Popped 2nd Shorai Battery in 200 miles. Need electrical help

Mucci · Post by **Mucci** » Tue May 12, 2015 9:30 pm

I'm trying to wrap up a Honda CA95 build and am having an issue with the electrical.

I've now popped 2 Shorai Lithium 6V batteries in only 200 miles. The second one happened today while I was riding. A pop noise, smelly smoke and zero electrical power. I got some leads on it after the tow back and it showed 0 volts. Main fuse is still intact. Points look new.

This is the battery: http://shoraipower.com/lfx18a2-bs06-p90
"SHORAI LFX Lithium-Iron Powersports battery, 18Ah PbEq 6V eq, "A" polarity, Case Type 2, CCA 270"

I upgraded the rectifier to an Oregon Motorcycle Parts 42 Amp 3 wire.
http://www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com/rectifiers.html

Could someone help me diagnose this issue? I'm a novice when it comes to electronics and I'm supposed to be delivering this bike on Friday. I'm stressed to say the least. This was supposed to be the last shake down ride ...

Thanks - Dave

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Wed May 13, 2015 12:51 am

Dave

Have you got any type of regulator fitted? I'm guessing that those batteries do not like the high voltage that these bikes produced when the battery is fully charged. Lithium-ion batteries are a bit choosy about how they are charged. Typically there is no proper regulation on these Hondas but the lead-acid battery is better in over-voltage situations.

Look for Podtronics combined regulator-rectifier.

http://www.podtronics.net/

G

Mucci · Post by **Mucci** » Wed May 13, 2015 8:49 am

G-Man wrote:Dave

Have you got any type of regulator fitted? I'm guessing that those batteries do not like the high voltage that these bikes produced when the battery is fully charged. Lithium-ion batteries are a bit choosy about how they are charged. Typically there is no proper regulation on these Hondas but the lead-acid battery is better in over-voltage situations.

Look for Podtronics combined regulator-rectifier.

http://www.podtronics.net/

G

We didn't add a regulator, no. Just upgraded the rectifier. Are we able to run an R/R combo like that inline without any other issues? I'm just beginning to understand more about this charging system and how it regulates voltage without a regulator.

Going to run some tests today and compare them to the Shorai specs. A regulator may do the trick. Thanks for the link.

jambretta · Post by **jambretta** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 4:38 pm

I know it is 2 months since your post, but I just read this. Those lithium batteries have very specific specs about max voltage, etc. you MUST use a regulator. Read the specs. THey require a different charger from conventional batteries too.

Tim Allman · Post by **Tim Allman** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:14 pm

You could do worse than give this site a visit.

http://batteryuniversity.com/