly1uk said:
I was quoting his signature ( irony )
overtonmath
10 W
dogman said:
Do you know what the ping batteries are made out of? Are they prismatic?
I got a reply from Vpower as to what their batteries are made from and how they are built.
tongpo han <sosomum88@hotmail.com>
Sep 9 (2 days ago)
Dear friend
Thanks for your contact
The cell of the battery is 26650
The battery is welding
Have a good day
Thanks
The 26650 is a hard cylindrical model, not prismatic.
overtonmath
10 W
friendly1uk said:Takemehome said:The last thing you want in life is a map because you can only see watt others have seen before you. Codes, regulations, precedence--the preconceived notion of what's right and wrong all pile up until you realize you’re an adult and swimming the formulae of other people's lives.
You could at least look at the map.
early 20s ?
Just a gutsy and controversial way of saying 0wn your own life... be yourself... Don't be mad if you follow other's advice and don't like where you end up.
Actually, late 40s
dogman dan
1 PW
26650's is better than the 18650's. But I bet you they still assemble them the same way. Pack drops from conveyor to conveyor at the sorting center, and arrives with some cells disconnected.
Pingbattery is expensive, but there is a seller on Ebay that is known to sell similar pouch cell packs to pings. Some here have bought them, and are happy enough.
Sunthing is the guy to look for on E bay. I would still get that first pack from Ping myself. Each of my two pings lasted 3 or more years. The sunthing battery only comes in 20 ah. So a 48v 20 ah is a bitch to carry on most bikes. Too big, and too heavy, unless you cut it in half to carry each half in a pannier. It would work fine for the second battery, to carry on a trailer.
For your first battery, I still recommend the ping, and get that motor from EM3ev. A battery from EM3ev is also a good idea. Hard to beat that triangle bag and triangle battery.
Pingbattery is expensive, but there is a seller on Ebay that is known to sell similar pouch cell packs to pings. Some here have bought them, and are happy enough.
Sunthing is the guy to look for on E bay. I would still get that first pack from Ping myself. Each of my two pings lasted 3 or more years. The sunthing battery only comes in 20 ah. So a 48v 20 ah is a bitch to carry on most bikes. Too big, and too heavy, unless you cut it in half to carry each half in a pannier. It would work fine for the second battery, to carry on a trailer.
For your first battery, I still recommend the ping, and get that motor from EM3ev. A battery from EM3ev is also a good idea. Hard to beat that triangle bag and triangle battery.
dnmun
1 PW
26650 is better for sure. the risk with the old Vpower packs made with the 16650 was that the metal strap that ties the cells in parallel would sometimes short out on the anode end of the cell to the case since they don't use an insulating cardboard spacer under the strap to prevent it from cutting through the plastic shrink wrap sleeve on the case of the cell.
when the cell shorts out then all the power of those cells in parallel is delivered to the short so it can cause fires in regular operation. miles had a thread of a german cargo bike that had a Vpower pack that shorted and burned up the bike while the guy was riding it.
when the cell shorts out then all the power of those cells in parallel is delivered to the short so it can cause fires in regular operation. miles had a thread of a german cargo bike that had a Vpower pack that shorted and burned up the bike while the guy was riding it.
999zip999
100 TW
V-power has no pride. Look at many battery builds and failures of v-power.
ambroseliao
100 kW
VPower has very low quality standards. I had a 36V 20Ah pack from VPower that was very heavy and bulky. The ground wire came loose from the connector. It looked as if it wasn't crimped correctly. I had to rewire it. I sold it shortly after that. The two chargers they sent were dead-on-arrival. It cost me more to have them ship higher powered chargers. This may have been a scam too to get rid of bad stock. I have my doubts. Either way. Stay AWAY! 
Opening the box
http://ebikerider.blogspot.com/2009/06/vpowerhk-lifepo4-battery-unveiling.html
The bad connection
http://ebikerider.blogspot.com/2009/08/found-problem.html
Opening the box
http://ebikerider.blogspot.com/2009/06/vpowerhk-lifepo4-battery-unveiling.html
The bad connection
http://ebikerider.blogspot.com/2009/08/found-problem.html
r3volved
100 kW
I've had very good success with my 48v 15ah Vpower.
...though I reconfigured it into two modules mounted on each side of the bike. I did add a bit more bracing and some insulation between tabs and cells (nothing went wrong...I just figured I'd do all that while I had it ripped apart. The assembly didn't seem all that great, but I have over 500 cycles on it now and it's still working like day 1.
Shipping was BRUTAL. But for the abuse I've given it, it's held up well and has been worth it.
I'm glad I stripped it down though and added that bit of insulating strips.
