Anybody running Shorai battery in a Commando?

Do these lithium batteries work in Commandos?

If Matt sells and installs them, you know they work well.

https://coloradonortonworks.net/part-categories/cnw-electrical-components.html

Works great in my mk3 with the stock starter. My bike has the 920 kit and a shaved head to bump the compression.

They are not designed to work with the stock charging systems in our old bikes. My stock MK3 180 watt RM23 with PODtronics regulator generally keeps the battery in the 12.2 to 13 volt range and things work OK with a conventional battery. According to Shorai and other Li battery manufacturers, their batteries should never be discharged below 12.8 volts, or permanent damage may occur. I ran a couple of Ballistic Li batteries at below 12.8 volts and they both died, quickly, 12 months and 8 months.
I know Jerry discharged his Shorai batteries beow 12.8 and recovered the batteries OK for now, but time will tell if there was damage done that will shorten battery life. Shorai may be a better battery than Ballistic.
If you choose to use an LI battery, best to follow the manufacturersa advice and fit a charging system that is capable of putting out 13 volts at idle. I'm not sure if such a system exists for our bikes, it might.

Glen

The Shorai I got from OldBritts two years and nine months ago has been trouble free.
In winter the bike has sat for as much as five weeks between rides without a battery tender and starts and runs as good as ever.

I have 2 shorai batteries in paralell as Fred said that was a good setup and he is right. I did discharge them (left ignition on) and thought they were screwed. I ordered the shorai battery charger and charged them for 2 hours and the problem was resloved. That was over a thousand miles ago. Its as if they have a switch in them that only re-enables with the special shorai charger. I am very happy with the set up and my mk3 starts everytime.

I have a Commando with Alton start and an LFX-18, plus a Trident with electric start, LFX-18 and standard Lucas alternator. Both have been accidentally over-discharged on more than one occasion and survived. These batteries will be 3 years old this March, so I'm happy!
David

I had poor luck with one in my Commando (although great results in other bikes) and was told by the manufacturer that LiFePo batteries don't tolerate positive-ground systems well. Mine lasted two years, and the guy I spoke to was surprised I'd gotten that far with it.

So I continue to use and advocate for them in my other bikes, but I won't use in a positive-ground environment unless something changes.

FWIW/YMMV.

PS my bikes live on tenders, or their modern LiFePo equivalents, when not in use, and I usually get 7-8 years out of them before the slightest sign of deterioration. Again - YMMV.

BrianK said:

I had poor luck with one in my Commando (although great results in other bikes) and was told by the manufacturer that LiFePo batteries don't tolerate positive-ground systems well. Mine lasted two years, and the guy I spoke to was surprised I'd gotten that far with it.

So I continue to use and advocate for them in my other bikes, but I won't use in a positive-ground environment unless something changes.

FWIW/YMMV.

Click to expand...

That just points out the education of some suppliers.

Positive or negative ground has no bearing on the problem. It's just that most positive ground bikes are old and the charging system is pretty borderline when it comes to charging a LiFePo battery. Jim

comnoz said:

BrianK said:

I had poor luck with one in my Commando (although great results in other bikes) and was told by the manufacturer that LiFePo batteries don't tolerate positive-ground systems well. Mine lasted two years, and the guy I spoke to was surprised I'd gotten that far with it.

So I continue to use and advocate for them in my other bikes, but I won't use in a positive-ground environment unless something changes.

FWIW/YMMV.

Click to expand...

That just points out the education of some suppliers.

Positive or negative ground has no bearing on the problem. It's just that most positive ground bikes are old and the charging system is pretty borderline when it comes to charging a LiFePo battery. Jim

Click to expand...

+1

I'm with you there Jim. They've spotted a trend and reached the wrong conclusion! My Commanso is positive eartha and my Trident negative, both work equally well
David

I'm no electrical expert, but you got me thinking. From Ballistic Parts' website:

EVO batteries are more sensitive to variations in charging system outputs than lead-acid batteries with a higher amp/hour values. Vintage bikes from the late 60’s to the early 80’s sometimes have charging systems that are not as consistent as modern charging systems. These primitive charging systems sometimes have voltage outputs that exceed or are below the voltage limits of an EVO battery. We strongly recommend using the EVO Tester to check compatibility before using any lithium battery in a vintage bike. EVO batteries are NOT compatible with positive ground systems.

EVO batteries are NOT compatible with positive ground systems.

Click to expand...

Now that's just plain silly magical thinking exactly same as worrying about over powering by jumping with a large 12 v battery from a car or truck. Sounds like sneaky way of denying refunds from under/over charging primitive vintage cycles buyers. The main deal with which polarity returns through frame is weather the ecltro motive corroission chemistry is seen mostly at one battery terminal or in all the common return terminations in cycle or car.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/arti ... ge_cut_off How to wake up sleeping Li cells....

Some battery chargers and analyzers, including those made by Cadex, feature a wake-up feature or “boost” to reactivate and charge batteries that have fallen asleep. Without this feature, a charger would render these batteries as unserviceable and the packs would be discarded. The boost feature applies a small charge current to first activate the protection circuit and then commence with a normal charge.

Click to expand...

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=li ... ocking+out

Read whats about to juice up small dense batteries.

http://phys.org/news/2015-02-solidenerg ... -cars.html