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Trying to diagnose EBC Model S Battery

JoeShelby88

New here
Joined
Nov 10, 2025
Messages
5
Location
Los Angeles, CA
I have an Electric Bike Company bike that will not turn on. I am first trying to check if the battery is good. It has 3 sets of connectors and I have tested for voltage coming out of them. I see no voltage coming out of them. I used the center pin as ground and tested the rest of the pins. They appear to be HiGo type connectors. One has 3 pins (orange connector) and the other have 9 pins in different configurations. I then opened the battery and tested for voltage coming in on the main line. It has 54V coming in. I folllowed it up to the battery terminals and see the voltage is 54V at battery terminals. I then checked the voltage on 2 sets of wires coming out of the battery terminals and going into the controller. The first set (thicker wires) has 5V coming out. The other set of thinner wires had no voltage. This is all happening with the battery being plugged in. With the battery unplugged from wall socket, there's not voltage at all. Do you guys think the battery is bad? Is the controller bad? Any input or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

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First, what happened or was done to the system between the time it worked and the time it didn't? This usually greatly narrows down the things to check.

With the charger plugged into the battery, anything you read is probably just the charger voltage being passed directly out the battery connectors via the BMS wiring.

If the battery has no communications with the system, just a two-wire connection to the charger, and a two-wire connection to the controller, and no output when nothing is connected to the battery at all, the battery itself has a problem.

If hte battery has communications with the system, then it could be the battery *or* the system failing to turn the battery on for whatever reason.

With the battery not connected to anything, if you read a voltage on the charger input to the battery, but not on the controller output of the battery, then the battery's BMS has probably turned it off to protect the cells from damage that can lead to a fire, and hte battery would need to be replaced. (or repaired, if you have the tools, equipment, and skills to do replace all the cells (or at least the failed ones)).

If you read no voltage at either connector, it's likely the cells are completely dead, or the BMS is a common-port type isntead of separate ports for each.


If you read any voltage on the unconnected battery, post what you read for each connector.


If you want to risk trying to repair the battery instead of replacing it, you can open it up and check the voltages and post them here, first on the whole block of cells at it's main thick + and - wires before the BMS board, at the cell block itself, then
on each cell by placing your meter leads directly on each cell's terminals, starting at the most negative and working your way to the most positive, and posting that list here.

You'll also need to post pictures of the inside of the pack itself, including any cell markings, so we can help you find replacmeent parts.
 
Thanks for your response. It's been very helpful. It appears the bike just sat for a long time not being used or charged. That's probably why the battery is toast. I believe when you say "system" you are referring to the BMS which is inside the battery compartment itself? I have not opened the battery compartment itself as it appears to be sealed pretty tight so I can't disconnect the BMS from the battery itself to know if the battery or the system is bad.

I know the charger is good because with the battery removed, I get 54V to the battery prongs (where the battery clips into). I have left the battery charging overnight and have tested the voltage at the battery output pins (P+ and P-) and I get 5.4V which then dwindles down to nothing slowly. There are also output pins C+ and C- with the same voltage pattern as P+ and P-. Finally there are C+ and C- pins with zero voltage. Sorry if my explanation is clear. I have never worked on E-Bike batteries. My conclusion is basically the battery is bad for either it's cells or BMS system. What are your thoughts?
 
Thanks for your response. It's been very helpful. It appears the bike just sat for a long time not being used or charged. That's probably why the battery is toast.

Probably. The most liely thing in this case is that one or more cells has been drained too far, so the BMS has shutdown and disconnected the cells from the input and output to prevent possible damage to them that could later lead to a fire. (since recharging cells that have dropped to far has that risk, and one can't know if it might happen until it does).

If is often possible to recharge the pack using the discharge port, but doing so means the cells are being recharged from a voltage lower than the cells were designed for (see above). Some people have been able to recharge individual cells directly with the pack opened up, again with the above risks. Or, again with the same risk, using a very low current (few dozen mA) charger at the minimal pack voltage (so it "can't" overcharge a cell), to recharge via the discahrge port.

