Just installed Lithium Ion batteries

9481 Views 36 Replies 15 Participants Last post by boilermkr, 10 d ago

n2dzone

Discussion Starter · Jun 5, 2021

I have a 2011 Polaris and use it infrequently, in 2016 I bought 8 155am AGM batteries, when they were new, I got maybe 10 miles range and in about 30 months, they died completely.

I just put in four 1.5 KW Plug and play batteries from bigbattery.com they are amazing. Not sure how many miles, gut was able to go for 3 hours on the time clock over a 1 week period on one charge. (probably at least 35- 40 miles and The OEM charger works, just have to unplug it when batteries are fully charged as it is not good to trickle charge them.

The battery gauge is not accurate, but o big deal.

I also bought a 60 amp 48 to 12 volt converter to run my 12 volt winch which I have not installed yet.

The cost was less than I paid for the AGM,,about $2600.

I am one happy owner,

21 - 37 of 37 Posts

Sch

· #21 · 10 mo ago

Just wondering two things:

1) everything still working okay?
2) how many of the Bdgr batteries do you think you could fit in the battery compartment?

n2dzone

Discussion Starter · #22 · 10 mo ago

Sch said:
Just wondering two things:

1) everything still working okay?
2) how many of the Bdgr batteries do you think you could fit in the battery compartment?

Yes. Still working fine. Very happy. No problems. You could get 6 batteries in the trays

Sch

· #23 · 9 mo ago

n2dzone said:
Yes. Still working fine. Very happy. No problems. You could get 6 batteries in the trays

Think you could fit 8?

n2dzone

Discussion Starter · #24 · 9 mo ago

Sch said:
Think you could fit 8?

possibly. Might betight. With 4 I can go 2 hours.on a full charge

yooper265

· #25 · 9 mo ago

You mentioned in your first post you got a 60 amp converter for the winch , have you ever used it and did it work ? Most winches draw well in excess of 60 amps under load .

n2dzone

Discussion Starter · #26 · 9 mo ago

yooper265 said:
You mentioned in your first post you got a 60 amp converter for the winch , have you ever used it and did it work ? Most winches draw well in excess of 60 amps under load .

My winch is used to raise and lower snow blade. It is geared slow and was running of a very small 12 lead acid battery. I used it once to slide a 2009# safe across a drive way

97756horse

· #27 · 9 mo ago

boilermkr said:
Reading of s many guys grabbing these unknown units and trying to make them work in the EV and having no support when something doesn’t go right. I learned my lesson with Allied couple years ago. Sticking with proven performance and tech support from Voltronixs

I am learning my lesson with Allied...I just installed the "Plug and Play" kit. It did not use the old harnesses and that seemed wrong. I cannot get any help from Allied. How does a person find someone to troubleshoot the setup? Thanks

97756horse

· #28 · 9 mo ago

boilermkr said:
Reading of s many guys grabbing these unknown units and trying to make them work in the EV and having no support when something doesn’t go right. I learned my lesson with Allied couple years ago. Sticking with proven performance and tech support from Voltronixs

I am in a situation now with Allied...no support. The batteries are installed but I need help trouble shooting why it won't engage the transmission...ideas?

boilermkr

· #29 · 9 mo ago

97756horse said:
I am in a situation now with Allied...no support. The batteries are installed but I need help trouble shooting why it won't engage the transmission...ideas?

Message me i have installed 3 of their kits and have manuals and wiring diagrams if needed. Issues i have had is the EV shutting down for no reason at 85% and having to reset the batteries

thomps0990

· #30 · 6 mo ago

I’m contemplating this battery setup. I’m the new owner of a 2013 EV with lead acids from 2017. Gotta change em out soon.

seanrarey

· #31 · 5 mo ago

97756horse said:
I am in a situation now with Allied...no support. The batteries are installed but I need help trouble shooting why it won't engage the transmission...ideas?

I have done a number of Allied conversions. Happy to help troubleshoot if needed.

txsparky

· #32 · 4 mo ago

Has anyone tried this kit?
Its a 12.2kwh

bigbattery.com

48V 4X FALCON ELITE KIT - LiFePO4 - 244Ah 12.24kWh - BigBattery.com

HIGH VOLTAGE! BigBattery’s 72V 2.3 kWh LiFePO4 FLCN is our newest addition to a line of golf cart solutions that have performed incredibly in carts all across the country.

bigbattery.com

would you need to reprogram the controller or anything?

jflaplante

· #33 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

I've been following this thread for a while. I have a 2019 Ranger EV and I use it mostly in the winter period on my maple farm. The first winter was moderately fine as I don't need much range, things started to go south during the second winter and on the third one, I was down to 1-2 mile of range or so. I was able to get 3 batteries changed under warranty but just by looking at how they test them, I knew that this would be a temporary fix. They tested the batteries with a garage tester that test their ability to start a gas car and not their ability to last a given amount of time. They refused to test them following the battery manufacturer's procedure.

