Can I swap my existing controller with another one to derestrict and add a throttle?

[niftyifty]

Hey guys, I have a vengeance e spec and I want to upgrade it to fit a throttle and get it a bit faster. Is it as simple as replacing the existing suntour controller with a cheap chinese controller rated for 36v, 250w and adding a throttle? Can I keep using the suntour oled [canbus?] display or will i need to purchase a new one off AliExpress? Will the PAS sensor still work?

TLDR; WIll my vengeance simply be upgraded if I swap out controllers to add a throttle and increase speed?

Thanks

 

[James340]

I believe you have to get a compatible/matching controller and display.I just did 2 older BH bike's that were restricted to 20 mph.I left one as 36 volt and it now goes 25 mph.The other I went to 48 volt and it now goes 30 mph with 20 amp limit settings.I was advised to limit the amps to factory settings or less.

 

[niftyifty]

Great, tysm

 

[niftyifty]

is this relevant?

 

[E-HP]

Looks like they made an upgrade kit:

Hub motor ebike upgrade – ProEbike

proebike.co.uk

 

[neptronix]

Boy, that's a wimpy battery. Hopefully they have not factory locked it to the controller. That might be a barrier, unless you're willing to swap the battery too.

Controllers don't have standardized connectors, and prebuilt controllers almost never come with any kind of wiring diagram. Consider that your throttle, ebrake lever, pas sensor, etc might not work with the new controller simply because it's got a bizarre wiring scheme. You probably want to buy matching accessories while you're also replacing the controller.

 

[niftyifty]

Boy, that's a wimpy battery. Hopefully they have not factory locked it to the controller. That might be a barrier, unless you're willing to swap the battery too.

Controllers don't have standardized connectors, and prebuilt controllers almost never come with any kind of wiring diagram. Consider that your throttle, ebrake lever, pas sensor, etc might not work with the new controller simply because it's got a bizarre wiring scheme. You probably want to buy matching accessories while you're also replacing the controller.

Alright, I am thinking of replacing / upgrading to a 48v depending how much money I can save up
I have seen people on yt replace controller for this model with no problems, so hoping I can too
Thanks for the help.

 

[niftyifty]

Looks like they made an upgrade kit:

Hub motor ebike upgrade – ProEbike

proebike.co.uk

Thanks, if only I could afford that
Worth a shot contacting them asking how they did it, might get smth back.
Thanks

 

[E-HP]

Thanks, if only I could afford that
Worth a shot contacting them asking how they did it, might get smth back.
Thanks

I didn’t see you mention a budget.
After looking at a few of the video reviews on the bike (painful, since most of the reviewers have very little e-bike knowledge), I’d say you could upgrade the controller and display for about $50 if you source the kit from aliexpress, or maybe $90 or so if purchased from Amazon.
If you go that route, you need to do some legwork to identify a compatible kit, since only you can see how your existing components are wired and what connectors/harnesses are used for the parts you plan to retain (battery, motor, PAS sensor, etc.), unless you post pics. If you purchase a kit that works with both 36v and 48v, then you could upgrade the battery later without having to redo anything.

 

[niftyifty]

I didn’t see you mention a budget.
After looking at a few of the video reviews on the bike (painful, since most of the reviewers have very little e-bike knowledge), I’d say you could upgrade the controller and display for about $50 if you source the kit from aliexpress, or maybe $90 or so if purchased from Amazon.
If you go that route, you need to do some legwork to identify a compatible kit, since only you can see how your existing components are wired and what connectors/harnesses are used for the parts you plan to retain (battery, motor, PAS sensor, etc.), unless you post pics. If you purchase a kit that works with both 36v and 48v, then you could upgrade the battery later without having to redo anything.

Sorry for not mentioning a budget, that's my bad and was overlooked. I think I could spare a max of 100£ so everything seems to be working out currently.
I will probably be using a bafang/KT controller rated to both 36 and 48v.
From this video I think that I could keep the old motor, and the website you posted above mentions that I would not need to change the battery.
From there am I wrong to assume that I could easily add a bafang display and a throttle, throw in a PAS sensor and go on my way?
Will post parts when home and have some time.
Thank you so much for your help

 

[niftyifty]

E-mailed the ProEBike team and this is their response, looking into what they have told me to do.

 

[99t4]

From there am I wrong to assume that I could easily add a bafang display and a throttle, throw in a PAS sensor and go on my way?

Controller <==> display compatibility is not guaranteed. You will need to verify the compatibility either by studying the mfr. or vendor spec literature, or asking for more info from your ProEBike team, or searching around the internet for your candidate controller/display info, or perhaps somebody here that has direct knowledge will chime in. More commonly, random controller/display combinations are not compatible.

PAS and throttle capability depends on the controller's features.

 

[niftyifty]

Controller <==> display compatibility is not guaranteed. You will need to verify the compatibility either by studying the mfr. or vendor spec literature, or asking for more info from your ProEBike team, or searching around the internet for your candidate controller/display info, or perhaps somebody here that has direct knowledge will chime in. More commonly, random controller/display combinations are not compatible.

