Are lithium batteries sh#t ? – OLD Bull Trailriders

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June 10, 2014 at 10:22 am #103987

Nick Jackson
Member

I bought a lithium battery just over 12 months ago and after limited use it’s now dead and won’t hold a charge.

They say a lead acid battery is good for 200-300 cycles whereas a lithium is good for 2000 , my battery can be charged with a standard charger providing it is no higher than 16 volts and once charged and removed from the bike will stay charged for up to 12 months. I removed it from the bike fully charged 3 months ago. Checked it tonight and it’s dead , charged it and it won’t hold a charge ???

Anyone else experienced this cause at $150 it’s pi#%ed me right off !!

Nick

June 10, 2014 at 10:31 am #257431

Leo.C
Member

No sparky buy any means but what sort of charger are you using? I’ve been using a Ctek charger for The AGM battery in Han’s TTR and it that little motobatt seems to kick the bike after sitting for months. They also apparently “condition” ( :huh: ) the battery, might be worth a look. They are quite often on special from repco

June 10, 2014 at 10:38 am #257432

Greg
Member

I couldn’t get a run out of one Nick, that said some people rave about them. I went to an industry battery night for work a few years ago in Brisbane and from that I am not convinced a normal charger can maintain a lithium battery regardless of what the manufacturer of the battery claims to get sales. Also a bikes charging system wont get the battery back to its fully charged state. I have a 4 stage charger that recovers batteries that other chargers cant. I didn’t have that when I tried a lithium battery before. That stated is my opinion from my experience only

TB

June 10, 2014 at 10:46 am #257440

Matt Baker
Member

I had one in my old Berg for over 2 years without any dramas but a couple of weeks ago I had a main fuse blow on my bike, it was full of mud and dirt so I replaced it, rode for 3 days without a drama then on the 4th day the bike just stopped while I was riding along.

Still had power but not enough to run the electrics, the battery just shat itself, replaced under warranty (it was about 6 months old)

I guess like anything sometimes you just get a dud.

June 10, 2014 at 10:58 am #257448

Nick Jackson
Member

I just checked the battery manufacturers website and although in the instructions I got it was very specific about charging voltages it did say a standard charger would be fine, now on their website is says an AGM step charger is strictly the only charger that can be used ?? Maybe in the last 12 months they’ve realised the issue with using a standard charger ??

It still doesn’t explain the total discharge of the full battery !!

June 10, 2014 at 11:03 am #257449

Dave O’Rourke
Member

That’s strange Nick that the website would recommend and AGM or Absorbed Glass Matt battery charger for a lithium battery. What brand battery is it?

June 10, 2014 at 11:21 am #257450

Nick Jackson
Member

D-Rally wrote:

That’s strange Nick that the website would recommend and AGM or Absorbed Glass Matt battery charger for a lithium battery. What brand battery is it?

It’s a Motobatt but it seems their AGM charger suits more than one of their battery types

The funny thing is when I googled Motobatt one of the first results that comes up is “Warning Motobatt batteries are Shit”

Nick

June 10, 2014 at 11:46 am #257455

Dave O’Rourke
Member

Are you sure it’s a lithium. I am 95% sure that Motobatt don’t make lithium Batteries. What colour is the battery casing? Is it yellow? or is it black with a green top? Even better, any chance you could post a picture?

June 10, 2014 at 12:36 pm #257433

Adam Rodgers
Member

I’ve had a SSB lithium for about 12 months cost $110 from Hollyhock Batteries.

I haven’t put it on a charger as yet, it always manages to start my bike, it’s certainly lighter than a sealed lead acid.

I’m hoping that by using it regularly it will help it last

Only time will tell I guess.

Adam.

June 10, 2014 at 12:57 pm #257456

Greg
Member

D-Rally wrote:

Are you sure it’s a lithium. I am 95% sure that Motobatt don’t make lithium Batteries. What colour is the battery casing? Is it yellow? or is it black with a green top? Even better, any chance you could post a picture?

This got the better of me and Daves question made me think? Even after i messaged you i kept wondering. I think your battery Nick is a AGM (absorbed glass Mat) battery which isn’t a Lithium battery if it’s a Motobatt? That would help explain why it went flat

You can read the difference here

When I checked the Motobatt website I can only see AGM batteries :huh: see here maybe I missed it I don’t know. Anyway I was bored here in my motel and that’s what I came up with.

TB

June 10, 2014 at 5:35 pm #257434

Andrew
Member

Same happened to me with a SSB lithium had in the bike for about 4 months or so (riding every weekend) then all of a sudden it went dead and wouldn’t charge…took it back to the dealership where I bought it they couldn’t charge it either so they replaced it. Not sure if it was just a dud but the one I have in the bike now has been good for over 8mnths

June 10, 2014 at 7:39 pm #257457

Nick Jackson
Member

D-Rally wrote:

Are you sure it’s a lithium. I am 95% sure that Motobatt don’t make lithium Batteries. What colour is the battery casing? Is it yellow? or is it black with a green top? Even better, any chance you could post a picture?

Now you got me thinking !! It’s definitely lithium but I’ve found an old post and it’s a Motocell not Motobatt :blush: ( sorry Motobatt :whistle: )

Here’s the pic ….

Does that mean a standard charger will work as the instructions say or does it need a lithium charger ?? My Makita power tool batteries had to have a specific charger when I changed to lithium.

Why the limited shelf life ??

Thanks for the replies

Nick

June 10, 2014 at 8:10 pm #257460

Nick Jackson
Member

After doing a bit more research it seems there are some very mixed results with the lithium battery , on a street bike forum some guys have had there batteries trouble free for 2 years plus and others had 3 out of 5 fail under warranty and gone back to lead acid.

Length of bike storage and discharge seem to be the biggest issue with the battery going flat when left connected to the bike. Also a more realistic 4 months shelf life seems to be the norm.

Charging has mixed reports with most saying never use a standard trickle charger only a specific charger for their battery.

There are optimiser chargers available apparently suited to the Motocell battery but RRP is $74.95. It’s starting to get expensive compared to a standard battery.

June 10, 2014 at 10:30 pm #257461

Dave O’Rourke
Member

I can sort this for you Nick, PM sent

June 12, 2014 at 12:33 pm #257435

Aaron Wilde
Member

Have been watching this thread to see what the go is. I have been wanting to get a lithium battery to reduce weight with increased cranking amps. But I am waiting for my current lead acid to die. . I have done a bit of Internet research comparing lithium ion and li po batteries and they seem similar?????As I know how to look after li po batteries and know that they get ” puffed” if you leave them fully charged and need to be stored at 75 %. Was wondering if these were similar and would get wrecked if left on a trickle charger. That may be why Adam has had a reasonable run with his ? If they are similar I cannot see how they can run to their full potential without a balance charge.
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