Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - 09:12 am:
I have three motorcycles using lithium batteries. They are definitely lighter than lead-acid and are often smaller. They can be charged with a standard charger/maintainer so long as it does not have a high-voltage (15+) desulfation mode.If using a standard charger/maintainer it should be disconnected when the Li battery reaches full. A charger/maintainer that is designed for Li is a better choice. This is the same type of issue that differing types of lead-acid batteries (SLA, Gel, deep-cycle) batter users should consider. Battery Tender makes a few dual-chemistry charger/maintainers. I use a maintainer on the bikes that sit for a month or more between rides. Not so for the Uly which rarely sits for more than a week. Starting in cooler temperatures (upper 30s) does demonstrate slower cranking speed but starting itself has not been an issue.
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - 11:42 am:
In cold weather the Lithium likes to be heated by running the headlights for 5 to 10 minutes before starting. I think this also helps for recharging in cold temps also. The lithium can sit for months with very little discharge if disconnected from the bikes ECM. Discharge rate for a sitting lithium is very low compared to a lead acid. Bonus note: I use a tender on my lead acid. I disconnect the tender for up to a month at a time. Then hook it up for 24 hours then disconnect it for a few weeks again. I ruin fewer batteries using the tender that way. Buy the tender for your lithium or just ride it every few months and leave the battery disconnected from the bike in the down months. I have been contemplating putting a lithium in Lil Red and hard wiring a Noco GB-40 boost pack in.
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - 01:21 pm:
I use lithium battery. It works better than regular AGM battery. AGM batteryes lost juices after 1 year of use on Buell, probably because of it is exposed to the engine heat all the time. I'm not sure if lithium will survive the engine heat too, I put my lithium battery in the airbox where engine sucks fresh air cooling the battery.
You can't use regular battery charger for lithium battery,you will destroy it doing so and maybe explode it, you need to use LiFePo charger for those.
Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - 10:41 pm:
Sure you can use normal charger for your lithium battery if you want to set your motorcycle on fire.
You also have to keep an eye on the lithium batteries without battery management system. I use small capacity Antigravity lithium battery without battery management system so I have to follow extra rules like keep an eye on the rectifier voltage, on the battery voltage, keep in mind that I can not hook the battery on the charger when it is cold or hot.
The Li charger/maintainer does have slightly different programming than lead-acid, but the key feature is that when set to Li charging, charging stops when the battery reaches 100%. No trickling.
I just like blowing stuff up on purpose. Those were bag batteries. It is fun to pull the lithium out and throw it in water too. Don't put out a lithium battery fire with water. Gas can explosion is small unless you turn the contents into an aerosol.
The car/motorcycle is not just a charger, it is rectifier holding voltage at 14 volts no matter what. This is self regulating system with heat sync to radiate the extra power in case the voltage is higher. But you can not use LiFePo battery on vehicle if the battery voltage is below 11 volts because of the rectifier will generate too much current on the battery and the battery can explode.
What is the lifespan of a lithium? I've been using stock AGM batteries. My current battery was in its 5th season, last year, and it was no longer reliable. I would put a charger on for a little while before every ride (cold start), but I wasn't riding much last year so I put up with that routine.
Lithiums don't seem to last any longer than AGMs in my experience, and are less forgiving to being accidentally drained. The factory Shorai in my 2014 EBR died last year, I just picked up an Anti Gravity to replace it.
One thing i see missing in this is what would happen if they brought in a lithium with the same physical dimensions as the other batteries. In rc cars we use them because we get less weight, higher discharge rate and longer run times while taking up the same space as the old nihm cell packs.
Anyone found a full size lithium replacement for our buells?
if i remember correctly, the shorai that i put in my Uly is the same size as the lead battery that it replaced. so far working fine here in north Florida. doesn't get much below freezing here on a winter night for a handful of days, so not too worried. really enjoying the extra CCA to kick the lump over. 315 cca vs 220 cca is a nice jump. have only done the initial charge back in July when i installed it. not a hint of trouble sofar.
(Message edited by fireboltwillie on November 08, 2022)