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Message started by shovelbum87 on 05/19/13 at 16:30:04

Title: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by shovelbum87 on 05/19/13 at 16:30:04

Ive been doing some research on the newer Li batteries that they are now starting to sell for motorcycles and they seem to be pretty cool, about a quarter the size of the original batteries and can be mounted in any orientation, My question is if anyone has tried them on their Savage because these bikes really need some MASSIVE cca. I just wanted to know what y'all thought.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by paulmarshall on 05/19/13 at 17:09:47

I am and it works great.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by shovelbum87 on 05/19/13 at 17:11:12

Which one did you go with? the six cell? I assume at least because I doubt the four would have enough

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by paulmarshall on 05/19/13 at 17:12:38

I installed my EarthX ETX12A some months ago now and its never let me down

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by paulmarshall on 05/19/13 at 17:16:01

The CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) are lower than the recomended but I have never had a prob. If you want the recommended CCA you need to upsize and that defeats the purpose.They are super light, I mean nothing inside light.
Best investment I reckon.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by paulmarshall on 05/19/13 at 17:20:45

http://earthxmotorsports.com/products-page/cbr1000/etx12a/

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by Gyrobob on 05/19/13 at 17:27:23

I'm using the EarthX in an FJR-1300,.. the thing whinnies now when I hit the start button.

I'll be getting two more,.. one for the RYCA Cs-1, and one for a gyrocopter with a 110hp 4-cyl Hirth motor in it.

The big advantage to EarthX is you don't need a special charger to make sure the cells stay balanced. You can ruin a Ballistic or Shorai by not using one of their proprietary chargers.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by Dave on 05/20/13 at 03:40:50

I bought the EarthEx EXT12A as well. It is the most AmpHours in the small case size. When the box was delivered it felt empty....it is incredibly light.

The battery has plenty of power to start my bike, and only time will tell how long it lasts....but it is supposed to last a long time unless you completely discharge or overcharge it. Evidently Li-Ion batteries will not tolerate being completely discharged orovercharged - and just one of those events will kill them. Be carefull not to leave you key on!

I chose the Earth-X as it has the built in balancing system to equal out the cell charge. There should not be any reason to ever have to charge it, as the battery keeps the charge for extended periords and they don't recommend puting a tender on the battery when not in use.

If you ride when the weather it 15 degrees and you have a hard time starting your bike....then maybe you need more amp hours. I ride when it is 50 and above, and my bike starts within 2 seconds of hitting the switch.....I really don't use much of the energy in the battery to start my bike.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by HJH on 05/21/13 at 13:10:07

The Battery Tender Jr. I have had hooked to my Shorai battery did not harm the battery. It is not a proprietary charger.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by Dave on 05/21/13 at 15:22:27

5C5E5C140 wrote:

The Battery Tender Jr. I have had hooked to my Shorai battery did not harm the battery. It is not a proprietary charger.

This is from Balllistics website:

Charging:
The best method for charging your EVO2 battery is to use the Ballistic Professional Intelligent Digital Balance Charger. It has a fast charge mode, a storage mode, and the ability to charge each cell or series individually. This Balance mode, when used periodically will greatly extend the life of the EVO2 battery.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by Gyrobob on 05/21/13 at 18:05:04

191B19510 wrote:

The Battery Tender Jr. I have had hooked to my Shorai battery did not harm the battery. It is not a proprietary charger.

It hasn't harmed your battery yet.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by v-pilot on 05/21/13 at 20:06:38

I've got a Shorai on my Ducati 900ss...2 yrs now, no problems and it's got plenty of compression to deal with. The chargers are spendy though. Have an Earthx for my Rycazuki. We'll see how that one works out.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/22/13 at 05:15:17

Id be a bit hesitant using a charger not approved for that application,

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by Dave on 05/23/13 at 05:23:24

0C0E0C440 wrote:

The Battery Tender Jr. I have had hooked to my Shorai battery did not harm the battery. It is not a proprietary charger.

From the Shorai website:

Q. Can I use Lead-Acid battery chargers or charger/tenders?A.Yes. HOWEVER, you may NOT use a charger/tender if it has an automatic "desulfation mode", which cannot be turned off. We have confirmed with Deltran, makers of the "Battery Tender" brand, that their products do NOT have a desulfation mode, and are therefore OK for use with Shorai LFX, for example. But the best possible charger/tender for Shorai LFX is the SHO-BMS01, which will be released on about March 15th 2011, we expect. It uses the 5-pin BMS port in the LFX batteries, in order to monitor, diagnose, and balance the individual cells during charge. And it also has an optimized storage mode that will give the longest possible service life to your LFX.

Q. Should I use a battery tender?A.The short answer is "only if you really need to". Most powersports enthusiasts have gotten used to hooking up a tender to their lead-acid batteries, all the time. Shorai LFX have much slower self-discharge than the best lead acid do (1/6 to 1/7, on average), they do not sulfate as capacity drops, and they are the ultimate "deep cycle" battery, which means that they can still crank your vehicle even if the remaining capacity is quite low. Therefore most riders will not need to use a tender at all. Even a charger or tender uses energy you have to pay for, and there is always the possibility that a charger or tender can fail in some way, so if not really needed the best practice is to not use one.
A fully charged LFX can sit for a year or more and still retain adequate starting capacity, without damaging the battery. As such, any vehicle which has no current flowing when the key is OFF should never need a tender. At most it should be charged every 6 to 12 months, depending on the average storage temperature (cool storage is much better for any battery). Many older vehicles and most dirtbike/atv fall into this category.
Newer vehicles may have a significant draw even when the key is OFF, to maintain clocks and computers, etc. In this case we expect that a few hours of riding per month will be all that is needed to avoid tending. If you know that you will go a number of weeks or months without riding, you can either attach a tender, or disconnect the negative cable from the battery. In any case, during storage you may use the voltage chart above and an accurate voltmeter, and consider recharging when the battery is around the 50% capacity remaining mark, or above.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by JD on 05/24/13 at 18:16:12

Just got a shorai phantom series. About half the size and 1.5 lb. Runs the bike great!

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by Gyrobob on 05/25/13 at 06:13:21

505E485359525B0F3A0 wrote:

Just got a shorai phantom series. About half the size and 1.5 lb. Runs the bike great!

What will you use as your procedure to make sure the cells stay balanced?

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by JD on 05/25/13 at 18:07:33

Unless I can take the top cover off I will not be able to balance the battery. Fortunately LifePO4 batteries can take a beating. Im pretty sure the batteries will not be in harm. I will post later on how the battery performs.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by JD on 05/25/13 at 18:13:21

APP12A1-BS12 This is the model number that I am using.

Title: Re: Anyone using the new Li batteries?
Post by Gyrobob on 05/26/13 at 18:51:26

454B5D464C474E1A2F0 wrote:

Taking a beating is one thing. Charging them incorrectly is like running a motor with bad oil.