Adding Lights

[jhgoodwin]

Hi All,

I am interested in adding lights to my ebike (Ecotric 500W 48V folding fat tire mini bike).

I thought before changing it, I should seek some advice from those with more knowledge.

I am looking for a good way to get a bright headlight, and some decent tail light functions.

I thought about getting parts about like this and some wire.

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

The gist is that I'd tap into the battery's 48V line with a fuse for the headlights, hooking the handlebar switch to that circuit.
On the same switch, I'd hook up the DC-DC inverter to run the 12V power to power the tail lights.
I checked the one unattached black/red wire coming off the controller and it gives 4.5V when the bike is switched on.
There's another plug which has a rubber cover which I assume is the TTL connection.

The controller stow area is quite packed when I push all the wires back in, but could potentially be improved if I shortened a few wires or used a better wiring harness design.

Advice is welcome.

 

[ki11a]

Adding lights to ebikes is a great idea and running them off of our batteries is a cool idea too, but doing it wrong can unfortunately bust/brick our controllers (which has already happened to a few members), or worse.

I have thought about this and came up with something that I am going to do with my ebike when I get some spare cash.
Buy a spare Rechargeable 12V/8300mAh DC Output Lithium Ion Battery Pack, and hook up any LED lights you want to including Waterproof LED light strips which these are actually made to connect to.

You can use these DC Power Cable 12V 5A Plugs if you need any connectors which is super easy as its just splicing in some wires.

I think this is the best of both worlds solution to the LED lights.

 

[jhgoodwin]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll consider some designs, but I think you may be right. Also, since I was tentatively looking to have a 12V system to run an air pump, this may solve that problem, too and end up being nearly a wash on the cost.

It may just need some weather sealing, which shouldn't be too hard. I have some hi temp silicone coating and spray liquid tape I can spray on the internals.

Do you happen to have a suggestion for a horn? I think I will remove the little ring bell and put a horn since the bell is cute, but frankly useless at > 15mph.

 

[Sierratim]

I've done several DIY ebike conversions over the years. One used a 48V battery pack. I included a dc-dc converter when wiring this bike to power the 12V led headlight. Worked great. I donated this ebike to the local Bicycle Kitchen when the battery started to fade, but I kept the headlight and converter.

I didn't end up building another conversion or I would have incorporated the same light and converter into it as well.

 

[DavesNotHereMan]

I know this is an old thread but wanted to let you know it is absolutely possible. I built a 12v system for my bicycle long before I installed my BBS02. It has high beam, low beam, strobe, turn signals on front and rear, brake lights triggered by the levers, hazard lights, running lights, a car horn, 4 USB charging ports and even a wireless charger for my phone. I used to run all of that from a 8300ah 12v battery. Now I use a voltage converter tapped directly into my 48v battery. Whatever you do, do not use power from the motor to run your lights. You can use it to trigger a relay and run the lights on separate power (like a converter) but it can't handle the amp draw of a 12v system, especially if using a step up converter from 6v as I've seen some people try. Here's my bike below. If there's enough interest I may start another thread and do a full teardown detailing how I built it. It wasn't cheap or easy, about $600 total in parts and over a full week of designing, soldering and crimping. Hella worth it in the end though.

(A video would do the lights more justice but haven't got around to making one yet...)

 

[Sbeer6er]

Hi All,

I am interested in adding lights to my ebike (Ecotric 500W 48V folding fat tire mini bike).

I thought before changing it, I should seek some advice from those with more knowledge.

I am looking for a good way to get a bright headlight, and some decent tail light functions.

I thought about getting parts about like this and some wire.

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

The gist is that I'd tap into the battery's 48V line with a fuse for the headlights, hooking the handlebar switch to that circuit.
On the same switch, I'd hook up the DC-DC inverter to run the 12V power to power the tail lights.
I checked the one unattached black/red wire coming off the controller and it gives 4.5V when the bike is switched on.
There's another plug which has a rubber cover which I assume is the TTL connection.

The controller stow area is quite packed when I push all the wires back in, but could potentially be improved if I shortened a few wires or used a better wiring harness design.

Advice is welcome.

I also have an Ecotric E-bike does anybody in this forum know how to find the lights wire and how many volts it puts out? I ask because I noticed there is a light option in the display.