shimano-e-steps/README.md

Shimano e-Steps

This repository is dedicated to the Shimano e-Steps as I happen to have an e-Bike that is fitted with the Shimano drive-train. There is hardly any technical information on the electronics, so I decided to do a little exploring myself.

e-Bikes

Electrification of a bike is very populair. There are two basic bike types:

• pedelec, limited to 25km/h, no helmet required
• speed e-bike, limited to 45km/h, requires a helmet, insurance

Among the pedelecs, drive-trains of Bosch, Shimano, Bafang and Yamaha are used as well as automatic transmission systems of Shimano, NuVinci, etc. which make riding a bike a joy.

Documents

You can find some patents in the patents directory.

Communication

The communication between the different system parts on the e-bike use power line communication (i.e. data is superimposed on the DC voltage).

TODO

• Hookup oscillocope and see what happens
• Measure voltages on the "bus"

Experiments

I ordered a bunch of accessoires and started experimenting...

Add the EW-WU111

For anyone that thinks that just adding the Bluetooth module to the bike: it doesn't work.

• Connect EW-WU111 to EW-SD50
• Take out any connection on the bike
• Place the interface and cable in between
• Pressing the power button

The display stays clear and the e-steps system does not turn on.

• Restore the situation
• Pressing the power button

The display turns on and the e-steps system works like before.

Use the SM-PCE1

Let's try to hookup the PC interface. For that we install the software on a PC.

• Preinstall Microsoft dotnetfx35.exe software as this is required. You can find this on the Microsoft website.
• Install the Shimano software e-tube project. This can be found on the Shimano website.
• Put the SM-JC41 junction box in one of the wires from the e-bike system
• Attach the SM-PCE1 to the USB port
• Attach the special cable to the SM-PCE1 and the other end to the junction box

Tested on 13-08-2018 with the above setup and the result was that the setup is not working. The setup uses a Mac, with VMWARE and Windows 8..10, to work like a PC. Checking some forums revealed that there are more problems using "other" systems than PC's as people claim that the USB implementation of the SM-PCE1 does not comply with the USB standard.

NOTE: So the next step is to find a PC and repeat the above process.

Accessoires

SM-PCE1 PC Linkage Device

The SM-PCE1 is an USB interface to connect the e-Steps system to a PC. It is used for service, configuration and maintenance. It is normally not required for a bike owner to have such an interface, but my curiosity was triggered to find out if I can hookup Bluetooth to my bike.

• BOX
• PCB TOP
• PCB BOTTOM
• BOX INNER SIDE TOP
• BOX INNER SIDE BOTTOM
• BOX BACK SIDE
• BOX SIDE VIEW

Super Capacitor

Strangely enough the PCB has two super-capacitors. These are 2.5V and stacked so they can handle 5V.

mini USB Interface

The USB interface is a Texas Instruments chip,

EW-WU111 Wireless Unit

The EW-WU111 is a wireless interface with ANT and BLE wireless standards. The interface can be placed in between a wireless connection cable.

EW-SD50 Electric Wire

The EW-SD50 is a piece of wire in various lengths with connectors at both ends. The length of the wire can be ordered between 150mm and 1600mm.

SM-JC41 Junction Box for Di2

The junction box has four connections for cables, making it easy to insert a device to the e-Bike system.

SM-DUE10 Speed Sensor

The SM-DUE10 is a Reed switch with an attached cable, together with a magnet that can be attached to the spoke of a wheel. It is handy to have the magnet around if ever you loose the magnet the e-bike doesn't function anymore.

TL-EW02 Plug Tool (for ST-6770)

Just a piece of plastic to insert and/or remove a connector from a device.