Levo Gen 3 Hot charger

[Timwillows]

Im used to the charger block getting warm while charging, but recently it’s been positively hot (too hot to hold comfortably) slightly smelly and with a slight buzzing noise. How unusual is this and can a dealer do any diagnostic check on the charger?

 

[TheSnowShark]

Heat, smell and buzzing are not good signs, I would be afraid that it will catch fire one day soon.. go to see your dealer..

 

[Ark]

buzzing is probably a capacitor or something on it's way out, I'd try and get the charger replaced.
what charger do you have though? Itheres a fast charger maybe that one gets hot?

I think the one I have takes about 4 hours for a full 750wh charge and the charger barely gets warm to touch anytime I've checked it.

 

[Greeno]

I have the standard charger that came with my bike and use it to charge my 700w battery.
It gets HOT, hotter than any charger I have used in the past.
From what I read that is normal, the buzzing sound probably not, have your dealer check it out.

 

[RustyIron]

Im used to the charger block getting warm while charging, but recently it’s been positively hot (too hot to hold comfortably) slightly smelly and with a slight buzzing noise. How unusual is this and can a dealer do any diagnostic check on the charger?

Electrical devices in the 160° F to 180° F range are perfectly acceptable. Depending on where you are, you're plugged in to 60 Hz or 50 Hz power. That's well within the range of human hearing. Electrical devices frequently make audible noise.

My only advice is the same advice that I'd give to anyone charging a bike: Do it in a well ventilated location to provide adequate cooling, and keep flammable items away from the immediate area. If he charger is functioning properly, the Bike Store Boys aren't going to be able to tell you anything helpful.

 

[Polo1602]

My charger is getting hot too. When it charges the last 20% (80% to 100%) my charger also makes high frequency noises. I went to my local bike shop and the shop replaced the charger. The new one makes the same noises and getting hot too. So i think it´s normal (230V - 50Hz).

 

[jackamo]

Im used to the charger block getting warm while charging, but recently it’s been positively hot (too hot to hold comfortably) slightly smelly and with a slight buzzing noise. How unusual is this and can a dealer do any diagnostic check on the charger?

Bin it .

 

[psst!!!...]

My charger is getting hot too. When it charges the last 20% (80% to 100%) my charger also makes high frequency noises. I went to my local bike shop and the shop replaced the charger. The new one makes the same noises and getting hot too. So i think it´s normal (230V - 50Hz).

It’s not normal and they shall substitute. Mine did the same, send it to local shop and they sent me one. Did the same. Later send it again to another local shop and they substituted and it’s fine. Doesn’t get hot or noisy anymore.
Mine also got hot from 80% onwards.

 

[ari]

I think having a desk fan or any fan blowing air on the charger when charging , they do get hot ,which can do some internal self inflicted damage.

 

[Beekeeper]

Frying pan on top. You can cook a couple of eggs while the battery charges.
When the buzzing sound starts your eggs are done. Useful feature.

 

[Crawford919]

Mine will get to 140 degrees F maximum when the battery is healthy and I don’t run a fan. On 2 occasions when they were getting hotter both bikes had bad batteries and were replaced under warranty. I also run a small fan when charging our bikes and they don’t get over 100. Have never had a charger replaced but have had 2 batteries on different bikes replaced and the charger temperature was a indicator.

 

[Polo1602]

It’s not normal and they shall substitute. Mine did the same, send it to local shop and they sent me one. Did the same. Later send it again to another local shop and they substituted and it’s fine. Doesn’t get hot or noisy anymore.
Mine also got hot from 80% onwards.

Ok....will talk to my local bike shop. ;-)

 

[Greeno]

Just checked mine with a temp gauge and it shows 140*f in the middle of the charger and 120*f around the sides.
2023 bike, battery and charger.

 

[steve_sordy]

Just checked mine with a temp gauge and it shows 140*f in the middle of the charger and 120*f around the sides.
2023 bike, battery and charger.

Some facts!

I think I will check mine next time I charge it. The only temperature gauge I have is the sort of thermometer that you stick in your mouth. I wonder if I could use some Blu-Tac?