PAS and throttle capability depends on the controller's features.

great, tysm i'll look into getting a controller that is bundled w/ a screen, throttle and PAS as they seem to be in my budget )

 

[E-HP]

Do you have bike tools, like a crank puller? You could probably reuse the existing PAS sensor and not have to pull the crank. I think the KT controller will provide a superior riding experience vs a Bafang controller, but depends on your preference. Many versions of KT controllers have a motor harness that may be compatible with your motor. Probably would be worth your time to research, but if you have a soldering iron and crimpers, you could swap out connectors anyway. If it were me, I’d spend some time identifying the most compatible kit before hitting the Buy button.

 

[lnanek]

Even in cases where the new controller isn't compatible with the existing PAS sensor, I've managed to use split disc ones to add a new one without pulling the crank:

12 Pole PAS with Spindle Mounted Magdisc

CA3 Compatible Quadrature PAS Sensor, Split 12 Magnet Ring for Square Taper Spindle Mount

ebikes.ca

There's ones that attach to the chain guard as well.

 

[niftyifty]

Do you have bike tools, like a crank puller? You could probably reuse the existing PAS sensor and not have to pull the crank. I think the KT controller will provide a superior riding experience vs a Bafang controller, but depends on your preference. Many versions of KT controllers have a motor harness that may be compatible with your motor. Probably would be worth your time to research, but if you have a soldering iron and crimpers, you could swap out connectors anyway. If it were me, I’d spend some time identifying the most compatible kit before hitting the Buy button.

I don't have a crank puller however do have a soldering iron and equipment.
KT did seem to me as the more lucrative option, but as I am just a layman that wasn't cemented until you mentioned KT may be superior

I do have a few months, was planning to mod when my warranty expires but just wanted to research a bit.

Only problem now remaining is to figure out how to convert the 9 pin motor cable.
Thanks

 

[E-HP]

Even in cases where the new controller isn't compatible with the existing PAS sensor, I've managed to use split disc ones to add a new one without pulling the crank:

12 Pole PAS with Spindle Mounted Magdisc

CA3 Compatible Quadrature PAS Sensor, Split 12 Magnet Ring for Square Taper Spindle Mount

ebikes.ca

There's ones that attach to the chain guard as well.

It would work, but the split disc sensors rarely come with cheap kits so blowing a quarter of the budget on it might be a last resort once the existing one is determined to be incompatible. If it isn’t, then he can decide on whether to spend $6 on a crank puller, or $25 on the split ring PAS.

 

[niftyifty]

Even in cases where the new controller isn't compatible with the existing PAS sensor, I've managed to use split disc ones to add a new one without pulling the crank:

12 Pole PAS with Spindle Mounted Magdisc

CA3 Compatible Quadrature PAS Sensor, Split 12 Magnet Ring for Square Taper Spindle Mount

ebikes.ca

There's ones that attach to the chain guard as well.

Looks good, didn't know that. Will definitely attempt to use that.
Thanks for that

 

[niftyifty]

It would work, but the split disc sensors rarely come with cheap kits so blowing a quarter of the budget on it might be a last resort once the existing one is determined to be incompatible. If it isn’t, then he can decide on whether to spend $6 on a crank puller, or $25 on the split ring PAS.

Oh, did forget that it would come with a kit!
Will see how it goes but may just stick with the one in the kit
Thanks to you all.

 

[E-HP]

Only problem now remaining is to figure out how to convert the 9 pin motor cable.
Thanks

If you post a pic of the motor connector, there are KT experts on this forum that can tell you right away if the KT connector is compatible with te motor connector. If the motor is a Bafang, then it likely is, based on other posts.

 

[E-HP]

Oh, did forget that it would come with a kit!
Will see how it goes but may just stick with the one in the kit
Thanks to you all.

You will need a crank puller to use the type that come on cheap kits, which is why I said you can either get the split ring, or the puller, if the existing one doesn’t work. If you post a pic of its connector, you’ll know right away.

 

[niftyifty]

If you post a pic of the motor connector, there are KT experts on this forum that can tell you right away if the KT connector is compatible with te motor connector. If the motor is a Bafang, then it likely is, based on other posts.

Unfortunately a suntour motor but will update with a pic of the motor connector when I can.

 

[niftyifty]

You will need a crank puller to use the type that come on cheap kits, which is why I said you can either get the split ring, or the puller, if the existing one doesn’t work. If you post a pic of its connector, you’ll know right away.

Just left the house
Think this is it online?

What would you suggest, a split ring or get a crank puller as I'm fairly certain a friend will have one laying around.
Sorry for the bother

 

[E-HP]

Just left the house
Think this is it online?

What would you suggest, a split ring or get a crank puller as I'm fairly certain a friend will have one laying around.
Sorry for the bother
View attachment 363630

That looks like a z19 connector, but other Suntour motor pics online have another type, that may be proprietary. Best to check the actual connector on yours.
If I were under a budget, I’d spend the money elsewhere rather than on the split ring PAS. If using something other than the existing one, for $25, i’d get a $6 crank puller, and a one piece PAS sensor for the same $25, so you don’t need to deal with discs.

Amazon.com

 

[niftyifty]

That looks like a z19 connector, but other Suntour motor pics online have another type, that may be proprietary. Best to check the actual connector on yours.
If I were under a budget, I’d spend the money elsewhere rather than on the split ring PAS. If using something other than the existing one, for $25, i’d get a $6 crank puller, and a one piece PAS sensor for the same $25, so you don’t need to deal with discs.

Amazon.com

Good call. Thanks
Will post a pic of connector in following hours as I will be home then