A couple of TSDZ2B questions

Joined
Apr 25, 2023
Messages
59
Location
North America
I have been studying the posts on the TSDZ2B.
1. Does the same OSF firmware work with the TSDZ2B as the TSDZ2? Does the V1 controller work with the 2B?
2. Do displays like the DZ40 for Bafang also work with Tongsheng or are there different versions. Same for cables like the IT4
3. My bike only supports a max 30T chainring. It seems there are 104bcd adapters but the TSDZ2 and TSDZ2B seem to be different even tho they are both 110bcd native? I see a custom 30T chainring solution but seems to be sold out most places.
4. Is the long axle breaking problem solved on the TSDZ2B for 100mm/120mm spindles? If not do the same bearing solutions work for the 2B as the 2?
5. For a MTB are the ground clearance issues a problem for gnarly singletrack?
6. It seems like the "100mm" axle can be tight for a 100mm bb. Can the axle be ordered and replaced if a 120mm is required rather than having to replace the whole motor?

Thanks for your advice!
 
SInce no one could bother to answer my questions I will answer the ones I have discovered by research elsewhere, for anyone needng the same answers.

I have been studying the posts on the TSDZ2B.
1. Does the same OSF firmware work with the TSDZ2B as the TSDZ2? Does the V1 controller work with the 2B?
It appears the latest firmware does work with both the TSDZ2 and TSDZ2B. The V2 controller can not be flashed but I have been told that most likely the only V2 controllers will be from German suppliers who need to meet higher German requirements. Motors from China will most-likely be V1.

2. Do displays like the DZ40 for Bafang also work with Tongsheng or are there different versions. Same for cables like the IT4.
The cable need different connectors so for displays and cable they need to be made for Tongsheng. In addition the displays need to be supported by the OSF firmware.

3. My bike only supports a max 30T chainring. It seems there are 104bcd adapters but the TSDZ2 and TSDZ2B seem to be different even tho they are both 110bcd native? I see a custom 30T chainring solution but seems to be sold out most places.
It appears that indeed there are differences between adapters for the TSDZ2 and the TSDZ2B. I found one supplier of the 30T and 26T custom chainsets in Italy. Future-Bike.IT

4. Is the long axle breaking problem solved on the TSDZ2B for 100mm/120mm spindles? If not do the same bearing solutions work for the 2B as the 2?
Yes the extra bearings solution appears to apply to the TSDZ2B and also appears to have greatly reduced the reports of long spindles breaking.

5. For a MTB are the ground clearance issues a problem for gnarly singletrack?
Most DIY conversions are used for road/commuting applications so I have not discovered if this is a problem off-road.

6. It seems like the "100mm" axle can be tight for a 100mm bb. Can the axle be ordered and replaced if a 120mm is required rather than having to replace the whole motor?
There appears to have been a extension kit available in the past but also appears to not be available since Tongsheng started shipping the 100mm and 120mm versions of the TSDZ2B.
 
2. Do displays like the DZ40 for Bafang also work with Tongsheng or are there different versions. Same for cables like the IT4.
The cable need different connectors so for displays and cable they need to be made for Tongsheng. In addition the displays need to be supported by the OSF firmware.
fwiw., this firmware should work w/tsdz2+bafang uart display: GitHub - danielnilsson9/bbs-fw: Open source firmware for multiple electric bike motor controllers.
there's a thread about it here on this section of the forum too.
 
Thanks for your reply.
So it seems there are three OSF firmware available?
1. The first by CassinHo
2. By embrusa
3. And this danielnilsson firmware that is primarily for Bafang but can work with Tongsheng given adapters from the Bafang standard connectors and original serial UART rather than newer canbus displays..
 
I've never used the first version, but it requires a reflashed LCD3 display and a DYI cable adapter, That by itself should be enough to suggest the mbrusa OSF which will work with many TSDZ2 stock displays.

It also allows configuration of distinct operational modes with different levels of power, with ability to select them from the display afterwards. It is really a well executed effort.

I've heard talk about bafang firmware working in the TSDZ2, but that's probably from a widely inaccurate ChatGP AI summary, Different processors. Different registers, No torque sensor hardware. How can it work?

EDIT: I don't believe the TSDZ2 is a motor you want to take off road. Light duty, light construcion. Low output. Known to be fragile.
 
Last edited:
I've heard talk about bafang firmware working in the TSDZ2, but that's probably from a widely inaccurate ChatGP AI summary, Different processors. Different registers, No torque sensor hardware. How can it work?
By writing portable C - absolutely no issues there. There's ofc. different binaries for all of them.
 
I decided to buy a TSDZ2B pre-flashed with embrusa OSF to make sure I was getting a V1 controller.
Thanks for the info.
FYI: I bought a TSDZ2B from PSWpower last week to avoid future tariff charges should they ever happen. . Shipped in less than a week for $260.

It is programmable. I just read out the original firmware and put it back in,

Drawback of buying a preprogrammed TSZD2B is you can't upgrade it if any new features show up. That said, I'm still using the older release.
 
I don't see why. If it has been programmed once it must have a v1 controller and there is no reason you can not change the software.
I bought mine from FlyCutyCat.com because I wanted a 120mm axle for a fat bike. ( yes I know about the long axles)
 
I meant that the owner will probably want the knowledge and tools to reprogram the motor later. Some buy a pre-programmed OSF motor because they don't ever want to do it themselves, but the default selections may not suit them.

I
 
Last edited:
AH, no I just wanted to be sure that I was buying a V1 controller. I did find axles with extensions so I can also make sure I have what it takes to work on my bottom bracket. So I don't make the wrong guess and end up with a boat anchor.
 
