Buying a used hoverboard - EFeru/hoverboard-firmware-hack-FOC GitHub Wiki

What to check before buying a used Hoverboard

Compatibility with the firmware

It's very hard to know if an hoverboard has a controller supported by this firmware, there are too many brands/models. Usually the older models have single/mainboards. You can ask the seller to open the hoverboard and send you pictures, but he will most probably accept only if the hoverboard is defective. Ask him what's the chip model/brand to verify if it's compatible with this firmware.

The hoverboard turns ON

Press the sensors on one side, tilt the hoverboard in each direction to check if the motors runs smoothly. If it's not working, the sideboard is probably defective. If the hoverboard turns OFF, the battery has probably lost too much capacity and is not able to deliver enough current.

The hoverboard doesn't turn ON

Most of the time the battery is defective. If the charger is still available, try to turn the hoverboard on while it's plugged, this will prove the controller is still working.

Make the wheels spin manually:

• if you feel wheels are cogging, 2 mosfets of the same phase are probably shorted, you will have to replace it. The gate drivers could also be damaged
• if the wheels are not spinning at all, it was exposed to water/humidity, you can throw it away.