The way in which you charge your battery will depend on the system you have and whether you wish to charge the battery on or off the bike. Whichever option you chose, it’s never more than a few simple steps!
Charging your SHIMANO STEPS battery
Rear-mounted batteries
If you are charging your battery in situ on the bike, simply lift the rubber cap to reveal the charging port (depending on the model, this will either be on the battery mount or the battery itself), and insert the charging plug. Connect the charging plug to your power outlet (don’t forget to switch the socket on if needs be!) and you will then see a yellow light on the charger and a green, flashing light on the battery to show that charging is in progress.
If you are charging the battery off the bike, firstly ensure that the power is switched off and then insert the key into the socket on the battery mount, turn, and carefully remove the battery from the bike. Next, plug the charging plug into the adapter (SM-BTE60) and then plug this into the corresponding battery charging port. Now you can connect the power plug to your electrical outlet and check for the yellow light on the charger and the green, flashing light on the battery to show that it’s charging.
Down tube batteries
If you wish to charge the battery whilst it is still on the bike, firstly lift the rubber cap which covers the charging port (depending on the model, this will either be on the battery mount or the battery itself) and insert the charging plug. Then all you need to do is connect the charging cable to your power outlet. You will see a yellow light on the charger and a green, flashing light on the battery to show that charging is in progress.
Charging your battery off the bike is also very simple. First up, make sure the power is off before inserting the key into the battery, turning to unlock and carefully removing it from the down tube. Lift the rubber cap to reveal the charging socket and insert the charging plug. Connect the charging cable to your power outlet and let charging commence! A yellow light on the charger and a green, flashing light on the battery confirm that charging is taking place.
Internal Batteries
To charge an internal battery whilst it is still on the bike, open the socket cap on the frame and insert the charging plug. Plug the charger into the power outlet and check that the green light on the charging lead is green. It’s that simple!
If you wish to charge an internal battery off the bike, firstly remove the battery cover (this will differ depending on your bike). Secondly, remove the battery from the bike by turning either the key or an allen key until the battery releases and then push the clip on top of the battery to remove it completely. Connect the adapter to the charger plug and then insert it into the charging port on the battery. Finally, pop the power plug into your power outlet and ensure you have a pulsing green light on the battery to show it is charging.
Storing batteries
Before storing your battery for long periods, you should first charge it to around 70% full. To ensure your battery stays in the best condition, re-charge it to around 70% full every six months. Having done this, turn the power off and remove the battery from your bike. The battery should be stored inside somewhere with a stable temperature of between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius. When you’re ready to use the battery again, charge it fully.
Whichever Shimano STEPS system you use, and however often, you can rest assured that it is renowned for its long life and long range.
You can cruise up to 185km on eco mode or ramp it up to power mode for an amazing 93km. Plus, after 500 charges your battery will still hold 80% of its charge, and that only drops to 60% after a whopping 1000 charges. This means your STEPS battery will probably outlive your bike!
Your bike battery should make life easier, and with these simple steps for charging and storage, it really does!
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