This is the age old game whether a TSDZ2 or TSDZ2B has got a V1 or V2 controller fitted, I have reprogrammed the controllers on a number of bikes I have built and so far the drives I have brought from PSWPower and Aliexpress have been V1 controllers, the only one that had a V2 was a drive I got cheap from Germany, so I changed V2 controller to a V1, second thing I will say, if you order from PSWPower or Aliexpress and pick Germany as the dispatch point I would think it will odds on the drive will have a V2 controller.

I have emailed Tongsheng directly a few times and have not got a straight answer from them. All they kept asking was what make of bike I had, strip the motor and look at the controller, I have previously said it's the TSDZ2(B) kits I was using to retrofit to a bike, see below.

Hello,
Sorry for my late reply.
Could you tell me your e-bike's brand?
In addition, if you can, you can find a professional to help you take apart the motor to see the controller's parameters.
You only tell me the motor type, I can't help you to determine it, because some controllers are customized.
Thank you so much~
Have a nice day~

Best regards
Tongsheng

Address: Tongda Road 1875-8,Suzhou,215124,Jiangsu,China
Website: Suzhou Tongsheng Electric Appliances Co., Ltd. Motor Meter Controller
 
That response is consistent with the fact that controllers that can not be changed because of the strict German laws on ebike max speed. Also I see OEM brands that are clearly Tongsheng produced and they could have custom controllers for some feature the client wants.
It is very confusing to the beginner tho. The reports that the OSF firmware dramatically improves performance and or allows you to use a particular display you prefer makes it important to get a motor that can be flashed. Otherwise you can spend hundreds on a boat anchor.
These forums can be invaluable yet the information is buried in Titles that are not relevant or the thread fades off into the sunset not documenting what the final results have been. Like the axles breakage problem appears to be solved for the most part with the newest axles and the multiple support bearing solution. But it is hard to find that latest info. Just the nature of forums.
Plus there are many different users with different opinions and often what you can't see is what the use case is for a particular user.
The answer to a question may be very different from different users.
Cheers
 
Re your earlier comment, I prefer the Enerpower DZ41 Display UART Tongsheng with the compatible 6 pin 1.5mtr cable which I have grafted brake sensor cables into as I prefer to have brake sensors. Amazon seem to advertise a Enerpower DZ40 Display UART Tongsheng compatible tested on 2020, 2021 & 2022 drives.
 
AH, thanks for that post. I was wondering if the lack of brake sensor support with everything but the original display was something unique about the display or just a cable thing. So thanks, I now know that if I have an IT4 cable converted to Tongsheng 8pin at the motor I can indeed use the brake sensors. There is no place I have read this anywhere.
 
Here is another place to know Tuning elements I have made up my own cables before but have brought both the 1T3 6 pin and the 1T4 8 pin wiring harnesses, there are also alternative displays and other bits and pieces. My latest bike has now got Clarks HD-M3000 e-bike brakes for which I had to make a 1T3 cable for, it did have Clarks M3 brakes as in photo, pain to fit sensors to, now running 29" wheels rather a 27.5"r / 29"f combo, last job to do is fit modified RockShox 35 forks with a bottom bearing adapter to suit the 1.8" tapered steerer.

 

Attachments

  • mad7.jpg
    mad7.jpg
    4.4 MB · Views: 6
Great, I have a cooling kit for the TSDZ2(B)s have not fitted yet as I only lightly overcook these mid-drives I have for ride-ability only. Instead I use my Carrera Subway 8 hard-tail with a Bafang 500 watt geared hub motor to really mess with power wise. I am too old to break bones.
 

Attachments

  • IMG20220730111339.jpg
    IMG20220730111339.jpg
    5.6 MB · Views: 3
Amen to that. I use my M820 enduro bike most of the time but this project is to convert my B-Fat. Not worth trying to sell it in this climate so time to convert it. There is a Youtube video on a guy in the north that converted a couple of fat bikes and it looks like they do pretty well. I built a couple gavel bikes up with Sutto hub motors and they work quite well but for mountain biking I want a torque sensor.
 
For myself I have always looked at lightweight e-bikes, so have built in most instances bikes based on the TSDZ2(B)s with small batteries (36V / 48V 10AH), which have come in at between 18 - 20kgs, range wise due to the torque sensing I have got a consistent 25 - 30 miles range, I do have a bike with 14AH battery for longer rides but prefer the lighter bikes which are more agile. Do have a dual battery module so may have a go at using a 7AH battery as a range extender battery. For rear hub motors I use Bafang or MXUS and they seem fine.
 
That response is consistent with the fact that controllers that can not be changed because of the strict German laws on ebike max speed. Also I see OEM brands that are clearly Tongsheng produced and they could have custom controllers for some feature the client wants.
It is very confusing to the beginner tho. The reports that the OSF firmware dramatically improves performance and or allows you to use a particular display you prefer makes it important to get a motor that can be flashed. Otherwise you can spend hundreds on a boat anchor.
These forums can be invaluable yet the information is buried in Titles that are not relevant or the thread fades off into the sunset not documenting what the final results have been. Like the axles breakage problem appears to be solved for the most part with the newest axles and the multiple support bearing solution. But it is hard to find that latest info. Just the nature of forums.
Plus there are many different users with different opinions and often what you can't see is what the use case is for a particular user.
The answer to a question may be very different from different users.
Cheers
Hopefully the buried information will be easier to access once the knowledge base is up and fully functional. At least I think that's the plan lol.
 
Back
Top