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Lithium Batteries (again)

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  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    I've read all our own threads on these batteries, followed most of the links and read them as well, I have questions though, not real tough ones, 
    1. What brand and model lithium battery do you use in your Harley?
    2. How long have you had it?
    3. Would you buy it again knowing what you now know?
    4. What made you choose this particular battery over others?
    5. What built in protections and features does it have.


  • Ratbob
    Ratbob
    4 months
    Good subject Hilly.  Interesting questions
    Hope you don’t mind if I add.

    6, What changes did you make (if any) to the bikes charging system?

    I.e. a lithium battery charging regulator with specific lithium algorithms. To maintain premium health, charging systems should treat lithium and even glass mat batteries differently to lead acid.
  • speedzter
    speedzter
    4 months
    I've been tempted by lithium , but not enough to buy into the hype yet.

    This video below popped up recently .
    R&J are a localy started company that have grown fairly large .
    I don't really know how a Harley would cope with the system of the battery going into sleep mode .


  • tussuck
    tussuck
    4 months
    Quoting Ratbob on 20 Nov 2024 06:41 AM

    Good subject Hilly.  Interesting questions

    Hope you don’t mind if I add.

    6, What changes did you make (if any) to the bikes charging system?

    I.e. a lithium battery charging regulator with specific lithium algorithms. To maintain premium health, charging systems should treat lithium and even glass mat batteries differently to lead acid.

    I would expect the battery to come with an internal BMS that would take care of that issue.  Good callout and a good point to watch out for.  Plus the old hog charging system is pretty rough as far as waveform is concerned so could be rough on a BMS.
  • Wanderer57
    Wanderer57
    4 months
    1. Harley Lithium - Cant remember model but suits Twin Cam Softail, 16 FLSTC 103, (smaller and comes with plastic frame which it sits in, to take it to Gel size)
    2. Installed late 2018
    3. Yes
    4. Unlike some guys that would walk a mile over broken glass to buy anything Non Harley, yes its a bit expensive, but I put my faith in it as HD branded and sold by dealership. SSB make a couple being a standard and a heavy duty one as well but haven't tried it but they seem reputable. Probably good to do a price comparison.
    5. Unsure of what tech spec protections it has.
    6. No changes to the bike charging system

    I put it on a tender for Lifepo about once every 3 weeks just so it can go through the diagnostic and top up. 

    Research back when I fitted it was positive, with the USA guys saying it had to be woken up after Months in their sub zero Winter layups. Im in NQ so no issues with the higher temps. I installed it in Singapore when I was there which is hot and humid all Year.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    Thanks for the replies fellas, watched that vid speedzter, only question I have there is if it sleeps what happens with the Harley anti theft system 🤔
    I did try finding more info on them RJ's, maybe my googling skills are sub par.
  • 408
    408
    4 months
    Battery going to sleep is likely not much different to battery being removed from bike but my 09 requires fob present and ignition on to remove battery.
    I have had it out for extended periods (months) when working on the bike.
    A question that occurs to me is how long the siren battery will last without feed from the main battery, but the siren battery seems to be a sturdy little beast. It is a 9 volt rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery and my part number dates from 00. I am aware they were superseded in 2010. The MoCo puts their lifespan at 3 to 6 years but I am not aware of anybody ever having replaced one.
    I guess there is no drain on them unless the siren is activated. 
    I have always considered the alarm system and the small flashing red light to be a drain on the main battery when the bike is not used for some time.
    Not sure how the alarm works in later models, with BCM etc.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    Quoting Wanderer57 on 21 Nov 2024 07:56 AM

    1. Harley Lithium - Cant remember model but suits Twin Cam Softail, 16 FLSTC 103, (smaller and comes with plastic frame which it sits in, to take it to Gel size)

    2. Installed late 2018
    3. Yes
    4. Unlike some guys that would walk a mile over broken glass to buy anything Non Harley, yes its a bit expensive, but I put my faith in it as HD branded and sold by dealership. SSB make a couple being a standard and a heavy duty one as well but haven't tried it but they seem reputable. Probably good to do a price comparison.
    5. Unsure of what tech spec protections it has.
    6. No changes to the bike charging system

    I put it on a tender for Lifepo about once every 3 weeks just so it can go through the diagnostic and top up. 

    Research back when I fitted it was positive, with the USA guys saying it had to be woken up after Months in their sub zero Winter layups. Im in NQ so no issues with the higher temps. I installed it in Singapore when I was there which is hot and humid all Year.

    They have three available, all the lithium iron phosphate type, I found one small passage on the biggest one mentioning protection circuitry but can't find it again lol, I would like to think they would all have something as the last thing HD want is bad press on how to burn your bike to the ground, prices are not that outlandish and they are conservative with the life expectancy as advertised, still looks a good option.
    Thanks for your input.

    Just want to correct something, this is what I saw but it was in the smallest versions write up ....

    Internal solid-state Battery Management System automatically detects over/under charging for more-reliable starting performance and protects the battery from deep discharge, over voltage and over temperature.
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    Did you read the reviews? One said poles reversed, just enough lead to reach, that was on the 6ah one.
    I still can't chase up an RJ one for a closer look, interesting stuff.
  • 408
    408
    4 months

    Got a link for the reviews ?
  • 408
    408
    4 months
    Yes, looks like M8.
    Blurb says same connections and pic shows positive post right but Skyrich provide left and right positive options, so it looks like somebody sent him the wrong one.
    Fortunate that the battery cables had a bit of extra length, have not seen that on other models  :)
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    Be a long round trip if they sent the wrong one to a twin cam owner here lol
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    Got this from RJBatt......

    Thank you for your enquiry.

    The Raptor lithium range is expected to be available late December, but this has not yet been confirmed.

  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    Didn't know they even existed, can't be any worse than the others, good for a couple of years you'd assume.
  • speedzter
    speedzter
    4 months
    Never used them in the HD, but I run Century in my Ute .
    They have an 18 month warranty on the bike battery, so better than most .

    I will need a new bike battery soon, so will need to decide again on what brand/chemistry .
    I would seriously like more cranking current though to turn over the 120", not sure my old 2 phase Stator would play nice with Lithium though .
    I keep meaning to buy a DC clamp meter to test the starter current draw.


  • Hilly
    Hilly
    4 months
    Nice finds, it's the incoming tech I guess, 5 year warranty is pretty up there, mind you I've got that in the past with lead acid batteries in Harleys but not since the more parasitic systems have been the norm.
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