SHIMANO STEPS - Battery Charger Model: EC-E8004-1 is no longer charging my battery (BT-E8036 Shimano 630Wh, Li-ion battery pack, in tube). The battery is currently 55% charged. The charger just sits there with its light blinking once every two seconds. The light is a dark orange, but could be red, definitely not yellow or white. This happened suddenly. It has worked flawlessly for four years. (Shimano says it's a red light).
I checked that it was the charger by switching the bike on and riding it. No battery or motor fault then.
I asked ChatGpt for some advice and it was very good. One of the things it suggested after the above bike check, was to clean the contacts with a cotton bud and some Iso-propyl alcohol. I had to use a toothbrush because the cotton buds were too big. Then I used a small screwdriver (narrow blade) and a thin paper towel to scrape out the crap that has accumulated in the bike frame socket. The towel also helped to dry off the IPA. Then I blew on it to make sure it was dry.
Switched on the charger and it worked first time! Solid red light. It's charging now.
That is the FIRST time in four years that I had given the contacts a good clean.
The problem was definitely in the socket not the plug, but it was definitely my fault!
I checked that it was the charger by switching the bike on and riding it. No battery or motor fault then.
I asked ChatGpt for some advice and it was very good. One of the things it suggested after the above bike check, was to clean the contacts with a cotton bud and some Iso-propyl alcohol. I had to use a toothbrush because the cotton buds were too big. Then I used a small screwdriver (narrow blade) and a thin paper towel to scrape out the crap that has accumulated in the bike frame socket. The towel also helped to dry off the IPA. Then I blew on it to make sure it was dry.
Switched on the charger and it worked first time! Solid red light. It's charging now.
That is the FIRST time in four years that I had given the contacts a good clean.
The problem was definitely in the socket not the plug, but it was definitely my fault!