 

[Greeno]

I just picked up a cheap from Amazon.
Kizen Laser Pro LP300.
seems to work pretty well.
I think it cost like $30 if I remember correctly.

 

[Polo1602]

Ok....will talk to my local bike shop. ;-)

So, got my new charger. They swapped my old SBC-C05 Model for die newer SBC-C07 Model. So far, so good!

 

[steve_sordy]

I still haven't checked mine, but I leave the charger on a bare concrete floor and ensure it as far away from anything that might burn as the cables will allow.
If it did catch fire, from what I've seen on videos, it's probably not enough!

Problem is that I charge my bike in the early morning before I'm up and about so that it is 100% for the minimum amount of time. I'll go now and change the timer and do it this evening to check how hot it gets. Just once won't hurt!

 

[Mikerb]

I have 3 Bosch chargers....2 4 amp charging 750w/h batteries and 1 2 amp charging a 500 w/h battery. None of them make any noises and none of them gets any more than warm to the touch even a fter full multi hour charges. I would immediately replace any charger that got hot or made noises....and certainly would not buy a 3rd party charger which will not have the intelligence to handshake with the battery BMS...thats a recipe for a fire!!

A charger getting too hot suggests some short circuiting on the transformer.

Worse still a malfunctioning charger could also potentially damage the bike battery.

 

[steve_sordy]

I still haven't checked mine, but I leave the charger on a bare concrete floor and ensure it as far away from anything that might burn as the cables will allow.
If it did catch fire, from what I've seen on videos, it's probably not enough!

Problem is that I charge my bike in the early morning before I'm up and about so that it is 100% for the minimum amount of time. I'll go now and change the timer and do it this evening to check how hot it gets. Just once won't hurt!

I checked mine after 45 mins, another 30 mins, then another 40 mins. after the first two it was slightly warm. After the last one it had gone cold again. The charge light was still on, so I assume that it had finished charging and was balancing the cells. I never heard a sound from the charger, even with my hearing aids on!

 

[Mikerb]

I checked mine after 45 mins, another 30 mins, then another 40 mins. after the first two it was slightly warm. After the last one it had gone cold again. The charge light was still on, so I assume that it had finished charging and was balancing the cells. I never heard a sound from the charger, even with my hearing aids on!

in that case yours is fine!!

 

[steve_sordy]

in that case yours is fine!!

I had assumed as much. Just trying to gove the OP a wider base of what might be considered "normal"

 

[jackamo]

Never heard of any branded charger having issues , over heating or catching fire.
It's only after market replacement chargers or cheap conversion kits from China that tend to burn your house down .
This is Cree lights all over again

 

[Stihldog]

I have 3 different chargers that came with the bikes. (OEM?)



I don’t charge the batteries on a wooden bench or anything combustion-able. No sound. Slightly warm during the charging cycle. I’ve also installed a smoke detector in this area. (Which speaks to the other detectors throughout the house.)

 

[AIXVOLT]

Im used to the charger block getting warm while charging, but recently it’s been positively hot (too hot to hold comfortably) slightly smelly and with a slight buzzing noise. How unusual is this and can a dealer do any diagnostic check on the charger?

I think the buzzing noise will be the AC/DC transformer vibrating. The manufactuerers sometimes use a hard setting resin to support the transformer (which is pretty heavy) and capcitors (which are top heavy. A shock can dislodge the components and voila: a worrying buzzing noise... the best part is that with the vibrations the solder joints fracture and the whole thing goes POP!

It's worth opening it up and checking it out what's loose (latex gloves obviously!!!)

 

[irie]

Im used to the charger block getting warm while charging, but recently it’s been positively hot (too hot to hold comfortably) slightly smelly and with a slight buzzing noise. How unusual is this and can a dealer do any diagnostic check on the charger?

Do not use the charger any more, either return the charger under warranty or it's out of warranty buy another one.

 

[AIXVOLT]

Do not use the charger any more, either return the charger under warranty or it's out of warranty buy another one.

True... scrub my last comment- I can't help myself: curiosity killed the cat!