We can find out which one this is from the voltage of the battery.
If the battery voltage is around the 1-2V mark then it is simply in LVC and the charger cant detect a battery is connected which is why it's not charging and also why it isn't starting the bike.
Solution: You need to get some charge into the battery to close the LVC so the battery can charge normally. It only needs 30 seconds to 1 minute to charge and then you can proceed with regular charging.
Method 1: Simply jump-starting the bike and letting it charge in there for 30 seconds to a minute will get it able to be charged normally. As long as it doesn't have an Auto clutch and can be roll started I'd roll start.
Method 2: If roll start is not possible you can use jumper leads and simply jump-start the bike.
There is a third method but I won't cover it in this article as this will work in 99% of cases.
First Lets Establish What Is Wrong
Normally one of 2 things has happened which is why the battery is flat and won't charge.
- The battery has been run dead flat and the LVC (low voltage cut off) has kicked in to protect the battery from over-discharging.
- Their other is a dead cell.
If the LVC has kicked in, don't worry, we can get you sorted quickly! If there is a dead cell, then it requires replacing.
How to test the Voltage
Some of the SSB Lithium batteries have a built-in battery voltage indicator. Simply pushing this should tell you the voltage of the battery.
What if there is no Voltage?
If there is no voltage indicator you need to find out what it is using a multimeter.
If you don't have one see if you have a friend that has one. If that fails most auto electricians would be more than happy to tell you what it is. Also, automotive retail stores such as Autobarn or Supercheap Auto should be able to test it for you for free too.
My Voltage is around 9-10V
If it's around the 9-10V mark then it's dropped a cell and the battery needs to be replaced. If it's under warranty and has been used in the correct bike with the correct charger then it will be covered under warranty
Why did the battery discharge?
If we identify that it is LVC then we can assist in troubleshooting why the battery discharged. 99.9% of the time it is a voltage leak with the bike but it is also possible that the battery is draining itself. Whilst I say it's possible out of the 5000+ Lithium batteries I have sold only 1 has had this issue but we still don't want to rule it out completely.
About the Author
Daniel Walker is a former off-road and motocross racer. He has used Lithium batteries extensively and is an expert in the battery industry with nearly 20 years of experience.
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