Overview
Not all lithium batteries are equal, there are dozens of different types of chemistry used in lithium batteries. The EarthX batteries use cells made of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry that was developed in the U.S.A. This chemistry is the highest performance, most robust and the safest on the market today.
Lithium batteries are fundamentally different than lead-acid batteries. The lithium cells inside the battery need electronics to monitor and balance the voltage/charge of the individual cells. Other companies sell a balancing charger, which you have to plugin periodically to “top off” and balance the cells. Inside every one of the ETX-Series batteries is a microprocessor Battery Management System (BMS) that monitors the charge level of each cell and balances the charge when needed, protecting the cells from overcharge or over-discharge. What this means for you is more starting power, longer battery life, and the safest lithium battery on the market. All types of lithium batteries (not just ours) require a “BMS” that monitors and balances the cell charge and protect from over discharge or over charge.
BMS Features
Protection from Over Charge
Protection from Over Discharge*
Thermal Protection*
Short Circuit Protection
Built-in Cell Balancing
Why Choose an EarthX Battery? S. P. E. E. D.
- Speedy Charging: EarthX Batteries will charge 2-3x faster than a lead acid battery. No expensive balancing charger needed
- Powerful & Long Lasting: EarthX batteries crank your engine over easily and will improve your starting performance. The 12V series resting voltage is 13.3V compared to a lead acid which is only 12.6V. EarthX batteries also have a larger life span, up to 6 years.
- Extremely Lightweight: EarthX batteries are up to 80% lighter than their lead acid equivalents. Lighter weight = better performance.
- Environmentally Friendly: EarthX batteries are environmentally and user friendly. They are nonhazardous, nontoxic, and nonpoisonous. They will not sulfate, corrode, freeze, or boil over. They will never need water added and will never spill acid.
- Discharge Rate: EarthX batteries have a much slower discharge rate than a lead acid battery, the need to charge is greatly reduced.
Other features of EarthX batteries
- No special mounting direction – can be used on its side or even upside down
- All batteries are tested to industry standards (SAE, UL, CE)
- Flexible battery connection – batteries can be used in either left or right side polarity application. Option to connect battery leads directly to the vehicle
- EarthX uses American battery technology and the batteries are assembled, engineered, and designed in the US
- Longer storage life – up to 4000 charge/discharge cycles (~4-6 years), over 4 times the life of a lead-acid battery
- Wide operating temperature range (-30°C to +60°C) – lithium batteries are dry cell technology and will not freeze, boil, sulfate, or corrode
Interesting facts about lithium
- A lithium battery can use 100% of its storage capability (measured as Amp-Hour, Ah), while a lead-acid battery typically only uses 30%
- A lithium battery’s voltage remains relatively constant while discharging, while voltage for a lead-acid battery decreases
- A lithium battery’s cranking power will not drop-off, and it will crank your engine longer. But when the lithium battery runs out of power it does so abruptly, just like your lithium powered hand tools
- LiFePO4 cells by the nature of their chemistry are 3.3 volt. 12V lithium batteries, like our motorsport batteries, are created by using 4 cells in series (technically it is a 13.2 volt battery). The lithium cells (in series) in a 12V battery pack diverge in both levels of charge and capacity with each charge/discharge cycle. This condition reduces the performance of the battery (reduces capacity) and can lead to overcharging or over discharging a cell.
- The lithium cells (in series) in a 12V battery pack diverge in both levels of charge and capacity with each charge/discharge cycle. This condition reduces the performance of the battery (reduces capacity) and can lead to overcharging or over discharging a cell. A cell is permanently damaged if over charged or over discharged just one time. In the case of overcharging, cells can rupture, and the entire battery will need to be replaced
Battery Charging
Our batteries can sit on the shelf for up to a year without the need to charge it and still start your vehicle due to the low self discharge rate. (If you have our 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).
In the event you have to charge the battery, use a “modern” lead-acid battery charger or Lithium (LiFePO4) battery charger. By “modern” we mean a charger that was built in the last 10 years that automatically turns off when the battery is fully charged (based on volts). DO NOT USE a charger that has a de-sulfate mode; an automatic de-sulfate mode; or any charger with voltage pulses above 15V! This will damage the battery. If in doubt, consult the manual that comes with your charger.
For chargers with a maintenance mode, the maintenance mode voltage should be 13.3V – 13.9V. For example, the Battery Tender JR has a maintenance mode voltage of 13.3V which is compatible, whereas the original Battery Tender has a maintenance mode voltage of 13.2V which is too low for a lithium battery.
EarthX Lithium batteries have an internal Battery Management System (BMS) to disconnect the battery from the load (your vehicle) if the battery is drained too low. When the battery is “disconnected”, there is no voltage at the battery terminal. Note, some volt-meters may read a small voltage. The EarthX over-discharge protection circuit is automatically reset when a charging current/voltage is present at the battery terminals (referred to as BMS Reset).
SPECIFICATIONS
SKU: ETX18B
Voltage: 13.2
Weight: 2.2lbs (1.0kg)
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA): 230
Peak Cranking Amps (PCA): 340
Amp Hour (1C Rate): 6.2
Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)
Case Size: B - Dimensions: 5.3" L x 2.6" W x 4.1" H (135mm L x 66mm W x 105mm H)
This Battery Replaces these Yuasa Part codes:
