My lithium battery experiment is OVER!!!!!!

[mik_str]

Got stranded today due to my lithium battery..... no more! This was my 3rd attempt and I am turning the page on lithium batteries. They may work on a trackbike but my exposure to them has convinced me they are unreliable for everyday use and, as I like to actually ride my bike, I'll put up with the extra 6 lbs of a Yuasa.......

[lloydie]

Ok that's a bummer ! . Least it didn't catch fire

[Stephan]

Lithium or LifePo4? I use lifepo for 3 years without any problem. And know some others.

[sirch345]

Cheers for the feedback on the lithium battery Micky. A shame it didn't work, as it's a relatively cheap way to reduce bike weight compared to the alternatives options. At least you gave it a good go.

Chris.

[mik_str]

well, having calmed down, I am left thinking the problem is with the bike....... guess I'll have to get the voltmeter out....

[Pete.L]

Lithium can take an awful lot of current. Are you sure it hasn't burnt your regulator out?

Pete.l

[Jscobey]

Funny as I was thinking of trying the WPS featherweight battery. Easy way to shed 5 or 6 lbs. But I guess its not worth it if it leaves you stranded.

How long did you have the battery before it sh!t on you

[firestorm_al]

I am personally not a fan of having a lithium battery right under my butt but having said that they are usually pretty reliable. I would be checking out the rest of the charging system. On my old Triumph TT600 I went through two batteries and R/R units before I realised that the startor coil was burnt out as well.

Al.

[sirch345]

well, having calmed down, I am left thinking the problem is with the bike....... guess I'll have to get the voltmeter out....

Ah, I was assuming you had already done that

Chris.

[mik_str]

well, I seem to have found the root of my problem: the stator. I took out my voltmeter and took readings at idle and 5000 rpm, both were around 12.5V (service manual says it should be between 13.5 and 15.5 at 5k rpm). As a preventive measure, I had bought a replacement stator a couple of years back so, I decided to overcome my fear of all things electrons, and put in the new stator (old one was all black........). I fired it up afterwards and it was reading just under 14V at idle.... bingo! Moral of the story, don't procrastinate (I have a real phobia of electronics), mine cost me 3 batteries (or so it would seem)....... This may also explain why I was never able to get the RC51/SP cluster and Ignitech ECU to work....... I feel like a real loser I must admit....... though a wiser one now......

[VTRDark]

am personally not a fan of having a lithium battery right under my butt but having said that they are usually pretty reliable.

I seem to recall there being issues with lithium spontaneously combusting. IIRC there was talks of Lithium batterers in the cargo hold of the missing Malaysian plane being a possible cause of instant take down......an explosion.

Well done Mik. I hope this is a step further into getting over your fear of electrics. And most important of all, it's lessons learned.

(:-})

[Jamoi]

Nice work Mik So now the experiment is officially over? success!

I've been tempted to rig up some Li-Po batteries and see how they fare.

Li batts used to be quite unstable, but as long as they are treated with respect they a sound.

I stuck a metal stake through a 22.2v 5000mah Li-Po battery once, it was VERY IMPRESSIVE

[tony.mon]

So, you found the problem, and it wasn't the battery?
OK, buy another LiFePo battery and rock on.

I may have to finally get one; now everyone is on about how dangerous they are.
I just had a metal 90 degree tyre valve fitted to add a little spice and interest to my riding after reading horror stories about them, and set the chain oiler to spew oil all over the LH side of the tyre so that I had a few little slides here and there to keep me awake.

A timebomb under the seat may be just what I need next.....

[sirch345]

well, I seem to have found the root of my problem: the stator. I took out my voltmeter and took readings at idle and 5000 rpm, both were around 12.5V (service manual says it should be between 13.5 and 15.5 at 5k rpm). As a preventive measure, I had bought a replacement stator a couple of years back so, I decided to overcome my fear of all things electrons, and put in the new stator (old one was all black........). I fired it up afterwards and it was reading just under 14V at idle.... bingo! Moral of the story, don't procrastinate (I have a real phobia of electronics), mine cost me 3 batteries (or so it would seem)....... This may also explain why I was never able to get the RC51/SP cluster and Ignitech ECU to work....... I feel like a real loser I must admit....... though a wiser one now......

Result
It's all to easy to see in hind sight what we should have done, the main thing is you've rectified (pun not intended) the problem in the charging circuit. I also think your issues with not being able to get that RC51/SP cluster and Ignitech ECU to work, most likely, down to the stator problem.

Have you checked out with your multi-meter yet each phase on the old stator plate, to see if it was just one gone or all three?

Chris.

[MacV2]

So, you found the problem, and it wasn't the battery?
OK, buy another LiFePo battery and rock on.

I may have to finally get one; now everyone is on about how dangerous they are.
I just had a metal 90 degree tyre valve fitted to add a little spice and interest to my riding after reading horror stories about them, and set the chain oiler to spew oil all over the LH side of the tyre so that I had a few little slides here and there to keep me awake.

A timebomb under the seat may be just what I need next.....

Don't forget to put the old R/R back on, just for that last bit of back of the mind will it hold out on this ride nagging doubt...