Voltage Regulators and Lithium Batteries
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,893
Likes: 8,001
From: poway
Evos don't have ECMs or BCMs. They have an ICM but don't have any powered circuitry. The only drain is through reverse biased diodes or SCRs/ Diacs in the regulator. In the low microamp range.
Last edited by Max Headflow; Nov 9, 2022 at 08:18 PM. Reason: don't
Tourer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 469
Likes: 158
From: Alberta
One thing with Lithium batteries that nobody has mentioned is that they give no warning when they go bad/dead. They are not like an AGM or Lead Acid, in that they slowly start loosing a charge whereas a Lithium battery will be good one day and the next time you try and start it its done.
As to drains on the battery. If you have a clock or radio on the bike there will be a very small drain that over a period of a couple of months will drain the battery down enough that the bike won't start. It takes a small amount of power to keep the clocks/radio settings. That's why if the bike is going to sit for several months ie: over winter, then you should either unhook the battery or put it on a good smart battery tender that monitors the battery and only charges the battery if it needs it.
As to drains on the battery. If you have a clock or radio on the bike there will be a very small drain that over a period of a couple of months will drain the battery down enough that the bike won't start. It takes a small amount of power to keep the clocks/radio settings. That's why if the bike is going to sit for several months ie: over winter, then you should either unhook the battery or put it on a good smart battery tender that monitors the battery and only charges the battery if it needs it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,893
Likes: 8,001
From: poway
One thing with Lithium batteries that nobody has mentioned is that they give no warning when they go bad/dead. They are not like an AGM or Lead Acid, in that they slowly start loosing a charge whereas a Lithium battery will be good one day and the next time you try and start it its done.
As to drains on the battery. If you have a clock or radio on the bike there will be a very small drain that over a period of a couple of months will drain the battery down enough that the bike won't start. It takes a small amount of power to keep the clocks/radio settings. That's why if the bike is going to sit for several months ie: over winter, then you should either unhook the battery or put it on a good smart battery tender that monitors the battery and only charges the battery if it needs it.
As to drains on the battery. If you have a clock or radio on the bike there will be a very small drain that over a period of a couple of months will drain the battery down enough that the bike won't start. It takes a small amount of power to keep the clocks/radio settings. That's why if the bike is going to sit for several months ie: over winter, then you should either unhook the battery or put it on a good smart battery tender that monitors the battery and only charges the battery if it needs it.
I have a 131 ci twin cam with a Twin power LI battery in it. After 4 years it started getting week, it wouldn't crank over smartly,, No BMS.. BTW it got replaced with a Noco that has BMS. Motor kicked back and the BMS shutdown the battery. Had to tow it home. Looking to get a small battery pack to reset the BMS when it occurs..
I had a 2002 RK that I bought with HD AGM that just quit.. Cells shorted, bike died.. It was weak but still starting the bike..
The regulator thing is interesting. 2000 FXDX with 107 motor, the regulator started to over charge a Shorai after 4 years. Killed the battery. Didn't flame but did get hot.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 12
From: Gran Bois
I still need help with this lithium crap......Has anyone tried a 16 volt battery? Most drag cars now run 16v, if my ignition has no problem with a 16v input, in my opinion the 13.3 (stall, as I call it) on a 12v battery will hopefully be at a higher point...So my reg. wont be killing itself trying to achieve a 14.5v that the (stall) of 13.3 will hopefully be higher on a 16v.......DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? or do I? I need help, it's 2023 and still can't get a lithium setup on my Harley, most superbikes HAVE NO PROBLEM....))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) HELP ME ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,090
Likes: 7,610
From: Poolville
You can put a 16 volt battery in if you want but your charging system still is only going to put out 14.3 volts max, therefore you're going to undercharge your 16 volt battery making it useless.. You have to put in the whole system not just one part...
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,402
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
I had a Cycle Electric (new) with a lithium battery and checked the voltage before I left it was idling 13.3 and wouldn't get up when revving, went down a few miles and poof I was on fire, the lithium battery was smoking under my @ss . Changed one main battery lead and put an acid battery all good, idle 13.9 - and rev 14.4. Now I bought the Lithium universal Harley reg. from Ricks Motorsports to save my new expensive lithium antigravity (398.00)😐battery....I told them about the "stall" I seen many times with lithium batteries at 13.3, and he said he hadn't heard that, but told me the regular regs are .5 volts set too high and a lithium needs to be regulated lower, so I am giving it a try....Lettuce pray
I've never messed with such so can't be much help but I read somewhere - those batteries have to be put under some sort of load to "wake them up" before max starting amps can be acheived. It's possible the same holds true for charging, I don't know.
Maybe @Yankee Dog will see this. He has possibly done some research since his earlier post on this thread and may be of more help.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 111
Likes: 45
From: australia
I still need help with this lithium crap......Has anyone tried a 16 volt battery? Most drag cars now run 16v, if my ignition has no problem with a 16v input, in my opinion the 13.3 (stall, as I call it) on a 12v battery will hopefully be at a higher point...So my reg. wont be killing itself trying to achieve a 14.5v that the (stall) of 13.3 will hopefully be higher on a 16v.......DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? or do I? I need help, it's 2023 and still can't get a lithium setup on my Harley, most superbikes HAVE NO PROBLEM....))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) HELP ME ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
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