Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Lithium Ion Batteries

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Quote:

Originally Posted by _CY_ (Post 375947)

excellent feedback on starting your R1200 in -15(f or C?) degree weather with Shorai batteries. which model? LFX ?

HUGE advantage having an intelligent charger with balancing features with LiFePO4 batteries. 13.6v resting charge indicates a fully charged condition. LiFePO4 fully charged is 14.4v which quickly will scrub off surface volts to about 13.8v. depending on which charger was used. 14.4v to 13.6v represents about 10% of total capacity. voltage drops rapidly to 13.6 range. then voltage remains very flat until about 10% remains. only about 1/2volt drop for the working 70% of amp hour capacity. don't drop below 80% DOD or 12.86v if you want your battery to have a long life.

note just because a small LiFePO4 battery successfully starts a motorcycle at low temps with a fully charged/balanced battery. doesn't mean that same small LiFePO4 battery is recommended for adventuring. Amp hour is amp hour, there is no substitute. IMHO Shorai overates their batterie's actual amp hour capacity.
go with a larger battery than recommended.
http://www.shoraipower.com/images/te...CapacityLg.gif

Cy,
The temp was -15F. The batteries are the LFX21A6-BS12. The battery used to start the bikes was first charged to the store level (which as I understand it is not 100% full charge), then left outside for two days to chill to outside air temperature and to allow the charged state to "settle". I suspect those two factors contributed to the initial low voltage reading. I have not take a voltage reading immediately after a full charge on a "warm" day so I don't know what a fully charged voltage level is for this battery but I suspect it is higher than 13.2V. As far as amp hours, I have no comment, not having the tools to do that kind of testing.

My choice of the Shorai was more out of frustration with the OEM AGM batteries, that never seemed to last more than a year and a half to two years for me. I took care of them, kept them on the BMW "special" and expensive charger and they still died prematurely IMHO. So the Shorai choice was really to try new technology and to vent my frustration with the OEM battery. So far the Shorai has lasted longer than the OEM. We'll see.

Shawn

Well so far I've not managed to find any kind of battery. Thailand is playing hard to get. I can find a super-scooter battery that fits and will get her moving but it's the same as what i had and it died in a matter of months. I know what I want, I fancy the Motobatt quadflex, it has none of the difficulties and back in the UK the price is good too. I've settled on the idea of one of those but no luck whatsoever.
If anyone knows of a good place to try then I'm all ears.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kickaha (Post 374789)

Hi Walter,

And congrat for the record!

How would you rate these batteries reliability for a longer trip. I am currently preparing to do the Stans, Mongolia, and Siberia on your tracks over 4-5 months. Would the LiFePo4 be something to consider?

Kickaha

Ask me in 4 months time ... I am heading out the same way in a week - with a Shorai LiFePO4 battery installed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by colebatch (Post 377963)

Ask me in 4 months time ... I am heading out the same way in a week - with a Shorai LiFePO4 battery installed.

sure hope you are taking a large enough battery, like LFX 36 = 12 amp hours actual ... note accessories like heated gear will draw down actual amps, not (pb eq) lead acid equal.

if your high tech bike has any issues, LFX 36 will have the reserve cranking needed to diagnose and clear. like say a bad load of fuel... just to be safe, seal all joints/ports with silicon as battery is not waterproof.