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How to Charge an EarthX Lithium Battery

EarthX Lithium Battery Charging

Click here for maintenance and start up guidelines

EarthX batteries can sit on the shelf for up to a year without the need to charge due to the low self discharge rate (which is about 2% a month, compared to a lead acid battery which is approximately 30% per month). Even a “brand new” battery left in the box for a year will discharge with time. If you have the battery in a vehicle that has a constant draw such as a Harley, and you don’t ride for a month, you will need to put the battery on a charger. After about 6 months of no use, check the voltage and if it is less than 13.28V, or 26.56V (depending on 12V or 24V battery model) you should charge it, especially before start attempt. Do not leave a battery, lead acid or lithium in a discharged state or the cells will be permanently damaged (anything below 13.28V is a discharged state for the batteries used in 12V application and 26.56V for batteries used in a 24V applicatin). Charge immediately if this happens. 

If you have to charge your battery use a lithium (lifepo4) charger. If you are using a lead acid charger, make sure it includes the following:

  • A smart lead-acid battery charger that is not older than 10 years old (older chargers have crude voltage regulation)
  • Does not charge above 14.6V for the 12V models or 29.2V for 24V models
  • Will automatically turn off when the battery is fully charged, based on volts
  • Does not have a de-sulfate/deep conditioning/pulse mode (these can all mean the same thing, depending on your manufacturer). Do not use any charger with voltage that pulses above 15V or 30V, depending on 12V or 24V models. When in doubt consult the charger’s manual
  • For chargers with a maintenance mode, the mode should be between 13.3 – 13.9V or double for 24V batteries . Please read the manual that comes with your charger.

If your battery is at or near zero volts

EarthX ETX-Series batteries have an over discharge protection to disconnect the battery from your vehicle from the active load if 95-98% drained to protect the cells from damage. If you left on your lights, master switch, key, have a faulty starter, or have a parasitic drain this can happen. When the battery is "disconnected", there is no voltage at the battery terminal. Note: some volt-meters read a small voltage.

  • The ETX-Series lithium battery will automatically reconnect itself if you disconnect the negative battery cable (referred to as a BMS reset). Otherwise, use a lithium charger with a reset mode
  • If below 10.5V, it is possible the battery/cells are damaged. Do not force the battery to accept a charge as it can be dangerous and result in cell rupture and vapors. If above 10.5V, proceed to step #1. Double the voltages for 24V models.
  • If the battery will not reset and charge after attempting either 1 or 2 above, do not continue to use or charge as the cells could be damaged. Do not attempt to charge or jump start a battery that is swollen in appearance.
  1. Using a charger that is compatible with Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, disconnect the negative cable to the battery and connect the alligator clips to charge it. 
  2. If you have a singular letter and number on the backside of the negative terminal of a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, remove the battery from the vehicle, connect your compatible charger, then put either a jump pack or another 12V charged battery in parallel with the EarthX battery so the charger will read its voltage and engage. This will reconnect the circuit inside. If you have a voltage reading of 0-10.5V after reconnecting the circuit, the battery may be damaged and should not be charged. Once the charger sees voltage it begins to charge as normal. After 5-20 seconds you can remove the jump pack/jumper cables (be sure to not disconnect the charger). Recharging this battery from the depleted state can take a couple of hours.
  3. If the battery will not reset and charge after step 1 or 2, you could have a damaged cell and should not continue to use or charge the battery.

List of Charger manufacturers

The table below shows a list of chargers and if they are safe or not to use. This is not an all inclusive list. We recommend the Optimate lithium chargers: TM-391 and TM-275 for the 13.2V batteries or the TM-281 for the 26.4V batteries as they are designed to charge, maintain, and reset your battery if needed and have been designed to work with the EarthX brand of batteries.

  • Model: 1206S60CC
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: 1000, 2000, or 4000
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer , but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: Any model
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: Any model
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Per the manufacturer, they state it is not safe to charge a lithium battery with any of their models
  • Model: All models
  • Safe to use: NO
  • BMS Reset: NO
  • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: Lithium US
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: YES
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger, maintainer, and it will reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
    •  
  • Model: All lead acid charger models
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: Battery Tender Jr
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
    •  
  • Model: Battery Tender (original or plus)
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Can be used for charging only. Maintenance voltage is too low
  • Model: All models
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: Duraboost 750, 1000
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Can be used for charging. Can not find a maintenance voltage so if it less than 13.3V, it is too low
  • Model: Duracell Ultra SLC10002
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Use as a charger and maintainer,  but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: Tender Jr
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: Tender Jr
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: 10/2A Automatic
    • Safe to use: YES
      BMS Reset: NO
      • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: All models
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: All models (except the lithium specific one)
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: NOCO Genius Lithium
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, but will not reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: Ultimizer
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
      Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer
  • Model: 400 or Digital 1200
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: Xtreme XC100
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: PP-12-L
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: Charge Master CM6A, CM12A
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
    •  
  • Model: JA0512, 1212, 2512
    • Safe to use: YES
      BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer
  • Model: Any lead acid model
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery
  • Model: Lithium TM-290, TM-281, TM-391, TM-471, TM-485
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: YES
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, and it will reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
    •  
  • Model: All lead acid charger models
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode with damage a lithium battery
  • Model: 4cell LiFePO4 Smart Charger
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: YES
    • Suggestion: Use as a charger and maintainer, and it will reset EarthX’s BMS over-discharge protection
  • Model: Smart Shot 900
    • Safe to use: YES
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Can be used for charging. Can not find a maintenance voltage in manual so if it is less than 13.8V, it is too low
    •  
  • Model: Smart Shot 1.5mA
    • Safe to use: NO
    • BMS Reset: NO
    • Suggestion: Do not use, as full time de-sulfating mode will damage a lithium battery

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