The caveat with charging via the discharge port, especially with no access to the individual cells to check their voltages, is that the BMS cannot stop charging when a cell reaches full, so overcharging a cell is possible (and this has even worse fire risks than recharging cells that went too low--I don't know what added risk there is when *both* have happened ;) ).

I believe when you say "system" you are referring to the BMS which is inside the battery compartment itself? I have not opened the battery compartment itself as it appears to be sealed pretty tight so I can't disconnect the BMS from the battery itself to know if the battery or the system is bad.
The battery might be "potted" to prevent environmental intrusion. That makes it a lot harder to repair, however.


I have left the battery charging overnight and have tested the voltage at the battery output pins (P+ and P-) and I get 5.4V which then dwindles down to nothing slowly. There are also output pins C+ and C- with the same voltage pattern as P+ and P-.
That indicates the BMS has disconnected the cells, so what you read is a "ghost" voltage. This is because the FETs are not perfect switches, so there is always a tiny leakage current, which allows a slight voltage to appear, which is drained off by the multimeter's load as it reads the voltage.

A tiny charge can remain in whatever capacitors are in the system as well, whcih drains under any load.


Finally there are C+ and C- pins with zero voltage.
Those are probably not internally connected, best guess.

Sorry if my explanation is clear. I have never worked on E-Bike batteries. My conclusion is basically the battery is bad for either it's cells or BMS system. What are your thoughts?
It's almost certainly the cells; probably all of them need to be replaced (depends on how far drained they are--they're certainly drained belwo the BMS's safety cutoff for charging since it didn't recharge at all overnight). If you have no tools/etc it will almost certainly be cheaper to replace the pack than repair it.

Depending on the limitations of space you have with your bike, and whether you want to fit the new one in the same space as the old, you can probably use one of the cheap ex-EV modules from GreenTecAuto--some of them are less than a couple hundred bucks and include free shipping to at least most of the USA. Since your pack is 54v full, that makes it a 13s. You may be able to use a 14s or 12s as well; depends on your controller's design (and any LVC / HVC it might have).
 
Probably. The most liely thing in this case is that one or more cells has been drained too far, so the BMS has shutdown and disconnected the cells from the input and output to prevent possible damage to them that could later lead to a fire. (since recharging cells that have dropped to far has that risk, and one can't know if it might happen until it does).

If is often possible to recharge the pack using the discharge port, but doing so means the cells are being recharged from a voltage lower than the cells were designed for (see above). Some people have been able to recharge individual cells directly with the pack opened up, again with the above risks. Or, again with the same risk, using a very low current (few dozen mA) charger at the minimal pack voltage (so it "can't" overcharge a cell), to recharge via the discahrge port.

The caveat with charging via the discharge port, especially with no access to the individual cells to check their voltages, is that the BMS cannot stop charging when a cell reaches full, so overcharging a cell is possible (and this has even worse fire risks than recharging cells that went too low--I don't know what added risk there is when *both* have happened ;) ).


The battery might be "potted" to prevent environmental intrusion. That makes it a lot harder to repair, however.



That indicates the BMS has disconnected the cells, so what you read is a "ghost" voltage. This is because the FETs are not perfect switches, so there is always a tiny leakage current, which allows a slight voltage to appear, which is drained off by the multimeter's load as it reads the voltage.

A tiny charge can remain in whatever capacitors are in the system as well, whcih drains under any load.



Those are probably not internally connected, best guess.


It's almost certainly the cells; probably all of them need to be replaced (depends on how far drained they are--they're certainly drained belwo the BMS's safety cutoff for charging since it didn't recharge at all overnight). If you have no tools/etc it will almost certainly be cheaper to replace the pack than repair it.

