Just got my RR5 and thinking of changing out the controller. All I read about the Bolton is positive. Has anyone had any issues? Hate to void the warranty this early in the game
No personal experience, though I have thought about it for the future.
But somewhere in one of the forums I read about the motor wires getting
rather warm on sustained hills. 10 gauge stranded wire is only rated for 28 amps.
So far, I haven't felt the need for more acceleration in Florida and will probably
think more about dual batteries to extend range ? ?
the 35a bolton radpower upgrade is the best mod i've done to my radrunner 1...so far!
i've been using the 35a bolton upgrade since last july with zero issues.
definitely increases the bottom-end performance - would recommend!
Quote from: wkindred on February 03, 2021, 05:21:43 AM
the 35a bolton radpower upgrade is the best mod i've done to my radrunner 1...so far!
i've been using the 35a bolton upgrade since last july with zero issues.
definitely increases the bottom-end performance - would recommend!
Bolton states the stock 750 watt motor doesn't like going much over 800 watts. Are you going much over that?
Quote from: mbates50 on February 23, 2021, 02:01:12 PM
Quote from: wkindred on February 03, 2021, 05:21:43 AM
the 35a bolton radpower upgrade is the best mod i've done to my radrunner 1...so far!
i've been using the 35a bolton upgrade since last july with zero issues.
definitely increases the bottom-end performance - would recommend!
Bolton states the stock 750 watt motor doesn't like going much over 800 watts. Are you going much over that?
in the 8 months i've used the bolton power upgrade i've barely topped 750 watts on any rides.
had mine installed for almost a year now..zero issues and won't go back to stock..these bikes should've come stock like this!
Does the new screen provide any new features/display or is it just the same as the stock one...but different?
I put the controller on my 2019 Rad Rover. Between 7 and 10 mph, the stock Bafang would buzz like a LOUD, angry bee and the entire frame would vibrate. I tried every C5 and C14 combo to no avail. An email reply from Bolton said their controller would make more noise because of the increased output of the controller. With their upgraded motor, that wouldn't be a problem.
Long story short, I switched back to the stock Rad controller and display, and all is quiet again. From everything I've read, the Bolton Upgrade Kit is a great upgrade. Unfortunately, it just wasn't, for me.
Quote from: wkindred on February 03, 2021, 05:21:43 AM
the 35a bolton radpower upgrade is the best mod i've done to my radrunner 1...so far!
i've been using the 35a bolton upgrade since last july with zero issues.
definitely increases the bottom-end performance - would recommend!
I'm considering the Bolton controller upgrade. I know it does wonders to the performance. However, my question to those who have it is, does the upgraded controller increase range or kill it?
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Quote from: gtrz07 on June 23, 2021, 07:38:33 AM
Quote from: wkindred on February 03, 2021, 05:21:43 AM
the 35a bolton radpower upgrade is the best mod i've done to my radrunner 1...so far!
i've been using the 35a bolton upgrade since last july with zero issues.
definitely increases the bottom-end performance - would recommend!
I'm considering the Bolton controller upgrade. I know it does wonders to the performance. However, my question to those who have it is, does the upgraded controller increase range or kill it?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yeah, not really sure about the range question - i replaced my controller shortly after receiving the bike.
i can easily get 28+ miles with the riding i do.
Quote from: wkindred on July 03, 2021, 12:23:38 PM
Quote from: gtrz07 on June 23, 2021, 07:38:33 AM
Quote from: wkindred on February 03, 2021, 05:21:43 AM
the 35a bolton radpower upgrade is the best mod i've done to my radrunner 1...so far!
i've been using the 35a bolton upgrade since last july with zero issues.
definitely increases the bottom-end performance - would recommend!
I'm considering the Bolton controller upgrade. I know it does wonders to the performance. However, my question to those who have it is, does the upgraded controller increase range or kill it?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yeah, not really sure about the range question - i replaced my controller shortly after receiving the bike.
i can easily get 28+ miles with the riding i do.
Thanks for the info
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Quote from: gtrz07 on July 10, 2021, 07:05:42 AM
Quote from: wkindred on July 03, 2021, 12:23:38 PM
Quote from: gtrz07 on June 23, 2021, 07:38:33 AM
Quote from: wkindred on February 03, 2021, 05:21:43 AM
the 35a bolton radpower upgrade is the best mod i've done to my radrunner 1...so far!
i've been using the 35a bolton upgrade since last july with zero issues.
definitely increases the bottom-end performance - would recommend!
I'm considering the Bolton controller upgrade. I know it does wonders to the performance. However, my question to those who have it is, does the upgraded controller increase range or kill it?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yeah, not really sure about the range question - i replaced my controller shortly after receiving the bike.
i can easily get 28+ miles with the riding i do.
Thanks for the info
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I put about 1700 miles on the stock controller on my RR5. I did upgrade to the bolton controller about 400 miles ago. Overall it was worth it, much better acceleration and grunt. As for range, all that power is not free and if you run it hard your battery will not last as long. As an example with the stock controller on peddle assist 1, it would put out about 75 watts, on the bolton, using recommended settings, PA1 puts out about 200 watts. You get better performance but your going to use more battery. The Bolton controller gives you more settings to control and you can dial that back on setting C14. I have C14 set so PA 1 now puts out about 100 watts. I ride about 25-27 miles and use about 1/3 of the battery (mostly PA1 and some PA2). Install was 100% plug and play, pretty easy.
