I'm an electric idiot so I'm wondering if there is a display that would give me better info on the condition of the battery and/or motor on my rear hub trike system. It's from gocarlite.com. My trike is my car so having info about potential issues before they arise would be really helpful so I'm not without transportation. But, as i said, I am capable of plugging plugs per instructions but not doing anything with naked wiring. Is there a swappable display that would drop in and give me better data? The KT LCD3 doesn't really tell me much, no motor temp or battery condition (other than watching voltage drop). Would I gain anything with a different display? Btw I also have a throttle if that matters.
-
Hello ES! We could use some help to get us past the finish line on building the new knowledgebase for the forum.
Can you donate? Please see our fundraising page. Thank you!
Can I replace my KT LCD3 controller on my system?
- Thread starter linberl
- Start date
A new display won't help you for things like motor temp, since you need a sensor in the motor to send that data to the controller, and then to the display.
Displays are manufacturer specific, so you need another KT display to work with your KT controller. Most KT display support the same functions, so changing it out may not help. If you want data, you could add a Cycle Analyst to your setup that will provide lots of data (Wh per mile, accurate battery levels, Ah used, min/max speed/current/voltage/power, etc.).
The other option, assuming you're electric idiot skills doesn't extend to programming, is to install Open Source Firmware on the display. That can provide a lot of additional functions and information, including supporting torque sensing PAS. There is a thread on this forum, if you do a search on Open Source, but it's over a hundred pages, but its the best place to start if you're sticking with KT.
Apartunis
Regular
Some KT displays (maybe or maybe not LCD3, I don't remember) do support temperature reading, but only if there's a temperature sensor and you set the parameter that turns that feature on. All of the displays are interchangeable on any KT controller as far as I know. Plugs can differ, so that's something to be aware of.
If you download the manuals for the KT displays you have access to, you can read through the P and C parameter settings to figure out which display does more of the things you want.
Having a display with lots of data available makes it easier to learn the quirks and limitations of an unfamiliar bike. After having learned those things, more components represent more things that can go wrong. In my experience, the simpler the e-bike, the more reliable it is.
So it sounds like a cycle analyst would be an addition to the KT nor a replacement. I'll look at what it does. I have no idea if there is a temp sensor in my motor. I guess I have to go identify all the various wires coming out of the controller to figure that out. Thx
If your controller has a throttle input, the CA can accept PAS (cadence or torque sensing) and throttle input and pass them to you controller, bypassing your display, but max output will be whatever it defaults to when running headless.
KT experts on this forum can tell you you what the default level is when not using the KT display.
docw009
Minor legend
This is a waste of money, Ms Linberi on a little bike like yours, The LCD3 can show voltage, and if you know the max and min range of your battery, that meter plus your knowlegde of how the bike runs is good enough to tell you the relative health of your battery,
For example, a 48V battery is full charged at 54,6 volts. It's hal charged around 48V, The bike and battery both have safety circuits that shut it off at 40-41 volts, So if you run below 44 volts, you want to be close to home as you;re close to shutdown, If your battery starts dropping in voltage fast, the voltage tells that tale too,
You can spend $200 on a Cycle Analyst to get that info, although it will tell you about battery consumption, how it is affected by speed, etc, Unless you like looking into the physics of bike riding, how mileage varies with hills, temperature, gears, etc....I think the LCD3 is enough.
For example, a 48V battery is full charged at 54,6 volts. It's hal charged around 48V, The bike and battery both have safety circuits that shut it off at 40-41 volts, So if you run below 44 volts, you want to be close to home as you;re close to shutdown, If your battery starts dropping in voltage fast, the voltage tells that tale too,
You can spend $200 on a Cycle Analyst to get that info, although it will tell you about battery consumption, how it is affected by speed, etc, Unless you like looking into the physics of bike riding, how mileage varies with hills, temperature, gears, etc....I think the LCD3 is enough.
Last edited:
RunForTheHills
Regular
You can take the low tech approach and buy a temperature sticker to put on your hub motor. As for the battery condition, it looks like that website sells kits, but they have standard 36V and 52V shark/jumbo shark batteries. You could buy a second battery from them or a reputable source like EM3EV and maybe get one with a bluetooth BMS as @docw009 suggested. You can get a battery that slides into the same cradle already on your bike. You could also get smart charger like the Grin Satiator.
