| Author | Message | ||
     Kinder |
So as some know I put a 12cel A123 battery in my bike. First while no problems. Cold, hot she started first push. I then decided to put some new rear signal lights (will post some pics at a later date)on. So while playing with wiring over the course of a week (it was raining anyways so no rush) and experimenting with different resistors without starting the bike but I was turning on/off the power to test stuff. Bike was not run at all. So I'm about to go for a ride. A buddy texts me to tell me he can't go as his girl's bike has a dead batt. I lol him and tell him to catch up when they get it going. My bike won't start. She tries a few times but no go.  My buddy texts me to say they got her bike started. I use the old batt to jump start mine. Start right away. Its a 40min ride to the first meetup spot. I get there in under 30. Batt light has long since turned off and display reads 13.8. I stop get gas. See the group get to the meet spot. Go to catch them but bike won't start. Several tries later she starts! I spend the first 10mins catching up to the tail on the pack. Its a relaxing ride for about 40mins. We stop for lunch. An hour later its time to head out. I have 2 guys ready to push start me... She starts! 1st try! Another 40min spirited ride through some twisties then 20 relaxing mins home. Stupid me pops the clutch in the drive as I was noticing the no spring side stand and stall out the bike. Batt light comes on but only for a sec. She starts though so into the garage she goes. Later, when showing the wiff the bikes controls (she's about to take the course) I get her to try and start it. No go. Factory batt back in. I'm wondering if the VR is messing things up. I have a compufire ready to put in and will do that this weekend. | ||
| Littlebutquick |
thats lithium cells for you i run a 8 cell can take up to 5 presses of the button before the motor turns over if the weather is hot it starts 1st time if cold a few the more you start it the more you load the cells up the better it is mine has never gone flat yet but i do disconect it after racing i have it on a plug | ||
| Sprintst |
display reads 13.8. } You do realize that is the stator's output, not the batteries voltage | ||
| Smit3833 |
You can only base the top and bottom 10% of state of charge based on voltage with lithium batteries. They have an extremely flat discharge/charge curve but then rocket up and drop off exponentially in voltage at each end. The only way to get an accurate state of charge is through counting amp hours. Do you have any specifications on your A123 cells as far as operating voltages go? Nominal? Charging? Max? Min? etc... The stators output is controlled by battery voltage, which works with lead acid batteries because of their consistently sloped discharge curve. When the battery voltage drops, the stator sees that and knows to increase its output to charge the battery back up. If your A123 cells have a higher nominal voltage than the stock battery, then the stator will not charge them enough. This could be what is causing your problems. Hopefully the stator operational voltage can be set via ECM, this might be something to ask Erik Buell Racing about. Lithium cells are superior in every performance metric compared to lead acid batteries. However, they are not lead acid batteries and should not be treated as such. There are several methods to using them safely, I just don't feel like writing that down right now. | ||
| Brendamiles |
I have been doubting that Li-Ion was a 'safe' battery ever since laptop batteries were exploding years ago. The only solution for 'safe' storage is to build an enclosure that will protect the batteries from shock, and from being crushed. But that doesn't eliminate the problem, it mitigates it. Of course, gasoline can be a pretty nasty in a car wreck as well.Just recently,I have read this article:Safety investigation into Chevy Volt fire under way.The Chevy Volt used in crash checks had eventually ignited. The car had been in storage for weeks, when it suddenly burst into flames.Moreover, a security exploration is being started into whether the batteries in the Volt pose a possible security hazard.Electric cars can really be hazardous despite it's eco-friendliness. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I read that article also. Seems like common sense to me that if you have a badly damaged car, you should drain it's remaining potential energy, be it a gas tank or a battery, before you put it out in the yard. Those cheaper LiIon packs are doing exactly what I was worried they would do without a proper charging computer. Work pretty well for a while, but wear out far quicker than would otherwise be necessary. The computer is there to keep the cell alive... if you follow all the charge and discharge rules for protecting LiIon cells they are amazing, but there are a LOT of rules to follow. | ||
| Court |
The Volt, to me, represents the ridiculous ends folks will go to in order to try to showcase a "not ready for prime time" technology and create the illusion that it's "better". It would be interesting to see the comparative "carbon footprint" over the lifetime of the car. |
