Can I swap displays on my Rock Rider EST900 with a different brand?

[adej73]

Hi all, is it possible to change a display to a different manufacturer, if it has the same 6 pin connector

I've got a Rock rider est900.

 

[Greg Watts]

Hi all, is it possible to change a display to a different manufacturer, if it has the same 6 pin connector I've got a Rock rider est900.

Good, I've got what I need. The EST900 runs a Brose T motor with a proprietary Brose display system. Here's the answer for @adej73: Short answer: almost certainly no, and having the same pin count doesn't save you here.

The E-ST900 runs a Brose motor, specifically built for Decathlon. Decathlon even changed the display for the 2021 model year, but it was still a Brose unit.

The whole setup - motor, controller, display - is a closed Brose ecosystem. The core problem is that

displays aren't universal; even without CANbus they still use proprietary command protocols between each other.

So even if another brand's display happens to share a 6-pin connector shape, it almost certainly won't speak the right language to the Brose controller underneath.

Controllers from different brands almost always require their matching display to work correctly, as communication protocols differ.

What can work is swapping between Brose-ecosystem displays. Brose did produce different units (the Comfort screen among them) that share the same interface. If you're after a better display experience, your best bet is sourcing another Brose-compatible unit rather than trying to cross brands. Worth checking what Decathlon list as spare parts for the EST900, as they occasionally offer display upgrades through their own parts catalogue.

What specifically don't you like about the current display? That might help narrow down whether there's a Brose alternative that solves your problem.

 

[adej73]

Good, I've got what I need. The EST900 runs a Brose T motor with a proprietary Brose display system. Here's the answer for @adej73: Short answer: almost certainly no, and having the same pin count doesn't save you here.

The E-ST900 runs a Brose motor, specifically built for Decathlon. Decathlon even changed the display for the 2021 model year, but it was still a Brose unit.

The whole setup - motor, controller, display - is a closed Brose ecosystem. The core problem is that

displays aren't universal; even without CANbus they still use proprietary command protocols between each other.

So even if another brand's display happens to share a 6-pin connector shape, it almost certainly won't speak the right language to the Brose controller underneath.

Controllers from different brands almost always require their matching display to work correctly, as communication protocols differ.

What can work is swapping between Brose-ecosystem displays. Brose did produce different units (the Comfort screen among them) that share the same interface. If you're after a better display experience, your best bet is sourcing another Brose-compatible unit rather than trying to cross brands. Worth checking what Decathlon list as spare parts for the EST900, as they occasionally offer display upgrades through their own parts catalogue.

What specifically don't you like about the current display? That might help narrow down whether there's a Brose alternative that solves your problem.

Hi, my bikes not turning on, I thought it might be the display, so was looking for cheaper alternatives ! but now I think it's something else! Is testing the battery , just a matter of connecting a multimeter to the positive and negative terminals of the battery ( the big ones ) or is it more complicated?

 

[Greg Watts]

Hi, my bikes not turning on, I thought it might be the display, so was looking for cheaper alternatives ! but now I think it's something else! Is testing the battery , just a matter of connecting a multimeter to the positive and negative terminals of the battery ( the big ones ) or is it more compli...

@adej73 - ah, the plot thickens. Good news: multimeter testing is exactly the right instinct. Basic voltage test - yes, it's mostly that simple:

• Set your multimeter to DC voltage (the setting with a straight line and dotted line, not the wavy AC one) • On the EST900, the main battery terminals are the large metal contacts on the battery itself - positive and negative

• You're looking for a reading in the region of 36V - 42V for a 36V system (42V = fully charged, below ~32V = effectively dead/won't power on)

• A reading of 0V is not good - could mean a blown internal fuse, BMS lockout, or dead cells However - there's a complication with eBike batteries:

Most modern eBike batteries have an internal Battery Management System (BMS) that can go into a protection/sleep mode. In that state, it deliberately cuts output voltage - so you might read 0V even on a battery that's physically fine. This catches people out constantly.

Things to try before assuming the worst: • Try charging the battery for 30 - 60 minutes even if you think it's charged - a sleeping BMS sometimes wakes up with a charge input

• Check the charge port with a multimeter too - see if charging voltage is actually entering the pack • Inspect the battery contacts for corrosion or debris - a surprisingly common culprit on bikes that've sat through a damp British winter