Supplement to Operator’s Manual 2.0
13 December 1997

The new software initializes the Twike computer faster, permitting quicker departures. Also, the standard display while driving presents the speed together with other important information:

The remaining range, as of the moment, is in the upper right; battery voltage (ranging from 370 to 315 V) is in the lower left; in the lower middle is the temperature of the warmest battery module; and, finally, in the lower right the distance covered since the last tripometer setting. The range indicator now also functions during charging.

For the range indicator to supply useful values it should be correctly calibrated after several charging cycles. A new parameter, PROG 97: "BATTERY ENDCAPACITY", permits adjustment of the AH value at which the batteries will be considered empty and the battery warning lamp lights up. The value is visible on the second driving display (see page 39 ff. of the Operator’s Manual for programming instructions). The value is adjusted to .80 Ah for a two battery module Twike used on flat terrain. With a three battery Twike on hilly terrain the value can be adjusted as high as 3 Ah and still be meaningful.

The second drive display indicates, besides speed, battery current being expended (amps), battery capacity (amphours) remaining, and tripometer reading (km). The latter can be manually reset with the "LOC/REM" key: Hold it down for 3 seconds. (It will not automatically reset after the last charge cycle as in earlier versions of the software.)

In the lower half of the next text display is the total kilometer reading (odometer) and the total number of amphours that have passed through the batteries up to the present.

The remaining displays while driving appear as before [as described in the Operator's Manual].

Regen brake cruise control permits more comfortable regulation of speed. Lightly tapping the regen brake button switches it on after a few seconds. While driving downhill this feature will hold speed steady. Unlike in the case of the accelerator cruise control, mechanical brake action does not switch off the brake cruise control. (Accelerator action does deactivate the regen brake cruise control.) The speed setting of the brake cruise control can be changed while rolling by alternately tapping the accelerator button, then the regen button again. The regen braking can be intensified or softened by resetting the maximum brake current (PROG 64) to a higher value.

The charging procedure now operates under stricter regulations covering electronic interference. A welcome side effect is that it is practically noiseless. We have also added to the upper line of the display the adjusted net charge current.

The Normal Charge mode functions as before and is typically used overnight to achieve a complete charge, during which all battery cells are topped off and equalized.

The Rapid Charge mode should normally only be used when on the road – and the luxury of a Normal Charge is impractical – since, in this mode, the cells are not equalized. This is essentially an "intermediate" charge mode, in which the computer switches directly to the Preservation (float) stage after a temperature rise of 3° C. This prevents the batteries in summer from becoming too warm. If the Ah reading per battery module is less than 2.80 Ah, the text display will show that the charge was not complete ("FULL TMP RISE", "CHARGE NOT COMPLETE"). However, the battery holds probably more energy than this might indicate, i.e., one may be able to drive farther than might be expected.

While charging, the computer continues to recompute the range figure. An interrupted charge is taken into account. But because the calculated range is slightly underestimated with each incomplete or partial charge, the range reading will become increasingly imprecise with repeated Rapid Charge cycles. Therefore, a complete charge in Normal mode should periodically be carried out to readjust the setting correctly.

The temperature range for charging has been extended, making for more flexible operation in Winter. Now it is possible to charge between -30 °C and 0 °C up to the 20% discharge state. Between 0 °C and +40 °C a complete charge can be achieved. Above +40 °C the cooling (Precharge) phase will be extended before the Normal Charge can be effected.

While charging note the following:

• Normal Charge mode is possible with a line current of up to 14 A. But especially during the Rapid Charge take care not to exceed 14 A (in Switzerland 10 A!) in order to protect patch cords and contacts.
• Charge cords must be fully unrolled.
• Corroded or loose connections can cause damage!

• The Parameter PROG 9C is new: "CHARGING CAPACITY" indicates up to what Ah value the battery was last charged. But this does not play any special role for the operator.
• The Parameter PROG 65 "REGEN BRAKE" we omitted, since it is not necessary.

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Translation Copyright © Victor Muñoz