Walmart Booster Batteries
- Thread starter Boyntonstu
- Start date
Boyntonstu
10 kW
ecycler said:
On what set of facts do you rely on to consider Walmart Everstart LiPo Boosters packs unsafe?
I have over 700 miles on mine.
My friend loaded tons of them at the Walmart distribution site without incident.
To date, I have never seen any article of failure.
Have you?
walmart = Cheapest shiz from China. I have purchased electronics there such as a tire pump when I was on a trip that caught fire on the first use. 
I don't put any trust in products purchased from wally.
lipo = the most unstable chemistry. It is well documented that lipo will bite you in the ass more than other chemistries... sometimes even those that fully understand the nature and how to handle it properly.
It would be irresponsible to call this setup safe with such little data. I will not try to argue that my bikes are safe as two wheels + a motor is inherently unsafe. Safety is relative, but when the stakes of a failure are burning down a house, dorm, or apartment building and endangering other peoples' lives while simultaneously giving ebikes a bad wrap I think one can not be so cavalier to deem this as 'safe.' It would be a shame to misinform other newbies who do not understand the proper care of lipo chemistry cells especially when grouped into larger sized packs for ebikes.
I don't put any trust in products purchased from wally.lipo = the most unstable chemistry. It is well documented that lipo will bite you in the ass more than other chemistries... sometimes even those that fully understand the nature and how to handle it properly.
It would be irresponsible to call this setup safe with such little data. I will not try to argue that my bikes are safe as two wheels + a motor is inherently unsafe. Safety is relative, but when the stakes of a failure are burning down a house, dorm, or apartment building and endangering other peoples' lives while simultaneously giving ebikes a bad wrap I think one can not be so cavalier to deem this as 'safe.' It would be a shame to misinform other newbies who do not understand the proper care of lipo chemistry cells especially when grouped into larger sized packs for ebikes.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
Update:
804 miles and 134 recharges.
I notice a slight fall off in average Voltage to about 3.87 at the end of the ride.
When the Walmart Booster batteries will go below 3.5 V I will try the warranty return/replace route.
804 miles and 134 recharges.
I notice a slight fall off in average Voltage to about 3.87 at the end of the ride.
When the Walmart Booster batteries will go below 3.5 V I will try the warranty return/replace route.
DAND214
10 MW
So far so good!Boyntonstu said:
Are you letting the battery reach full charge or still just by time?
Dan
Boyntonstu
10 kW
DAND214 said:
Full charge.
51 Volts for 12 cells = 4.25 V/cell
About 2 extra hours beyond the time that the full charge LED indicators are lit.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
Update: 900 miles and 150 charge cycles.
As long as they do their job of giving me 12 miles per day at 17-18 mph, I will consider them OK.
If they fail, back to Walmart they go.
I notice a 'sweet' spot of 17-18 mph that give me the same discharge as 15 mph.
My PA contribution must be better at the higher speed.
As long as they do their job of giving me 12 miles per day at 17-18 mph, I will consider them OK.
If they fail, back to Walmart they go.
I notice a 'sweet' spot of 17-18 mph that give me the same discharge as 15 mph.
My PA contribution must be better at the higher speed.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
Update: 1,000 miles and 167 charge cycles.
There is some noticeable changes.
Instead of charging to 51V it is now charging to 50.6V
After a 6 mile ride the discharge average cell voltage has gone from 3.9V to 3,83V.
I do not believe that the batteries will last another 1,000 miles.
There is some noticeable changes.
Instead of charging to 51V it is now charging to 50.6V
After a 6 mile ride the discharge average cell voltage has gone from 3.9V to 3,83V.
I do not believe that the batteries will last another 1,000 miles.
RageNR
100 W
- Joined
- May 23, 2016
- Messages
- 216
Good to hear from you. I am about to use 3 of them to temporary up my new Cyclone kit. Still deciding on battery configuration and and charging components.
Like I literally just got back from the hobby shop to pick up a couple EC5 connectors. This will be nearly a 1/3 voltage of what I plan to run...
I mean for $15 (all 3 packs) why the hell not? Funny, cause I just paid $9 for 2 EC5 connectors... SHEESH!
Like I literally just got back from the hobby shop to pick up a couple EC5 connectors. This will be nearly a 1/3 voltage of what I plan to run...
I mean for $15 (all 3 packs) why the hell not? Funny, cause I just paid $9 for 2 EC5 connectors... SHEESH!
dogman dan
1 PW
Not that big a change, they might surprise you.
That setup has worked out much better than I expected.
That setup has worked out much better than I expected.
RageNR
100 W
- Joined
- May 23, 2016
- Messages
- 216
I know for 18650s, the capacity loss is more at the beginning then gradually flattens off after so much. Not sure it the Lipos in these booster packs are similar.Boyntonstu said:
Do you ever run them till they shut off? How are your recharge times?
Boyntonstu
10 kW
RageNR said:
Prior to the present time, hey were run to 3.5V LVC about 5 times (about 100 charges earlier).
I use them in a narrow range from full charge to 3.8V or so.
I used to charge them for 2 hours but now I set the timer for 6 to balance.
After 2 hours of charging the blue LED's are all lit up and they are stable.
The Walmart Booster packs are cool to the touch after charging and after a ride.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
RageNR said:
Our figures agree.
I now get one blue LED on after a ride.
At first, there were 2 on.
I notice too, that 1 pack recovered from all blue off to one blue on. Interesting.
