Lithium Batteries
 

So when I built the DRZ project, I figured i'd spend the extra dough on a super-light lithium Ion battery. An "Antigravity with push button jump start".

It's been cold, and of course, I've once again slacked on hooking up the float chargers to the herd this year so a couple days ago, I decided I best start all the e-start bikes.

The Harley fired right up. Of course, both the RE Interceptor and Scram fired because they've been run recently. Q slowly cranked but fired.....and the ONLY bike that was on its face??? The DRZ with the fancy battery. I mean dead. Like there was no battery in it. The dash didn't even glow.

I reached in with the little screw driver and pressed the jump start button. The dash came on, it cranked very slowly then went dead again. So much for the jump start feature.

I hooked up the lithium charger I bought especially for the new battery and it came "on" but would not charge. The damn battery is only a year and a half old. I contacted the vendor and they responded and may actually do something about it! I was surprised but figured it was time to edumicate myself on these batteries, so I hit You Tube to become certified.

I saw a vid on jumping a lithium battery so I tried it. Sure as heck, it started charging. Overnight it came to a full charge! I'm going to wait a few days before contacting the vendor though. Who knows how long it may last???? I don't know enough about these things other than they weigh as much as an empty plastic box.

Anyone have any real world experience with these wacky batteries?

I have a LiFePo4 battery in my off grid house. It has a built in BMS (battery management system) that will prevent charging when the temperature gets below 32°F because that will damage the battery. It also prevents discharging below a certain temperature and balances the cells. More to go wrong than in a lead acid battery. I don't know what chemistry your battery uses but the battery may be just fine.

It has been below 32' on and off the last month. Maybe that's the deal with it. Ill check it tomorrow and see. I already ordered a cheap lead acid battery for it off Amazon. The DRZ and a few others are up for sale. If the Lithium one isn't dead, I'll keep it and sell the bike with the cheap one.

I have a lithium battery in my golf cart, and it has a bms system that shuts it down if it;s too cold or too hot. Your battery is most likely fine. The bms can also shut it down if it has become discharged too low. For any of those 3 conditions, jumping it will reset the battery.

they need a jump start to "wake " them up if they go below safe voltage or below 32F