Shorai battery not holding charge?

[JoeP]

I just got delivery of a Shorai LiFeP04 battery. Right out the box, I measured the voltage to be 13.03V which I thought was low. So I hook it up to my Battery Tender (brand), which Shorai says is safe to do, and I get a reading of 14.3V about after 40 minutes (fast!). Then I disconnected the charger and noticed the voltage dropped to 13.3V after 30 minutes. Is this normal? This was last night and I haven't checked it today yet. Battery is not connected to the bike yet.

Thanks.

[stopintime]

Did you read 14.3 with the tender on?

(don't know if it should be disconnected before you check what charge it has reached...)

[JoeP]

Did you read 14.3 with the tender on?

Yes. When I measured 14.3V it was still hooked up to the charger and the charger light was starting to flash green.

(don't know if it should be disconnected before you check what charge it has reached...)

I don't know either. I just noticed the voltage dropped pretty quickly after it was disconnected.

[DarkMonster620]

best bet, give them a call, http://shoraipower.com/

[koko64]

Yep, call them because that battery is misbehaving. The charge up process sounded correct, but to have a voltage drop like that is strange. Those things normally sit around with a full charge for a year as long as there is nothing like an alarm, etc drawing on them.

[BK_856er]

I say install it and run it.  Don't let your OCD get in the way.   

Been using a Shorai on the M695 for a few years - works great.

Finished a 2.5hr ride about an hour ago and I just measured the battery voltage at 13.4V with a good DMM.

I have their special charger that charges each cell individually (balances them) but I only use it occasionally.  Normally I just leave it alone and might not ride for several weeks.

I think you're good to go, but I'm sure they will answer your questions if you call them up.

BK

[JoeP]

Don't let your OCD get in the way.   

You're right. I installed it and the bike started right up. I was expecting more oomph compared to my old battery but it was about the same. Maybe time for new starter cable. In any case I'm happy to not have to worry about acid leaking all over the place, which is why I changed out the old one.

[Slide Panda]

You might investigate the starter solenoid while you're at it. The one on my 900 gave very slowly. It presented as poor cranking, despite having a good battery and charge. A remote starter bypass switch can be hooked up to it, to jump it and fire the starter. If it cranks up with gusto using the remote, then time for a new solenoid. If it behaves the same... keep looking

[Duck-Stew]

The Shorai in my SS1000 did *not* like the colder weather and I thought it had died.  Left it for a few months in the cold and when the weather got warmer, it resumed working like nothing had happened...

As far as 13.3V after the charging process: sounds fine to me.

[Slide Panda]

The Shorai in my SS1000 did *not* like the colder weather and I thought it had died.  Left it for a few months in the cold and when the weather got warmer, it resumed working like nothing had happened...

Yeah the Lithium batteries don't like the cold. A recommendation I read was that if it does not fire up on the first try, key off the bike and let it set for 30+ seconds. The battery does generate heat when you tap it for power to try to start. That heat will allow for a more vigorous chemical reaction (more electrons yay!) on the next try.

30 seconds does seem like forever in this case, but it seems to help

[Howie]

Yeah the Lithium batteries don't like the cold. A recommendation I read was that if it does not fire up on the first try, key off the bike and let it set for 30+ seconds. The battery does generate heat when you tap it for power to try to start. That heat will allow for a more vigorous chemical reaction (more electrons yay!) on the next try.

30 seconds does seem like forever in this case, but it seems to help

Yep, just the opposite of conventional wisdom.  Key on, headlight on, wait, then crank.

[CDawg]

Good tip!