RageNR
100 W
- Joined
- May 23, 2016
- Messages
- 216
Made 3 rides since 7pm yesterday. All 3 times down to the red. I have also noticed that one of my packs always reads lower than the other two.Boyntonstu said:
I did use 2 of those packs to jump my car off several times. Maybe the one has reduced capacity now. Couldn't be that gold standard of Walmart QC that has any bearing on consistency from pack to pack, now could it?
This was parked behind my local Walmart the other day when I passed through. Wonder if they were hauling in another shipment of the EverStarts....
Boyntonstu
10 kW
Syonyk said:
Cheap yes, and almost 1,100 miles and still going strong.
Can't beat the deal!
RageNR
100 W
- Joined
- May 23, 2016
- Messages
- 216
Just gonna post up some data from my test ride a few hours ago.
I attempted max distance on 3 packs. Total charge voltage is at 37.8v.
I rode to the store, picked up a box of cereal and gal of milk, rode home and dropped it off (4.1 miles). I noticed with the extra weight (almost 10lbs) that the rear tire was a bit low.
Aired the rear to 55psi and front to 50psi. Rode it down mostly flat smooth street till the battery gave out. I managed 9.3 miles.
Now, this was me using all throttle (roughly 80-85%) and trying to maintain 18mph. No pedaling expect for right off the start after a few stops, just to keep from stressing the driveline.
What I noticed when the power finally cut out was that it was right at 32v, as indicated by the display on the stock Cyclone 3000w twist throttle. I pedaled on for a bit, but the power would not return until you turned the system off and on again. This was despite the display showing 33+v. Did that several times and it cut out at 32v on the dot every time.
So I am not sure if this is the throttle cutting the power or some kind of protection in the Cyclone controller.
Whatever the case, it seems that I can not fully drain the batteries. That is actually a good thing.
After returning home, 2 of the packs showed 3 red lights while the other pack was flashing the last red light. This one pack was the one that always shows lower than the other 2 after a ride. I might need to get it replaced.
So there you have it. 3 EverStart booster packs will get you about 9miles @18mph with the Cyclone 3000w mid-drive. Controller in stock mode (not mode 3). Not bad in my opinion.
I attempted max distance on 3 packs. Total charge voltage is at 37.8v.
I rode to the store, picked up a box of cereal and gal of milk, rode home and dropped it off (4.1 miles). I noticed with the extra weight (almost 10lbs) that the rear tire was a bit low.
Aired the rear to 55psi and front to 50psi. Rode it down mostly flat smooth street till the battery gave out. I managed 9.3 miles.
Now, this was me using all throttle (roughly 80-85%) and trying to maintain 18mph. No pedaling expect for right off the start after a few stops, just to keep from stressing the driveline.
What I noticed when the power finally cut out was that it was right at 32v, as indicated by the display on the stock Cyclone 3000w twist throttle. I pedaled on for a bit, but the power would not return until you turned the system off and on again. This was despite the display showing 33+v. Did that several times and it cut out at 32v on the dot every time.
So I am not sure if this is the throttle cutting the power or some kind of protection in the Cyclone controller.
Whatever the case, it seems that I can not fully drain the batteries. That is actually a good thing.
After returning home, 2 of the packs showed 3 red lights while the other pack was flashing the last red light. This one pack was the one that always shows lower than the other 2 after a ride. I might need to get it replaced.
So there you have it. 3 EverStart booster packs will get you about 9miles @18mph with the Cyclone 3000w mid-drive. Controller in stock mode (not mode 3). Not bad in my opinion.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
RageNR said:
4 good Everstart batteries at 51V fully charged is what I reported on in previous posts.
Not too shabby.
maydaverave
10 kW
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2009
- Messages
- 542
A little off topic but could i use one of these as a motorcycle starter battery? Much cheaper than other lithium starter batteries.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
maydaverave said:
They are 12V and if your MC is 12V my guess is yes.
(Much lighter than LA)
Here is another idea; Super-capacitors.
[youtube]z3x_kYq3mHM[/youtube]
maydaverave
10 kW
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- Jan 13, 2009
- Messages
- 542
i guess my question should of been can the be charged and discharged through the same leads or do the have a bms or protection that requires separate wires for charging and discharging. Would be great if they are a drop in starter battery. I would put them on all my motorcycles.Boyntonstu said:
RageNR
100 W
- Joined
- May 23, 2016
- Messages
- 216
You are intending to just replace your battery with one of these. I personally would not. They are of questionable quality, and could leave you stranded at any moment. Not worth it IMHO.
Could you charge it through the EC5 connector? Maybe. I think it is a very bad idea though. These come with a 15v 2amp AC wall wart to charge through a barrel connector on the side, and also a cig adapter for your car.
Cars usually put out 14.2v, so this is enough to charge it. But keep in mind, it is a slow charge. I have seen 2.5hrs when at 50%. Don't think it will work for your moto.
Just my $.02
Could you charge it through the EC5 connector? Maybe. I think it is a very bad idea though. These come with a 15v 2amp AC wall wart to charge through a barrel connector on the side, and also a cig adapter for your car.
Cars usually put out 14.2v, so this is enough to charge it. But keep in mind, it is a slow charge. I have seen 2.5hrs when at 50%. Don't think it will work for your moto.
Just my $.02
DAND214
10 MW
RageNR said:
I'm with you. 14.2 is a lot more than these are designed for. 12.6 (4.2 per cell) is fully charged and if charged to 14.2v about 4.7 per cell, way over the max safe voltage.
Dan
