LTWOO eGR

[kilka]

I don't have a voltage tool to check output. Can you try activating by unplugging and plugging the battery cable? In the meantime you can charge batteries in a universal battery charger.

Already did this 10000 times. How was your activation process? Did you used charging cable as it's described on Ltwoo official YT channel?

[trcycling]

Warnings first: Do with this under your own judgment only. No warranties given or implied.

That said, I just pulled my cable out, plugged it in to USB port and measure 9V with the pin positive.

That is, of course, unloaded and without any potential negotiations which makes it a little surprising to me. I thought 'dumb' USB power was supposed to be 5V until negotiated otherwise. The green light at the USB A end was illuminated and perhaps that circuitry is doing the negotiation with the brick and just delivering dumb 9V down the wire.

Good luck

PS: I think you already suggested you've done this, but just in case: You can, of course, charge the battery cells externally instead of through the RD cable. But that won't necessarily help a startup sequence (which I didn't recall being there)

[kilka]

That said, I just pulled my cable out, plugged it in to USB port and measure 9V with the pin positive.
That is, of course, unloaded and without any potential negotiations which makes it a little surprising to me. I thought 'dumb' USB power was supposed to be 5V until negotiated otherwise. The green light at the USB A end was illuminated and perhaps that circuitry is doing the negotiation with the brick and just delivering dumb 9V down the wire.
PS: I think you already suggested you've done this, but just in case: You can, of course, charge the battery cells externally instead of through the RD cable. But that won't necessarily help a startup sequence (which I didn't recall being there)

Thank you will give a try. I did charged the batteries to 100% ofc, but it doesn't help. There is no positive contact from the battery to the cable and there is some kind of controller in the battery which I cannot identify.

[kilka]

So with universal charger for my car's accumulator which is capable to set output voltage as low as 7V and output current as low as 1A I touched contacts on my rear derailleur for 1 second and then...

[amacal1]

So with universal charger for my car's accumulator which is capable to set output voltage as low as 7V and output current as low as 1A I touched contacts on my rear derailleur for 1 second and then...

... yeah? Did the magic smoke escape? You know all electronics run on magic smoke. If the magic smoke ever escapes, the electronics stop working.

[Phaxe]

... yeah? Did the magic smoke escape? You know all electronics run on magic smoke. If the magic smoke ever escapes, the electronics stop working.

It also might be the slippery pipes. The magic smoke leaks through the slippery pipes very easily.

[Walter-sobchak]

Has anyone else experienced a broken swing arm on the rear derailleur, as highlighted in the Trace Velo video?

I've heard of one other failure of the exact same nature and am curious how widespread this issue might be. I'm curious there's still old inventory of that first-generation component in circulation?

I'm currently building a cx bike with EGR and contemplating the failure during a race could be not good.

[trcycling]

I won't discount your concerns completely. That is a concerning video. But do consider the timing of that video. He was working with pre-release parts and it's now been a year and a half (if memory serves) of evolving product. LTWOO appears to do running changes without mentioning or documenting (publicly).

So, it is worth considering such things but calibrate any answers you get to timing.

[jonathanf2]

I just sent a message to 80 Design Store if the long cage and spare hanger is available for the EGR. I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask! 

[jonathanf2]

I just sent a message to 80 Design Store if the long cage and spare hanger is available for the EGR. I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask! 

80 Design Store said they have it in stock. So I put an order on both items. I’ll let you know when they arrive. 

[00Garza]

Secondly, the batteries that came in the groupset were bad. From 100% charge it went down to 67% in just one ride of approximately 30 miles. Not sure if those are faulty. Thankfully I had ordered a set of Vapcell F12 (https://liionwholesale.com/products/vapcell-f12-14500-3a-flat-top-1250mah-battery-genuine?variant=40620938330181) before the groupset so I replaced brand new batteries with Vapcell and after clocking in about 120 miles, the battery % shows at 91 - quite a drastic difference. I am guessing the battery life to get better after a few charge cycles.

That link is for flat top batteries. My eGR came with button tops. Did I get sent wrong batteries?
Not a battery expert. Is it ok if the mAh and voltages aren't exactly the same?

[trcycling]

• Voltage MUST be right. The actual voltage will vary by SoC (State of Charge). But the nominal voltage printed on the battery/spec sheet should match the requirement
• mAh is capacity. If it has more or less than designed, it should not cause a functional problem. So it's ok. However, it might contribute to an inaccurate SoC reading. The electronics are expecting a certain capacity and a corresponding curve of voltage and a higher or lower capacity battery will alter that. The software could adapt to it but I don't now if it will

I don't recall if button or flat top are the spec but get the right one. The wrong ones won't fit right in the carrier and cause you issues.

[jonathanf2]

That link is for flat top batteries. My eGR came with button tops. Did I get sent wrong batteries?
Not a battery expert. Is it ok if the mAh and voltages aren't exactly the same?

I'm just using these button top 14500 800mah batteries from US EBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255450254698

Sometimes the full charge status is a bit wonky, but they've never failed me on the road once charged.

[00Garza]

I'm just using these button top 14500 800mah batteries from US EBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255450254698

Sometimes the full charge status is a bit wonky, but they've never failed me on the road once charged.

Thanks! Do you get a decent ride time before needing recharge? Or just recharge regularly to play it safe?

[jonathanf2]

Thanks! Do you get a decent ride time before needing recharge? Or just recharge regularly to play it safe?

I've done weekend camping trips with no charging and they've held up. I don't think there's any need to go over 800mah with the batteries. Also I just recharge after a ride, since I have 3 LTwoo electronic equipped bikes. Sometimes a bike goes for a few days or a week of no riding since I put my bikes on rotation. Better safe than sorry!