Nowadays, eBike becomes more and more popular. And it’s growing faster, especially in the EU & US, according to a report by CIE, there are lots of plans to support ebike marketing. So we’d like to let you know more info about an ebike component: display.
1. What is an eBike display?
The eBike display is a special component to show you basic information when riding. Usually, we call it an ebike display while somebody names it an ebike meter, ebike computer, HMI, or panel.
What’s more, with an ebike display, you can also fulfill some other functions, for example, changing the pedal assistant. Some even with a USB port, which could charge your phone while riding. We will try to show you the complete functions below in this essay.
2. How many display types there are?
LED and LCD display are the common displays that you can see in the marketing, while several ebike brands choose OLED. But an LCD display would be the most choice. There are two types of LCD display: dot-matrix display and seven-segment display.
One more popular display is the TFT LCD display. It’s really colorful display while dot-matrix display and seven-segment code display is black and white, even dot-matrix & seven-segment display can do colorful, but usually, we call them fake color.
3. What does an eBike display contains?
3.1 Panel or Screen
Usually, there should be a panel on an LED display or a screen on an LCD display. Because the display should show the info or functions by HMI, it’s of course a necessary part for the eBike.
3.2 Button or Remote
The button or remote could help you choose the right functions that you prefer during your riding. Usually, there would be three buttons (“MODE”, ”UP”, ”DOWN”) for each display, according to these buttons, you can easily interact with your display.
Also, some displays will integrate the remote with it while others will separate it.
Please remember that those three buttons could work separately, and also be available for use in combination. For example, press “MODE” & ”UP” together to choose a special function. Sometimes we could also need to press these three remotes together.
3.3 USB Port
A USB port would be a choice. When you enjoy you’re riding on weekends, we believe there are some electronic devices with you, like a phone, camera, music player, etc. To keep you away from lacking enough battery for those components, the USB port could charge your device when you need it.
What if there’s no USB charging on your display? A possible way is to add U-Cable on. The reason we say “possible” is because you have to check if it’s suitable for your eBikes. As I know, it’s impossible for Bosch e-system display, Shimano STePS, Yamaha system, but Bafang is ok.
3.4 RFID Card
Taking security into consideration, the RFID card would be important. It’s like a key to lock or unlock your ebike when you are away from your electric bike. Here’s a sample for you to check how an RFID card could be anti-theft.
Another two RFID card display for your reference by T319-R LED display and a KM5S-R LCD display.
4. What does an eBike display do?
PAS level
Walk Assistant
Battery Bar
Speed
Speed Unit (KMH/MPH)
Light
Trip/ODO
USB Charging
Button or Remote
4.1 Power on/off your eBike
When you press the “MODE” remote, the display will power on/off. There are two cases, one is your display power on/off, which means the screen would become lighter.
The other case is it will power on/off your eBike at the same time. In this situation, your display would communicate with your electric bike battery, technically, it’s BMS.
Want to know which type your display is? It should be based on your firmware in the display.
4.2 Distance & ODO
Distance is to show how long you can go with your current eBike battery. It’s no matter for one time trip or several times that you ride in the near future before charging. According to this info, you can plan your riding trip with more confidence.
ODO is the total distance that you ride before. If you had ever cleared it, then it would be the sum from buying. Usually, it could record up to 9,999km (around 6213 miles), after reaching the number, it will roll over for a new start.
4.3 Speed (real time speed, average speed, max speed)
There are three types of speed, real-time speed, average speed, and max speed. It’s easy to understand those data based on your riding.
A note is for max speed, there are different legal for different data. But normally, it’s 25km/h for electric bikes. That’s the max speed setting based on your displays’ firmware and can not be changed, no matter how much effort you put in during your riding.
4.4 Watt
Some riders will pay less attention to watt function, but actually, it’s as much important as other info. Because it will show you the consumption of your power in a realtime. According to this info, riders will know better about their eBikes and make the right decision on how much effort they have to do so that they can reach their destination. As you can see in the right pic, there are the numbers to show watt on the right bottom of the screen.
4.5 Pedal Assist Level
There are different settings for different displays, such as 0-3 level, 0-5 level, 0-9 level, etc. The higher the number of levels you choose, the more assistance power will provide to you from your motor when you pedal.
4.6 Battery
For each LCD display, you can notice the battery bar. It could show you how much power still have for your battery. The data is from your BMS and shown on the screen. In some cases, the display will also calculate by itself, but not too much exactly compared with data from BMS. Anyway, it depends on your firmware.
4.7 Wheel Size
As we all know, each ebike brand will have different bike modules with different wheel sizes. Then it’s a must to adorable different sizes for the same display. No matter it’s 16”, 18”, 20”, 22”, 24”, 26”, 700C, 28”, 29”, etc.
