Shorai LFX18 V Deka ETX14, Constant draw stress test!

The made up terms, "PBEQ" that Shorai uses to describe its batteries, i.e. "CCA PBEQ" and "AH PBEQ", are NOT equivalent to CCA and AH listed for lead/acid batteries.
For race use LiFePo4 batteries are a no brainer because they save so much weight.

For adventure riding, you need to buy a much more expensive and larger LiFePo4 battery then Shorai was listing as of 3/18.12, to have an equivalent time that you can draw power with the engine off and still start your bike. The same is true of "CCA PBEQ" with the Shorai battery listed. At no point did the Shorai LFX18 270 CCA PBEQ battery come close to cranking the test bike as fast or with as little voltage drop as the Deka 220 CCA ETX14.
I am annoyed with the deception in Shorais FAQ and specifications / application table.
The raw results:
START --- KEY ON TIME --- SHORAI LFX18 --- DEKA ETX14
1 ---------- 0 minutes on ------- 8.976 volts min ------- 0.303 volts min
2 ---------- 5 minutes on ------- 8.870 volts min ------- 9.943 volts min
3 --------- 10 minutes on ------- 8.710 volts min ------- 9.914 volts min
4 --------- 15 minutes on ------- 8.652 volts min ------- 9.585 volts min
5 --------- 20 minutes on ------- 7.892 volts min ------- 9.244 volts min
6 --------- 25 minutes on ------- 6.964 volts min ------- 9.188 volts min
7 --------- 28/30 minutes on -- 5.274 volts/fail ------- did not log, but enough
8 --------- 30 minutes on, 5 rest - 5.142 volts/fail
8 --------- 35 minutes on ------------------------------------- 8.151 volts min
9 --------- 40 minutes on ------------------------------------- 2.959 volts/fail
10 -------- 40 minutes on, 5 rest -------------------------- 6.052 volts min
11 -------- 40 minutes on 10 rest ------------------------- 7.482 volts min
12 -------- 40 minutes on 15 rest -------------------- didn't log but cranked nice
Finished test cause the DEKA killed the Shorai and I was getting bored

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[wolflsi]

Awesome Fluke Multimeters!! :drooling:

[Joel Wisman]

Thank you :) Unfortunately Fluke discontinued the 860 line about 10 years ago and has never replaced it with anything. That 867 does things I have never found another device capable of doing. Functions I use often.... When it finally breaks I will cry.

[wolflsi]

That's really pity :(

But I am thinking about purchasing Fluke 289,my SANWA PC5000 is a little old ^^"

[Joel Wisman]

The 289 is a responsive and well thought meter that is extremely accurate. I strongly recommend it if you have need for it's features and resolution. The previous model which was labeled the 189 cn be found for way cheaper and has similar specs but was a hunk of junk that was also slower then molasses in january to respond.

[wolflsi]

Thanks~I purchased 289 lase week and we are trying to know each other now XD

[Joel Wisman]

If you are knowledgeable enough to unhook the headlight and other lights to deduce load, even my modern fuel injected Aprilia Caponord will go down to a 2.6 amp draw to run regardless of speed. Obviously you can't carry a spare everything, but being that A failed battery or charging issue is the number 1 reason a modern bike arrives at a dealership on a tow truck, anything that increases reserve capacity, reliability and durability of the battery is far better then carrying an extra piston :)

[Joel Wisman]

P.S. If you ever end up near St Louis, I am always interested in autopsying failed LiFePO4 batteries as well as evaluating the physical and charging environment the battery was living in. I am supporting every manufacture that will listen as to what they aren't getting right because I love batteries and do believe that LiFePO4 will eventually replace lead/acid.

[Joel Wisman]

Thanks. I wanted to like Shorai, and my issues with Shorai do not extend to all LiFePO4 battery manufactures. I am astounded at the durability and reliability of Antigravity LiFePO4 batteries though their specs are inflated so you still have to by a larger battery then their specs imply. I am also impressed with EarthX LiFePO4 batteries and though their AH spec is crap, they are actually conservative with their CCA spec, but yeah, Shorai from every test i conducted is a piece of Chinese junk.

[Joel Wisman]

you can not bring a 1 month old lead/acid battery back to 100%. The nature of all batteries is to slowly decline, but yes, you can bring a heavily hard sulfated battery back to good enough. It somewhat depends on the type of battery that is heavily hard sulfated. You cant do much with a hard sulfated flooded battery because methods for removing sulfating will drop all the active material in the bottom of the battery case, but with AGM's, the quality ones will come back from almost anything.

[Mike Spille]

Thanks, Joel! My Shorai LFX is dead and I was trying to decide if it was worth getting another one. Your testing is going to save me money this time.