Edit: actually I'd like to add that compared to my
Ping pack (48v 10ah)... Vpower doesn't even compare. The Ping pack was completely plug and play and I have never felt like I needed to tinker with it in any way. Vpower did teach me more...and I'm always willing to learn so it's a trade off I guess
...though I reconfigured it into two modules mounted on each side of the bike. I did add a bit more bracing and some insulation between tabs and cells (nothing went wrong...I just figured I'd do all that while I had it ripped apart. The assembly didn't seem all that great, but I have over 500 cycles on it now and it's still working like day 1.
Shipping was BRUTAL. But for the abuse I've given it, it's held up well and has been worth it.
I'm glad I stripped it down though and added that bit of insulating strips.
Edit: actually I'd like to add that compared to my
Ping pack (48v 10ah)... Vpower doesn't even compare. The Ping pack was completely plug and play and I have never felt like I needed to tinker with it in any way. Vpower did teach me more...and I'm always willing to learn so it's a trade off I guess
dnmun
1 PW
we have had a few threads on the new Vpower packs that use the 26650 format so i think it is fair to say that Vpower has changed their profile.
the chargers are actually ok except for the ones that have the ICL blow up. but that can be fixed easily, and the charger is quiet and puts out 5A too.
the thing that bothered me most was the risk of the parallel strap shorting out to the case on the anode end. i thought that was a fire risk and there was a german cargo bike guy that had big fire on his older type 18650 cells that caught fire. i think he had a 40A wide pack and it was laid out under his cargo bed so it was prone to short just because of his placement and design imo. but i am sure it caught fire because one of the paralleling straps shorted.
on the pack i worked on, one row had been dead from the factory and the guy got no use out of the battery and was too mental to get it replaced by Vpower so he lost everything. the other thing that bothered me was that the main connector plug where the two main red and black wires from the battery went into a crimped dual plug fitting but the wires were never even crimped into the plug and fell right out. but this is not uncommon since i have seen other batteries with poor or no crimp leading to loose connection on main conductor. so both the risks with the Vpower pack can be mitigated by working on it a little if needed when you get the battery.
the chargers are actually ok except for the ones that have the ICL blow up. but that can be fixed easily, and the charger is quiet and puts out 5A too.
the thing that bothered me most was the risk of the parallel strap shorting out to the case on the anode end. i thought that was a fire risk and there was a german cargo bike guy that had big fire on his older type 18650 cells that caught fire. i think he had a 40A wide pack and it was laid out under his cargo bed so it was prone to short just because of his placement and design imo. but i am sure it caught fire because one of the paralleling straps shorted.
on the pack i worked on, one row had been dead from the factory and the guy got no use out of the battery and was too mental to get it replaced by Vpower so he lost everything. the other thing that bothered me was that the main connector plug where the two main red and black wires from the battery went into a crimped dual plug fitting but the wires were never even crimped into the plug and fell right out. but this is not uncommon since i have seen other batteries with poor or no crimp leading to loose connection on main conductor. so both the risks with the Vpower pack can be mitigated by working on it a little if needed when you get the battery.
markz
100 TW
I know this is old, but all the way through this thread, I was thinking the exact same thing as dnmun.
Good to know about their chargers, but battery pack s/h is like $150 for 10-20days! Brutal indeed. Charger is $50 free s/h 1-2wks.
I added these guys to my ever expanding list of battery companies and eBay sellers. I will just pound it out here.
http://ru.nkon.nl - Russia
http://www.evvatech.com - China
http://www.batterysupports.com eBay user supower111 - China
http://www.batterybro.com - USA
http://www.sun-wapers.com - USA
http://www.atmocape.com - Europe
http://www.EBay seller sz_ohmygod - China?
http://www.buya123products.com - China?
http://www.OSNPower.com - China
OSN on Alibaba http://osn.en.alibaba.com/productgrouplist-220710673/LiFePO4_Battery_Cell.html
eBay seller sunthing28 - China? Good
http://www.FastTech.com is expensive, ~$100s/h batt packs, China?
Oh and of course the ussuals
http://www.EM3EV.com
http://www.ebikes.ca Canada
......I forget the others....... off hand.......
Good to know about their chargers, but battery pack s/h is like $150 for 10-20days! Brutal indeed. Charger is $50 free s/h 1-2wks.
I added these guys to my ever expanding list of battery companies and eBay sellers. I will just pound it out here.
http://ru.nkon.nl - Russia
http://www.evvatech.com - China
http://www.batterysupports.com eBay user supower111 - China
http://www.batterybro.com - USA
http://www.sun-wapers.com - USA
http://www.atmocape.com - Europe
http://www.EBay seller sz_ohmygod - China?
http://www.buya123products.com - China?
http://www.OSNPower.com - China
OSN on Alibaba http://osn.en.alibaba.com/productgrouplist-220710673/LiFePO4_Battery_Cell.html
eBay seller sunthing28 - China? Good
http://www.FastTech.com is expensive, ~$100s/h batt packs, China?
Oh and of course the ussuals
http://www.EM3EV.com
http://www.ebikes.ca Canada
......I forget the others....... off hand.......
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