Quote:
Originally Posted by ChillRider
TBQH I never understood if those motorcycle/car lithium batteries are a true drop-in replacement for your conventional lead-acid ones or they require a more complete retrofit/specialized accessories.
I always imagined that at least some of them contain special adaptive/protective circuitry in order for them to be directly compatible with existing electrical systems, but apparently that's not always the case?
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Some of the higher end lithium batteries do actually have their own built in regulation circuits so they can be run on most bikes without issue. Even with those circuits, the charging system needs to be able to generally maintain a voltage range of 12.8V at idle to no greater than 14.6-14.8V maximum.
Generally this can be easily achieved by switching to a solid state reg/rec - ie, Mosfet - and eliminating the trigger/sense circuit usually tied into the ignition hot lead, if so equipped. (usually a black wire on Honda bikes)
If the stator cannot maintain that charge level during operation, or due to the sense circuit causes too high of a voltage, it can damage the lithium cells and reduce their ability to take a charge or maintain a charge.
Generally what happens when a lithium battery is run on a bike without taking the proper steps to ensure the voltage stays within range is a shorter lifespan, which is not a very handy thing when the battery costs several times as much as a good lead acid or AGM.