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I'm in the process of buying a spare battery for my 2022 Orbea Wild.
It's currently got a 625wh (bbp290) which came stock. I'd like to get a 400wh (bbp282) as a spare, and to run as a lighter set up when needed. I've got the correct extension extrusion so that it'll fit in the frame and a spare end clip for the battery already - but is there any other things I should be aware of?
Any compatibility issues of running the smaller wh etc?
I don't know and have similar questions for a Trek. They don't seem to make it very easy to work out what you need to swap batteries on a bike - if anything
Yeah, getting the parts to fit seems easy enough with off the shelf bits, it's more the compatibility of the battery, motor, electronics I'm worried about.
A 'mate of a mate' apparently had an issue running a second battery as the firmware ware across the batteries and bike didn't match - no idea if that's a thing though.
I don't want to run the traditional powermore battery extender, which has been suggested by a couple mates, as on the wild all the mounts and bits become a permanent fixture on the bike and remove the possibility of running a water bottle. It seems pointless to me to run the power more when you have a removable battery.
I've bought everything I think I need today, so I'll try to remember to update in a week or so.
Quick update.
The plastic extension came today (bought from Ridewill in Italy as it was cheaper than the UK), all fitted and sorted. A quick blast up and down the road to confirm it works - so all looks good.
So I now have 1025wh of range which is great, and I'll be able to keep up with my mates on their newer bikes/batteries.
The bits I bought were:
A Bosch bbp282 400wh battery - bought new for £180 from eBay.
And a "Moustache Bikes Battery extension for use Bosch PowerTube battery from 400 / 500wh instead of 625wh"
The battery came with the correct plate kit so I didn't need to get that. Just in bolt the existing one and put the extension piece between the two.
Right, update:
All fitted and sorted, works absolutely fine. The 400wh battery only saves 600g over the 625wh which is surprising. But I bought it for range not weight saving.
The extension plate I bought was the "Moustache Bikes Battery extension for use Bosch PowerTube battery from 400 / 500wh instead of 625wh"
And the battery was the bbp282 400wh (horizontal mount).
That's really useful, thank you!
And you're just popping out the other battery when it's flat and inserting the new battery right after? Nothing more than that?
Yep, just that, pop out the 625wh, put in the 400wh (which has the extension bolted on to get it to the same length).
How are you carrying it? Done it a couple of times on my Kenevo in an Evoc FR Trail (or something like that) with the battery pouch. Can't say I'd like to do it very often though - ended up buying a range extender instead
I haven't had to yet, I've only got the spare this week - mostly it'll stay in the van for a mid ride swap out at a trail centre, CwmCarn/Afan/BPW/417 & FoD. Or get used as a lighter option on smaller rides.
If I do go for a larger ride I plan to just stick it in a pack. If I do this regularly I may build a cradle for the battery in the bag, or get some sort of padded bag for it. But personally, I really don't like the idea of carrying a long rigid 3kg tube around on my back - I've ridden pack less on my xc bike for years.
I could have bought the frame mount range extender for my orbea, but it uses the bottle mounts (so permanent pack for water which I hate) and is a faff to remove/reinstall. It also would have cost double or possibly three times as much. Plus it would add several kilos to the bike all day. Swappable and interchangeable batteries was one of the things that led me to buy into the Bosch system and the Orbea.