Convert Torque Sensor to Cadence Sensor

[danpenn]

I got a new Roll-Road Emma 3 which uses torque sensing. I would rather have cadence sensing. I've asked the RR techs can I convert to cadence sensing. They say probably, but they've never done it and don't recommend it.
I've got a cadence sensor coming. It uses a three prong plug. The torque sensor has a four prong plug -red, black, green, yellow.
Which color is not used for cadence sensing?

 

[danpenn]

I've Googled this question every way I can think of it and found no help.

 

[Atavar]

You will need to get the schematic wiring diagrams for the bike and the sensor.

 

[danpenn]

I found a small note in the ad for the cadence sensor that I ordered which showed me the three wire colors and the function of each that I need. The sensor comes tomorrow, Sunday. I'll let you know if I can get it to work.

 

[Snoop]

I know it’s probably an unpopular opinion, as most folks seem to prefer torque, but this was the main reason I invested in backcompatible stuff (battery, etc) for my Aventon Pace 550.2 instead of planning on upgrading to the 500.3.

The latter is now torque sensored, but I like my cadence sensor too much. <grin>

 

[Toiday]

Hmm, I thought torque sensor is better. danpenn and Snoop do you mind share why you prefer cadence sensor?

 

[danpenn]

Why do I prefer cadence to torque sensing? Long story.
My favorite Ebike is a Himiway Escape that I owned a couple of years ago. It fit me perfectly. I could put my feet flat on the ground when necessary. I could pedal comfortably and the pedal assist felt just right when I wanted some exercise. And it had a big wide seat that was comfortable for my old butt. But it was too slow. And worse yet, Himiway decided to limit all their new Escapes to 20 mph with no way to break the controller free for more speed.
So I bought a Roll Road Emma 3.0 which is an Escape look alike with a big motor and two batteries and street tires. I forgot to mention that I didn't like the knobbies on the Escape.
I love the Emma 3. It's fast enough to be scary at top speed and heavy enough to be stable at all speeds. All that for two thou, no tax, no shipping.
I bought a Rad Mini foldable for my wife to ride maybe someday and that has cadence sensing that feels like the Escape did. So when I want exercise, I ride the Rad. And when I want to feel like a motorcycle, I ride the Emma.

 

[danpenn]

So, here I am after a couple of months of thinking about why I like cadence sensing on the Rad Mini. I've got a bad heart and almost any real work and I get out of breath. An unpleasant and almost panicky feeling, to be avoided.
So, cadence sensing allows me to ghost pedal and not get out of breath. Ghost pedaling is my term for my feet going up and down but not really doing any work, other than moving my legs. And that exercise is keeping my legs from deteriorating completely.
With torque sensing on my Emma, I have to keep pressure on the pedals to keep from slowing down. That's more effort than my heart likes and I get out of breath.
So, if I keep getting out of breath on my Emma, will my heart get stronger? That's a question for my cardiologist in the near future. I'll let you know what he says.

 

[HumanPerson]

Find a bike you are comfortable on @danpenn
Then get a 1500w kit and a good battery.

Man if you get the bike you're comfortable on you could get a 1500w Voilamart ebike kit w/LCD for around $300
then a good battery around $550-$850 will keep your legs moving and do what you want, in my opinion.

 

[m@Robertson]

Hmm, I thought torque sensor is better. danpenn and Snoop do you mind share why you prefer cadence sensor?

TLDR: Its along the lines of what @danpenn is saying.

I Hate Ebike Torque-Sensing (maybe you should too)

Well, I don’t actually hate it, but it is a technology rooted in cycling’s past, whose existence was created to market a product to legacy riders.

talesontwowheels.com

Cadence sensing is often misunderstood in part because so many bikes use cheap, on/off controllers that are bottom of the barrel. So people think thats what cadence sensing is. It isn't. A good cadence sensor like on a KT controller senses when you are going up a slope, ramps power up, then ramps it back down again as you crest the hill. A Bafang mid drive has so many options its not even possible to describe with any sort of brevity. But you can set it up so it provides a natural-but-assisted cycling experience, but also retain the ability to ghost pedal if you need an interval of minimal exertion.

 

[Chuy]

Is adding throttle-only an option for the torque sensing bike? Don't know if that is more affordable than converting to cadence, just throwing it out if that was considered.

 

[danpenn]

Chuy
I'm not sure what you mean by adding a throttle only option to my torque sensing bike. My Roll Road has a throttle already. I use that exclusively because I dislike the torque sensing on it.

 

[Chuy]

That’s what I was referring to. Use the throttle and ghost-pedal while using it.

 

[danpenn]

Use the throttle and ghost-pedal while using it.

I tried that and my brain was objecting, saying somehow this is cheating. It's not really pedal assist. So I stopped. But I remember it felt very similar to pedaling with cadence sensing. I'll give it another shot. See if my conscience doesn't object so much.

 

[danpenn]

I just tried pedaling while using the throttle on my Roll Road torque sensing bike and it feels just like pedaling on my cadence sensing Rad bike. An added benefit on the Roll Road is the cruise control. After 5 seconds of steady throttle I can release it and the speed continues until I brake or redo the throttle. So my hand doesn't tire from constant throttling.
So I've got pretend cadence sensing on a torque sensing bike.