Electric bikes, or e-bikes, have been gaining popularity in recent years as a sustainable and cost-effective mode of transportation.
According to market predictions, the global electric bike market is expected to reach $77.2 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4% in the coming years. This growth indicates how green and environmentally friendly electric bikes are.
However, electric bikes remain machines with specific components that work in tandem with each other. Among the most important components of e-bikes are the e-bike sensors. E-bike Brake Sensors are exceptionally necessary as they allow you to stop when you hit the brakes.
For any vehicle to be safe, its brakes must allow you to stop quickly, because that can stop many accidents from occurring. E-bike sensors allow for easy application of these brakes, so we will learn more about them today.
What is an E-Bike Brake Sensor?
An e-bike or electric bike brake sensor is part of the bike that prevents massive accidents. One of the best parts of the electric bike is how fast they are, but with speed comes the need for better mechanisms for stopping.
E-bike brake sensors allow for these to exist. The electric bike sensor consists of two major parts. One is a reed switch or the sensor plate; the second is the magnet that shifts in and out of place to enact the brakes.
The sensor’s main use is to cut off the current as soon as a movement of the brake lever is detected. This E-Bike Brake sensor is of grave importance. Thus, it must be sensitive.
How Do E-Bike Brake Sensors Work?
These bike brake sensors work because they’re enacted when you press one of the actuators. The sensor will send a signal to the speed control, limiting the power settings of the pedal-assist option or the throttle.
This electric bike brake sensor is one of your bike’s most necessary parts since it prevents any major accidents. Thus, the sensor must be sensitive, and the wiring to power must remain immaculate. The brake sensors do not change any major working of the bike.
However, they will reduce the power using the reed switches and the bike.
When the sensor for the brakes is activated, they likely pull apart the magnets so that the power wire also moves away and the current is cut off.
Importance of E-Bike Brake Sensors
E-bike brake sensors are some of the most necessary sensors in your electric bike. We don’t think that electric bikes can cause any damage, but most electric bikes can travel to a speed of 30 mph, and thus, they are likely to cause major accidents and injuries if you’re not careful.
We have listed some reasons that e-bike brake sensors are so necessary:
They Allow you to be Safe
E-bike brake sensors are necessary because they allow you to be safe. These sensors can be enacted when you’re traveling down a hill at great speed or when you seem to lose control, and they will help you regain control all over again.
Speed can cause you much destruction, so sensitive brakes allow fewer accidents. We also recommend wearing a helmet whenever you ride an electric bike for maximum safety.
Sometimes the difference between a collision and smooth riding is how responsive your brake is. Thus your e-bike brake sensors allow for greater protection.
Brake sensors also ensure that brakes are working properly at all times so that you can stop in time when necessary.
They Allow for Battery Conservation
E-Bike Brake Sensors are necessary for battery conservation since you won’t have to hold down the brakes for too long when you want to apply them. The automatic power cutting by bike sensors saves electric bikes a lot of energy when the rider applies the brakes.
The wear and tear on the motor can thus be limited, and thus you could use the e-bike a lot more between charges. You’ll also be able to extend your battery life, so you won’t have to replace it too often.
Compliance With the Law
As electric bikes continue to grow more popular, many more laws surround their use. As governments are very concerned with the safety of their people, most countries have laws surrounding proper e-bike brake sensors.
These should be functional and responsive if you use them on the street. Not following these laws will lead to heavy fines and the revocation of your electric bike.
Thus, it would be best to keep your e-bike brake sensors current.
How To Install An E-Bike Brake Sensor?
You may have tested your e-bike brake sensor, only to find that the e-bike brake sensor is not working and needs replacement. We have listed the steps you must follow to replace the sensor easily and without harming yourself:
- First of all, you must remove the handlebar grips. These are the main locations where hydraulic brakes persist, so you would also want to eliminate these.
- You can then move to remove the shifters.
- The brakes are connected to your wheel using wiring, and it may be time to disconnect these wires so that you may get a clear connection.
- Consider the brake handle and ensure all the slots are aligned before you squeeze the brakes.
- When the brake is depressed, you can rotate the cable out and away from the brake handle assembly.
- When you have removed the brake handle assembly from the housing, you can then remove and loosen the brake handle assembly from the handlebars.
- Once you have removed the brake handle assembly, you can install a new one on the handlebars.
- Lastly, you can then connect the brake wires to the overall wheel.
How to Test an E-Bike Brake Sensor?
After installing the electric bike brake sensor, you must check if it works as well as you want. You want to use a bike repair stand to elevate your bikes so the tires are lifted off the ground.
This particular position will allow you to test the revving of the e-bike motor without it getting away from you. With your bike on the stand, you must press the throttle so the power wheel starts moving on its own.
When the power is still being applied, you can press the brakes on the wheels. If the wheels stop, you know your brakes are working, and you don’t have to make any other significant changes.
If your bike is not braking, then before doing anything else, you must check the e-bike sensor for maximum effect. You can do so by disconnecting the wires from the wheel and seeing if the motor continues to run.
If it does, you must replace the sensor with a new one; if it doesn’t, there may be some problem with the motor itself.
How to Troubleshoot E-Bike Brake Sensors?
It may seem like a big deal to you if you recently bought your electric bike, but e-bike brake sensors are components that often stop working. Thus, they have simple fixes that you may apply that will help you restore them.
One of the most significant things you must check for is your sensor’s wiring. For the most part, faulty wiring can cause your sensor to malfunction. So look at the wiring in front of you and check if there’s a loose or pinched wire in the connection. If there is, you can fix that wiring issue, and the e-bike brake sensor will work.
The proximity switch may also prevent your e-bike brake sensor from working. If this proximity switch falls off your handle, it may become more difficult for you to access your e-bike brake sensor.
Thus, the switch can signal to your bike that the brakes are constantly applied. So fixing your proximity switch will also be a simple way to get the most out of your e-bike brake sensors.
Final Thoughts
You must know your electric bike brake sensor and how it works for many reasons. When you’re aware of your sensors, you’re more cognizant about how your electric bike works, and thus, you’re much more capable of handling any issues that may result due to the malfunctioning of this sensor.
The electric bike sensor is also exceptionally important as it allows you to remain safe from collisions. There are several ways to check and ensure that your electric bike brake sensors are working, and you must routinely apply these checks to get the most out of your electric bike when riding it.
There is also another method of testing your e-bike brake sensors. You may do so using a simple multimeter in your home. However, using multimeters will let you test your sensors very externally, so you may not be able to conclusively say whether the problem is that of e-bike brake sensors.
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