SSB or Super Start Batteries are lightweight lithium batteries designed for starting applications. These high-performance Lithium batteries are dry, which means they’re spill and leak-proof.

There are two different series of these lithium batteries. First is the LFP or Lithium-Iron Phosphate range, a lightweight, entry-level series with a one-year warranty. The other one is the LH series, a high-performance Lithium range that comes with a 2-year warranty.

Read on to know more about these high-performance lithium batteries in Australia.

FAQs

Here’s a list of some of the common questions asked regarding these high-performance lithium batteries.

1. Which one is the better lithium battery, LFP or LH?

This depends. If you’re using a dirt bike, you can benefit more from an LH battery. It gets the bike started off the button from the cold the first time. Also, it can save poor starter motors, which are often notorious for failing after usage of 50 to 70 hours.

For most situations, LH is the better choice. However, it’s recommended that you still follow your trusted mechanics advice on what’s ideal for your vehicle.

2. What are the common faults with SSB lithium batteries?

People usually complain that they put their lithium battery on the charger, but it won’t charge. In most cases, this is because they connected it to a smart charger. Usually, when this happens, it’s from 1 to 2 volts, and it’s not the fault of the lithium battery.

Take note that there’s a safety feature to prevent over-discharge of a 10-volt lithium battery. Now, the issue with smart chargers is that when people connect them, these chargers normally need a voltage of three to four to recognise that a battery is connected. This is why sometimes they never start charging.

3. Is it okay to put a high-performance lithium battery on a trickle charger?

A trickle charger’s main role is to slowly charge a battery to prevent it from overcharging. But actually, you can still get the same result by using a standard charger.

You don’t need to connect your SSB PowerSport lithium battery on a trickle charger, especially with dirt bikes. The reason for this is that the technology behind high-performance lithium batteries in the last ten per cent of the charging cycle is the time it produces the most heat. This is when your battery experiences the most stress.

Leaving your SSB PowerSport lithium battery on constant trickle charge will only do unnecessary charging. It keeps it on that 100% range wherein it doesn’t have to be, and this compromises the longevity of the battery. It may not ruin your SSB PowerSport lithium battery within the warranty period. But, instead of getting about four to five years out of your SSB PowerSport, you may only get three to four.

4. What should I do if the SSB high-performance lithium battery isn’t working?

First, try connecting it to a manual charger for around 30 seconds to a minute and see if it comes up from 1 to 2 volts. If it comes straight up to 11 or 12 volts, you can proceed to use normal procedures when charging.

Another option is to jump-start your vehicle then leave it to charge. Once you can charge into the battery, you can proceed to enjoy a trouble-free operation. The battery incurred no damage because of the voltage cutoff. So, you can continue using it for, hopefully, another three to five years more.

5. How do I know if it’s a faulty battery?

One obvious sign is when the charge voltage won’t exceed 15 volts because the ideal range is between 14 and 15 volts. Make sure that when you charge your SSB PowerSport batteries, you won’t exceed above the 15-volt mark or even too high an ampere input right to the batteries.

A common scenario is that the battery has an internal fault, and the cell fails. It drops the voltage down to somewhere around the 9 to 11-volt mark. At this stage, your battery is already unrecoverable. If the cause of this is due to overcharging or incorrect use, your warranty will be void, and you’ll need to purchase a new battery.

But don’t lose hope. There are times where a cell fails by itself. This is a warranty issue, and it’s replaceable within the set period.

Be Careful Of the Charger You Use

When you charge high-performance lithium batteries, it’s important to be wary of the kind of charger you use. Keep this in mind as it’s more important than how often you charge it. Ensure that it’s a basic style charger with no pulse mode or auto rejuvenation.

Choose the Right Battery for Your Application

The one thing you should remember when selecting batteries is that there’s no such thing as the “perfect battery” that works for any application. Choosing the right batteries or battery type boils down to identifying your needs first and comparing them off against another brand type or brand.