How do you draw down a battery for long storage?

[Wetstuff]

I bought a Lectric XP Lite 2... but as a cripple I really needed a Trike. (now w/500+mi) The XP-L is beautiful, so I am reluctant to get rid of it... But the battery is charged to like 99%. How do I draw it down to 50, 60, 70%? I can lean it over the kickstand and throttle, but don't have the patience to stand there for Xhrs?! Any suggestions...Thanks Jim/Maryland

 

[Roamers]

I bought a Lectric XP Lite 2... but as a cripple I really needed a Trike. (now w/500+mi) The XP-L is beautiful, so I am reluctant to get rid of it... But the battery is charged to like 99%. How do I draw it down to 50, 60, 70%? I can lean it over the kickstand and throttle, but don't have the patience to stand there for Xhrs?! Any suggestions...Thanks Jim/Maryland

Don't overthink it; we leave ours at whatever state of charge it's at and check periodically to make sure they don't over discharge. Surprisingly little self discharge over a year.

 

[Wetstuff]

T'anks Roamers... I thought a bit later. Even tho I dare not risk riding it (today..) maybe I could have someone else ...NAAAAW! ..ain't gonna happen. Cheers. Jim

 

[EMGX]

Unfortunately I've left lithium batteries fully charged for months unused. Lately I've discharged them like you mention using a buck step down converter (17-65V to 12V) to power a 12v appliance - in my case a small cooler that I use on road trips that I power with ebike battery when car isn't running. This wouldn't work with proprietary ebike batteries that require a signal from the controller to release full amperage (like my Yamaha mid drive).

 

[lnanek]

I just plug in a desk lamp with an incandescent light bulb. Doesn't shine as bright at 48V DC compared to the 110V AC it is used to, but it's happy to slowly draw down the battery and safely put out small amounts of light and heat.

 

[Wetstuff]

Inanek... I am trying to picture your configuration? ...'just pull out the battery and make a simple connector for + and - ? Jim

 

[Gionnirocket]

Don't listen to Roamers... You'll damage your battery.
Store at 50%...this is science/chemistry, not opinion.
Inanek's solution works... but you'll have to make up an adapter.

I didn't watch the video so use common sense.

 

[Roamers]

Don't listen to Roamers... You'll damage your battery.

Been doing it for 6 years; still going strong with Gazelle. YMMV

 

[Gionnirocket]

Been doing it for 6 years; still going strong with Gazelle. YMMV

I don't know how that changes facts.

 

[Roamers]

I don't know how that changes facts.

I'm not disagreeing with facts: I assume the fact is that less than 100% charge is better than 100% for storage. Optimizing battery life can be a goal for some, not imporant to others. The OP has stopped using the bike, but decided to keep it; doesn't seem important to optimize that battery's life.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I'm not disagreeing with facts: I assume the fact is that less than 100% charge is better than 100% for storage. Optimizing battery life can be a goal for some, not imporant to others. The OP has stopped using the bike, but decided to keep it; doesn't seem important to optimize that battery's life.

Actually most important for long term storage. Probably why he asked the question.

 

[6zfshdb]

The XP Lite battery uses a simple spade connector. Buy a cheap extension cord, split the plug in half and insert the spades into the battery discharge port. Wire it to an incandescent light bulb as shown in @Gionnirocket post. The polarity doesn't matter.

 

[Gionnirocket]

The XP Lite battery uses a simple spade connector. Buy a cheap extension cord, split the plug in half and insert the spades into the battery discharge port. Wire it to an incandescent light bulb as shown in @Gionnirocket post. The polarity doesn't matter.

I remember you did that clever solution but I'm not familiar with the XP battery.
Survey says.... Number one anser. .

 

[PCeBiker]

I made a battery discharger using three 100 watt incandescent lightbulbs after hearing about it from @6zfshdb ,..



The three bulbs are drawing 1.41 amps and the battery is at 52.6 volts, so just under 75 watts, with each bulb dumping just under 25 watts of heat.

I didn't watch the video so use common sense.

The guy in the video was using 48 volt LED's similar to these on Amazon,..

$20 for two 3 watt bulbs.
That would cost $250 for 75 watts worth.


I can still buy the old-school incandescent bulbs at the dollar store for less than $1 each.

The bulbs don't get as hot as they would running off house current, but they still get pretty warm.