Depending on the limitations of space you have with your bike, and whether you want to fit the new one in the same space as the old, you can probably use one of the cheap ex-EV modules from GreenTecAuto--some of them are less than a couple hundred bucks and include free shipping to at least most of the USA. Since your pack is 54v full, that makes it a 13s. You may be able to use a 14s or 12s as well; depends on your controller's design (and any LVC / HVC it might have).
Thanks for your thorough explanation. It makes a lot of sense. I have not been able to find a replacement battery pack anywhere. Can you recommend a place that might have a different version of this battery pack that would fit? I'm happy to provide more photos of the actual pack if you would like to look at it. Also, can you recommend a reputable place that could fix this battery pack? Finally you mentioned GreenTecAuto modules. I'm not sure I would be able to customize these units to fit. I'm looking for a more plug and play solution. Can I bother you for some links to these units to check them out?
 
Unfortunately I don't know anywhere that has a pack like that (at least, not a reputable one that I would trust), and the only people I know that repair packs are here on this forum (but I don't know if any of them repair anything other than the ones they themselves have).


Regarding GreenTecAuto, there are some packs like these that might work with your system and supply enough current. Some are quite large because they are high capacity but some are not so big as they are lower capacity.
There are probably others there that would work too.
 
I have an Electric Bike Company bike that will not turn on. I am first trying to check if the battery is good. It has 3 sets of connectors and I have tested for voltage coming out of them. I see no voltage coming out of them. I used the center pin as ground and tested the rest of the pins. They appear to be HiGo type connectors.

You are showing connectors coming out of the bike controller, The center pin in the 8 pin connector on the bottom is a ground though, but it doesn't have to be the same ground used on the other connectors, though it uusally is,

One has 3 pins (orange connector) and the other have 9 pins in different configurations. I then opened the battery and tested for voltage coming in on the main line. It has 54V coming in. I folllowed it up to the battery terminals and see the voltage is 54V at battery terminals. I then checked the voltage on 2 sets of wires coming out of the battery terminals and going into the controller. The first set (thicker wires) has 5V coming out.

OK. The first photo showed the controller outputs. No voltages seen. Now you said you saw 54 volts coming into it from the battery terminals. The battery therefore is charged and has 54 volts, no?

Here's where I would want to see your pictures to fill in what you were doing.. What and where were you measuring,.

The other set of thinner wires had no voltage. This is all happening with the battery being plugged in. With the battery unplugged from wall socket, there's not voltage at all. Do you guys think the battery is bad? Is the controller bad? Any input or advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Beats me. The way to check a battery is to measure its outputs, It comes out of the bike and has a connector. CHeck ther, If you don't or can't put up any more pictures to tell us what you saw, that's fine. I'll take you at your word that you had 54 volts coming to the controller but the battery is dead.
 
Unfortunately I don't know anywhere that has a pack like that (at least, not a reputable one that I would trust), and the only people I know that repair packs are here on this forum (but I don't know if any of them repair anything other than the ones they themselves have).


Regarding GreenTecAuto, there are some packs like these that might work with your system and supply enough current. Some are quite large because they are high capacity but some are not so big as they are lower capacity.
There are probably others there that would work too.
Thanks so much for your help. I'll weigh out my options.
 
You are showing connectors coming out of the bike controller, The center pin in the 8 pin connector on the bottom is a ground though, but it doesn't have to be the same ground used on the other connectors, though it uusally is,



OK. The first photo showed the controller outputs. No voltages seen. Now you said you saw 54 volts coming into it from the battery terminals. The battery therefore is charged and has 54 volts, no?

Here's where I would want to see your pictures to fill in what you were doing.. What and where were you measuring,.


Beats me. The way to check a battery is to measure its outputs, It comes out of the bike and has a connector. CHeck ther, If you don't or can't put up any more pictures to tell us what you saw, that's fine. I'll take you at your word that you had 54 volts coming to the controller but the battery is dead.
Thanks for your reply. I think we have figured out it's the battery (cells or BMS) that is bad. The charger is fine, it's pulling in the 54V. When charging the battery and then pulling it out and checking the output, there is no voltage. Thanks again for your input.
 
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