Anyway, 4th winter now and I'm down to about 1-2 mile of range again. Average usage temperatures are between -6c and 6c during the sugaring season. Strangely, I get about the same range when using the tires or the snow tracks. In case anyone asks; Yes the water level is accurate, these batteries drink a ton of distilled water.

My main questions so far are:

How are the Badgers batteries in cold weather if anyone tested them?
Why use another charger ? Since the batteries have their own BMS and kinda emulate a lead acid battery, why can't the original charger be used?
I have a small 12v lead acid battery for the winch and the factory 48v > 12v converter to charge it. Can I keep that and still recharge the smaller 12v battery like before ?

Thanks in advance for any answer to the questions

JF.

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Peter Musser

· #34 · 3 mo ago

jflaplante said:
I've been following this thread for a while. I have a 2019 Ranger EV and I use it mostly in the winter period on my maple farm. The first winter was moderately fine as I don't need much range, things started to go south during the second winter and on the third one, I was down to 1-2 mile of range or so. I was able to get 3 batteries changed under warranty but just by looking at how they test them, I knew that this would be a temporary fix. They tested the batteries with a garage tester that test their ability to start a gas car and not their ability to last a given amount of time. They refused to test them following the battery manufacturer's procedure.

Anyway, 4th winter now and I'm down to about 1-2 mile of range again. Average usage temperatures are between -6c and 6c during the sugaring season. Strangely, I get about the same range when using the tires or the snow tracks. In case anyone asks; Yes the water level is accurate, these batteries drink a ton of distilled water.

My main questions so far are:

How are the Badgers batteries in cold weather if anyone tested them?

Why use another charger ? Since the batteries have their own BMS and kinda emulate a lead acid battery, why can't the original charger be used?

I have a small 12v lead acid battery for the winch and the factory 48v > 12v converter to charge it. Can I keep that and still recharge the smaller 12v battery like before ?

Thanks in advance for any answer to the questions

JF.

Peter Musser

· #35 · 3 mo ago

I also have a 2019 ev. It has the original USA batteries. I'm the 2nd owner. Bought it in 20 with 44 hours. Had to replace a number of cables. Its not used much in the winter. I found that you do have to check the water level monthly and clean and protect the termanels. Would like to go to AGM batteries but haven't seen very many good reviews. I'm amazed how munch Polaris dealer dont know about the EVs. I'll probably be replacing batteries in the next year or so. Hopefully a concensis will be reached by that time as to the best setups. Thanks for all your input.

thomps0990

· #36 · 10 d ago (Edited)

Hey guys,

just wanted to chime in and let you know I pulled the trigger on a set of 3 BDGR batteries for my 2013ranger Ev.
First I tried just two of the batteries and it worked but eventually during “testing” I was able to shut the batteries down. So I added the third one and a shunt/battery meter.

performance has been great! I can’t say exactly how much runtime I can get and that is subjective to driving style and terrain anyhow but it has been fantastic.

a couple things I will post pictures of eventually is that I saved the front and rear threaded rod from the original battery restraint on both sides and cut a piece of steel angle to go to both to secure the new batteries down tight.

I mounted the charger onboard and installed a sexy noco port for the 120 plug someone else has posted on the website before.

Also I used bus bars for my connections. It’s quite a simple install. Hardest thing was removing the 737lbs of lead acid.

I have to give a shout-out to all the og’s on this forum, boilermaker and others. I have spent so many hours reading through old threads trying to absorb as much info as possible and I must say that there would have been no way I would have done this without having this forum as a resource. I wish I could afford the voltronics conversion. I just can’t, this seemed to be somewhere in betweeen. Also for my use case of only on my property and the 500 acres that borders it my needs are met.

I’m curious to see how winter performance will be but I’m expecting to have some sort of heating pad under the batteries to warm them before charging and discharging. I’m used to lithium ion cells in my battery tools, however I can’t confirm the chemistry of those but I know they like to be warm.

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boilermkr

· #37 · 10 d ago

Just recharge batteries when you park it the cells will still be warm. That will eliminate a lot of the issues of charging in cold climates

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