I have the Bolton controller and motor upgrade and being a full throttle type rider I do see a big drop in range, maybe 20 miles max. But my wife and I rode the Trail of the CDA for 16 miles round trip and I only used about a bar. She has a no throttle Trek Ebike so she cruises at about 8 mph, I set the cruise control to 8 and was using 60 watts just cruising along. So it really does make a huge difference on how you ride.
I had also done this same rail to trail ride before I did the upgrade peddling in pas 2 went 20 miles out and unfortunately only 18 miles back before the battery ran out. Runners with single speed are no fun even if it is only 2 miles.
What would I gain by just upgrading the controller on my RadRover 5? Would the controller be to much for the stock motor?
Thanks
Jim
I actually had an issue with the stock controller on my RadRover 5. Power kept cutting out on me. I did the Bolton controller, Bafang motor and hydraulic caliper brakes upgrade. I needed more torque and power because I live in a hilly area I'm constantly in assist 4 or 5. I only get around 20 miles out of the stock battery when using that much assist. Performance is excellent and my power loss issue is resolved.
we had our first issue with a bolton 35a controller last night. a group of us were riding with full lights on a little after 11 p.m. when one of the riders had his rad premium headlight do a slight flicker then went completely dark. we were unable to reset his headlight for the remainder of our ride and assumed the headlight had failed. we swapped headlights with another rad premium headlight but still no joy. we metered the headlight connection on the failed bolton 35a controller and it currently reads 5v when active...not good! any suggestions?
I was surprised at the weight of the new controller compared to the stock unit on a Canadian Radrover 5. It's larger, but quite a bit lighter than the stock unit. The stock unit is built like a tank, whereas the new 35A unit is a thin sheet metal enclosure. Longevity is up in the air in my opinion, but I've experienced nothing negative so far for the short time I've had it.
Performance wise, it's working out great. I ride with pedal assist and rarely throttle only. What I wanted was a bit more grunt off the line to get me through intersections quickly and get me up to speed, pedaling on chain gear 6 usually at most. More speed isn't my priority. This new controller provides a much needed torque boost to help out my aging knees. Using the Bolton settings seems just about perfect. His C5=6 setting limits the power slightly, probably to reduce wear on the stock motor. I did change C4 to 3, allowing me to use the throttle while in PAS0.
Wattage wise with the Bolton settings, the max I've seen is around 1200 watts or so off the line on PAS5 while accelerating (or throttle only acceleration), but quickly drops back down when you hit a steady speed. I tend to ride at PAS 1 or 2, and it draws around 60watts and 200watts respectively at speed. If I remember correctly, PAS5 steady speed draw on is around 500-600watts. Range given the way I ride hasn't really changed at all. An excellent upgrade!
I do have some money put aside for the 750watt motor upgrade down the road though. I don't expect the stock motor to give me problems the way I ride at the moment, but I think prolonged heavy use like riding up hills will certainly stress the stock motor to burning out given the wattages this controller can supply.
Has anyone mounted the Bolton controller on the RR ST? It doesn't look like there is enough room to mount it where the stock controller is mounted and I'm not sure the cables are long enough to mount it some place else.
I am running the 35 amp controller and very pleased with the performance peaking about 1650 watt on a Rad Mini. The std front light has failed so I'm now using a rechargeable battery light. Now the tail light has failed but the brake light still works. Looks like I'll buy a battery tail light now. Tony.
Quote from: wkindred on August 04, 2021, 12:16:24 PM
we had our first issue with a bolton 35a controller last night. a group of us were riding with full lights on a little after 11 p.m. when one of the riders had his rad premium headlight do a slight flicker then went completely dark. we were unable to reset his headlight for the remainder of our ride and assumed the headlight had failed. we swapped headlights with another rad premium headlight but still no joy. we metered the headlight connection on the failed bolton 35a controller and it currently reads 5v when active...not good! any suggestions?
My front and rear tail light have now failed. Brake light and flashing light still work. We have now opened up the KT 35 amp controller to find a small circuit board has burned. The controller still powers the bike fine but not the lights. I was running with standard Rad lights which pull really minimum power . I have now heard a few other people with this problem so it seems like a fault with the KT 35 amp controller.
Quote from: Tony on February 16, 2022, 05:12:55 AMMy front and rear tail light have now failed. Brake light and flashing light still work. We have now opened up the KT 35 amp controller to find a small circuit board has burned. The controller still powers the bike fine but not the lights. I was running with standard Rad lights which pull really minimum power . I have now heard a few other people with this problem so it seems like a fault with the KT 35 amp controller.
I'm interested in any updates if you have them later on; I have the Bolton 35A upgrade, delivered in December so recent production, ready for installation when the weather warms up the garage a bit. Have you contacted Bolton about a warranty replacement? I think this is the only thread about problems with this kit that I can remember.
I'm most curious about this burnt out part of the board for the lights.
Question to anyone here who is knowledgeable with the Bolton controller. Does the Bolton controller allow you to set the controller so it doesn't go over 750 watts?
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