The charger's mains lead or its output cable to the bike is cut, crushed, frayed, kinked, has bare wire showing, or the plug is cracked, bent or melted. Charger cables are carried around, stepped on, run over and bent at the same spot every day. A damaged cable can give an electric shock, short out, or overheat and start a fire. Ather advises replacing a charger with frayed cables, bent prongs or a damaged adapter.
Is it safe to ride?
Yes, the bike can be ridden. Do not use the damaged charger. Use an approved replacement.
Quick checks first
- Unplug from the wall before handling.
- Look along the whole length of both cables.
- Look at both plugs: pins, plastic, strain relief (the rubber sleeve where the cable enters).
- Is the charger case cracked or swollen?
Diagnose it step by step
1Is there bare wire, a cut through the outer sheath, melted plastic or burn marks?
- Yes: stop using the charger. Replace it or have the manufacturer replace the cable. Do not tape it.
- No: go to step 2.
2Is the cable crushed, flattened or kinked, or does charging cut in and out when the cable moves?
- Yes: the wires inside are damaged. Replace the charger or cable as above.
- No: go to step 3.
3Are the plug pins bent, loose or discoloured, or is the plug cracked?
- Yes: on the bike-side plug, also check the bike's socket: Inspect the charge port and plug. A burnt plug usually means the socket is damaged too. Replace both if marked. See Charge plug or socket gets hot.
- No: go to step 4.
4Is the sleeve where the cable enters the charger or plug split, with the inner wires showing?
- Yes: this is the most common place for a cable to fail. Replace before the wires break.
- No: go to step 5.
5. Does the charger work normally on the full check? Check the charger and cable.
- Yes: the damage was only cosmetic. Store the cable loosely coiled, not wrapped tight around the charger, and keep it off the floor where it can be stepped on.
- No: see Charger shows a fault light or stays off.
Replacing the charger: use only the original or a manufacturer-approved charger (Ather). Check the voltage and connector on the label match your bike. A cheap charger of the wrong type can overcharge the battery or bypass the BMS's communication.
What happens if you keep using it: a damaged cable can heat up or short while charging, often at night, when nobody is watching. London Fire Brigade warns that many battery fires start in homes during charging.
Causes, most likely first
| Cause | How to confirm | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Strain at cable entry | Split sleeve | Replace charger or cable |
| Crushed or run over | Flattened section | Replace charger or cable |
| Pulled out by the cable | Loose plug, bent pins | Replace plug or charger |
| Heat at plug | Brown or melted plastic | Inspect the charge port and plug |