But it makes no sense for riders. Because you will have a fixed wheel size for your electric bike. Normally, the display will hide this parameter deeply and locked with a password. In case there is a wrong operation for changing it.
4.8 MPH or KMH
Some displays could show the speed unit MPH and KMH together on the screen as you can see below pic. But the common setting is to show one unit on the display, and if you are going to change it, it’s easy to operate by remote.
4.9 Time
Displays like the J-LCD module, it integrated a clock with a 18650 battery. During your riding, it’s easier to see time on the screen.
4.10 Navigation & App with Bluetooth
This kind of display will show you the navigation to your destination. But please remember this is not the direct navigation inside the display, it’s to show your phone’s map by Bluetooth.
Also, the app is available for more data checking on your mobile.
5. Where can I install on for my eBike display?
There are four types of installation for your eBike display. You can put it on the center of your handlebar, left side, right side, or frame. All is ok. For the first three ways, I put some photos below for your checking, as for frame position, I recommend checking the classical Stromer ST1 module.
6. How can I find a replacement if it’s damaged?
The normal warranty for an eBike display is two years, some with even less period. So what if your eBike display is broken?
Firstly, You can contact your eBike brand or retailers to ask for a new replacement if possible, maybe they can also help to fix it.
Secondly, you can check all the eBike display modules here. If there is your module, please share the back picture yours (below sample photo for your reference). Because there should be some printed numbers, which would be helpful for checking details. After confirmation, we could provide you with a new one for your replacement.
7. What does Error Code Mean?
There are different meanings for eBike display error code. Here we are going to share with you some normal settings and meanings for your eBikes error code.
7.1 eBike LED display Error Code
For LED displays, usually, the lights will flash to remind you there is an error that occurred.
Here we use the S2-U LED display as an example to explain the error code. “D1” is the light near “EMPTY”
| Error Code | Description | Solution Approach |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Current Abnormality. | Reduce the load on the motor by pedalling less or by reducing the assist level. |
| D2 | Throttle Abnormality | Switch off the system completely and check your throttle and controller carefully. If the problem persists, contact your ebike dealer. |
| D1 & D2 | Motor Open-phase | Switch off the system completely and contact your ebike dealer for help. |
| D3 | Motor Hall Signal Abnormality | Switch off the system completely and contact your ebike dealer for help. |
| D1 & D3 | Brake Abnormality | Switch off the system completely and contact your ebike dealer for help. |
| D1, D2 & D3 | Communication Abnormality | Switch off the system completely and contact your ebike dealer for help. |
7.2 eBike LCD display Error Code
The below table shows some normal error codes for your eBike LCD display. Here we use a sample error code troubleshooting for Brose eBike system, which was shared by Pedego Electric Bikes. If you are going to check more error codes, please kindly visit here.
| Error Code | Description | Solution Approach |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | The battery voltage is too low. | Charge the battery pack using the battery charger. |
| 11 | The battery voltage is too high. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the problem persists, contact your ebike dealer. |
| 12 | The battery is almost/completely discharged. | Charge the battery pack using the battery charger. |
| 20 | Electrical measurements are incorrect. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the problem persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 21 | Thermal sensor defective. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 24 | The internal voltage is outside of the working range. | Charge the battery pack using the battery charger. |
| 25 | Error in motor current measurement. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 26 | A software reset was completed. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 40/41 | Overcurrent in the motor. | Reduce the load on the motor by pedalling less or by reducing the assist level. |
| 42 | Fault in motor rotation. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 43 | Short circuit in motor. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 44 | Overheating of motor. | Reduce the load on the motor by pedalling less or by reducing the assist level. |
| 45 | The software has corrected an error in motor rotation. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 46 | No motor movements recognized. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 60 | Interruption to data exchange on the CAN-BUS. | Check the cables and plug connections of all components of the eBike system. |
| 70 | Force applied to pedal not in valid range. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 71 | Turning of pedales not detected. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 72 | Force applied to pedal not detected. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 73 | The connection to the pedal force sensor has been interrupted. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 74 | Errors were found in the data. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 80 | Incorrect motor parameter. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 81 | Speed signal not recognized. | Ensure the magnet is correctly positioned relative to the speed sensor. |
| 82 | The program was manipulated. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 83 | Error in program sequence. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
| 84 | Incorrect motro parameter. | Switch off the system completely and then back on using the control panel button T4. If the probelm persists, contact your eBike dealer. |
8. How to change default settings?
Usually, the display does not allow riders to change too many settings. But sometimes, it’s possible.
Here I will use the E5227-U LCD display to show you the password for changing default settings.
| Password | Description |
|---|---|
| 0512 | Operation parameter setting password(fixed) |
| 1234 | Power on password(can be modified) |
| 2962 | Password for personality parameter setting(fixed) |
| 0368 | Restore setup password(fixed) |
