| Author | Message | ||
     Willmrx |
Pros and cons and what type of trickle charger do you use? | ||
| Stevel |
One of the many shortcomings of Li batteries in all motor vehicles is the requirement to use a Li battery charger tailored to your battery. Even the alternator and regulator in the bike will kill a Li battery in actually pretty short order. Professional installations use a proper firmware controlled battery manager for a reason. There are many reasons not to use a Li battery. Do your own research if you don't believe me. I bet you won't get a year out of the battery. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I have a Bikemaster Li Battery with about 14 months since install. Works awesome and the price is right. Nothing bad to say about it whatsoever. I did buy the Bikemaster trickle charger for $28. I will probably pull it from the bike this winter as supposedly the cold weather is bad for Li batteries (although cold is relative and it's not THAT cold as you know in the Valley) (Message edited by fresnobuell on August 09, 2019) | ||
| Shoggin |
Lots of opinions in this thread, presented as fact. Careful  Theres different kinds of Lithium batteries. Li-Po, Li-Ion. They are not the same. You don't HAVE to get a specific charger, it is recommended. Remember the thing the battery is meant to power (your bike) charges the same no matter what battery is in it. Li-Ion batteries like higher voltages. The stock Buell charging systems plenty of capacity and works well with that kind of battery. My XB has been using a Li-ion battery for almost 2 years now and loves it. Much faster cranking, no problem sitting, plenty of reserve. The EBR came with one stock, and it's 1.5 amp drain causes the same issues no matter the battery type (of course). A different type of battery can't solve any problems for you, other than replacing a bad battery. Any issues like draining, not charging, etc. would still need to be addressed. Theres no magic fixes here, and like any part, cheap is cheap. Do you want to be cheap on the ONE thing that cranks the bike over? You'll spend that difference on the first tow home... | ||
| Shoggin |
Hey Fresno, it will never get cold enough in the valley to be an issue, haha. The rule is not to charge a Lithium battery below freezing. Heres why: https://relionbattery.com/blog/lithium-battery-col d-weather All batteries don't like cold weather.} | ||
| Shoggin |
"Professional installations use a proper firmware controlled battery manager for a reason" Thats old info about old tech, Gotta stay on top of new info, things move FAST in battery tech! Most Lithium batteries have an internal circuit balancer and are ready for any application. Shorai (stock EBR) does not have an internal circuit balancer and is meant for a standard charging system in the bike. Still with no issues. IMO, that would be the difference for me to either get a specific LI-Ion charger or not. If the battery has a built in balancer, you wouldn't need the redundant one in a specific charger. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I figured for $28 I would get the specific charger from the manufacturer. I am a bit jaded because of my rotten luck with the lead-acid AGMs and realistically the Bikemaster isn't THAT much more than a good AGM. I have 14 months on my Bikemaster Li battery and I am thrilled with it thusfar. I would recommend it solely on my experience with the product. | ||
| 1_mike |
Shorai battery (2 of'em) Shorai charger. Mike | ||
| Panshovevo |
I have one Shorai with the correct charger, and two Autocraft lithium that are relatively inexpensive, don’t require a special charger (to my knowledge) and seem to work well. One of the Autocrafts came to me near new in a bike I bought last winter, and the other I bought a few months ago. Time will tell...Advance Auto parts offers a one year free replacement on them. | ||
| Ggggary |
A good "all about lithium" thread https://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php ?242120-Lithium-Iron-Battery-Primer-(LiFePO4) | ||
| Pwillikers |
I bought a Bike Master Li Ion battery and it is the BEST THING I have done for this bike! It used to really struggle to turn over a hot engine (with several different lead acid batteries). It even stranded me a couple times even though the battery was freshly charged. Now with the Li Ion battery, it quickly spins up with enthusiasm and starts almost immediately every time. Makes me smile without fail. I bought the Bikemaster Li Ion battery charger when I bought the battery. I use it but honestly it seems unnecessary. Li Ion batteries have a very low internal discharge rate - much slower than lead acid. The Li Ion battery never seems to need charging. Seriously, I love this battery technology. I'll never go back to Lead Acid. |
