This E-scooter or E-bike was sent for our exploration by Jan in Germany.
It's very unusual due to its huge 5V to 58V operating range, and is also not polarity sensitive.
The light itself is really just a low power static red LED, but the two stage circuitry used to drive it efficiently from such a high voltage is quite interesting.
Here's a link to the manufacturers website. They seem to have a huge range of lights and reflectors.
https://www.satelitebikelight.com/products/
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15 thoughts on “Inside a 58v e-scooter rear light”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Roy Tellason says:

    I am swiping that current regulator circuit to use driving LEDs…

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Markus Lohse says:

    The Egret TenV4's rear light has a similar design and surprisingly, the component that breaks first is the inductor! Probably, due to shock an vibration the coil's ferrite core breaks off and the cooper wire then unwinds itself inside the light's enclosure. There have been some people who were facing this problem after only 1-2month driving the scooter.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Lonnie Howell says:

    Just noticed the obscene 15 second Ads at the beginning and end of the videos, and corresponding change in the wording of his donation plug at the bottom of every video. Shame, the videos are a lot less enjoyable…

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chuck Holmes says:

    thats kinda complex for a simple LED

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars DigBipper188 says:

    I would think the 58v rating would be so that the light is fully compatible with all common e-bike/scooter batteries as most are between 24 and 52v nominal. Would be interesting to strap it to a 72v battery and see if it can handle it.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Paศ™ca Alexandru says:

    The upper limit voltage is 58v because that is the usual maximal scooter/high power ebike battery configuration, 14s li-ion/lipo and most are on the 13s battery configuration.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rick3y Rick3y says:

    Call me lazy but for 50v, I would of used 2 generic bright Red 30ma LEDs and a 2W 2k resistor to drive them at 23ma each. They will last a hell of alot longer while being cheaper.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mad Scientific says:

    33nF in the schematic feeds ripple component back to the Vfb pin to limit spiking in the output. It causes the chip to go onto cutoff when there's a strong positive swinging change in the output. As a result it also causes it to act something like a soft start, limiting inrush.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars stepsvideos says:

    Not to be too picky, but there's more power lost in the transistor and sense resistor, than the led. I wonder if instead of 4.4v, 3.3v would be a better choice, or what problems come up when that was tried. Maybe they used 4.43v to allow them to use different leds, that might drop more voltage?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars sichel94sam says:

    its rate 58V because scooters usually get powered by lithium batteries, whose voltage is given as their nominal voltage not maximum. So for the average "scooter" driver connecting a 58v battery, it can have up to 75V fully charged.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Soe Gaard says:

    I guess this one wasn't from AliExpress

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars lofty345 says:

    I've been wondering for a while how do you print the photos out that you show?

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kyojin, desu says:

    he knows german, damn
    quiet good for a country which left the eu
    sorry, that is a bad joke, you can delete it

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rick Nelson says:

    Did anyone else notice what appears to be the manufacturing date on the board? Am I reading it wrong? 2019-06-31? June 31โ€™st?

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mike Fochtman says:

    That cap on the voltage sense line, I'd like to investigate that more. If it were between the sense line and ground, it would smooth the sensed value (relative to the 0V rail). But where it is, it seems it would pass through the 'pulses' each time the inductor is turned on??? Is this something to improve the switching on/off of the inductor? Might cause some hysteresis? As the voltage dips and the chip calls to turn on the output, it 'sees' the spike sooner? Wish I could see a scope trace on that voltage sense line while operating. ๐Ÿ™‚ Oh well, maybe next time.

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