Jigawatt LBB-S
Lithium Battery Bike - Safety Features
- The most powerful motorcycle starter batteries on the market
- 70–80 successful start attempts, four times more than with lead-acid batteries
- Lithium starter battery with 3 built-in safety features
- Lowest prices per Ah—as low as 183 DKK/Ah!
- Built-in voltmeter and 3 terminal positions
- Superior quality and finish
- Longest service life, up to 4 times longer than that of
lead-acid batteries - Harley-Davidson owners will love this battery—the LBB18S and LBB20SP have 800 and 1,000 CCA, respectively!
- And now the LBB30 is also available at 1,350 CCA!
A Harley with a 2,083 ccm S&S engine and an enormous starting current requirement of up to 800 A at peak is started here using the Jigawatt LBB20SP.
78 successful start attempts on a V2 engine with a Jigawatt battery rated at 230 CCA—video coming soon
The most powerful motorcycle starter battery ever on the market, the LBB20SP with 1,000 CCA and 16 Ah! The absolute favorite among our many Harley customers
The LBB18S is a slightly smaller version of the LBB20SP, with a height of just 130 mm, but still with a starting current of 800 CCA!
The ignition system of a Harley-Davidson engine, where the two ignition points are very close together and therefore place heavy demands on the starter battery
Product Presentation LBB-S
True Cousins is proud to present this second-generation lithium-iron starter battery, which we have named LBB-S, where the "S" stands for safety feature. It is, in fact, the first battery of its kind with built-in protection against both under-discharge and over-charge, as well as a built-in voltmeter, so you can check the battery voltage at any time (or the charging voltage if the battery is installed in a vehicle that has been started).
But most importantly, the LBB-S series offers extremely high CCA ratings due to its exceptionally low internal resistance. For example, the predecessor LB600, with an effective capacity of approx. 450 A, can start ALL the Harley-Davidsons it is sold for—by comparison, the successor LBB20SP has up to 900 A!!!
And the other, smaller batteries in the LBB-S series are just as impressive in terms of their CCA ratings, both relative to their size and compared to other lithium starter batteries on the market.
What do these safety features mean?
The discharge function means that if, for example, you forget that you have a device on your motorcycle that is draining the battery, it will automatically shut off when the voltage drops below approximately 10 volts—and thus will NOT be damaged.
The same applies to the overcharge protection feature, which automatically shuts down the battery if it is charged at more than 15.6 volts. Without this feature, you risk COMPLETELY DESTROYING the battery, as it cannot withstand much more than 17–18 volts—this also applies to lead-acid batteries.
This situation can occur if you charge the battery using an old-fashioned, non-smart charger, or if the charging regulator on the motorcycle is not functioning properly—a common issue with Harleys, older Ducatis, and other models. Finally, you could also damage the battery management system (BMS) inside the battery, which would destroy the battery cells.
Finally, it’s convenient that you can easily and safely check the battery voltage using the built-in voltmeter—even when it’s not connected to the motorcycle or a charger.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
We have found that most people (understandably) have become accustomed to the fact that the operating voltage for a lead-acid battery is 12 to approximately 12.8 volts. We have found that many of our new customers assume this also applies to their new Jigawatt lithium starter battery, but this is NOT the case.
Many people know that a lithium battery has a somewhat higher output voltage when fully charged (14.4 volts, which brings a number of advantages, described below), but very few realize that 90% of the effective energy lies within a very narrow range of 13 to 13.6 volts. And where 12.8 volts (which is perfectly fine for a lead-acid battery) is equivalent to COMPLETELY DISCHARGED.
Attempting to start a discharged lithium battery multiple times in a row can result in its complete destruction. A lead-acid battery certainly cannot withstand this either, but it will "die" a bit more slowly.
It is therefore important to have a good handle on the voltage BEFORE you begin attempting to start the vehicle. If there is no or very little power consumption while the vehicle is idle, the lithium battery can hold its charge for a very long time—much longer than a lead-acid battery can.
However, we have found that as long as the vehicle’s power cables are connected to the battery, there is in most cases some consumption in the form of trickle current due to moisture, alarms, GPS trackers, clocks, etc.
After a while, you’ll figure out approximately how long you can expect the battery to retain enough voltage (to start the vehicle) while stationary and uncharged—either via the battery’s built-in voltmeter or by using an external voltmeter, which we also sell for mounting on the handlebars.
Why are lithium batteries so much better than lead-acid batteries?
Den vel nok største forskel er, at et blybatteri (fra første startforsøg) løbende falder i spænding og allerede efter eksempelvis 10 gode startforsøg vil man opleve, at man direkte kan høre startmotoren køre langsommere og langsommere. Dette skyldes, at den såkaldte indre modstand stiger i takt med, at kapaciteten forbruges (antal Ah) og allerede når man har brugt blot 25-30% af kapaciteten, vil blybatteriet falde så langt ned i spænding under startforsøget (<10 volt), at man ikke længere kan starte - dette skyldes at omdrejningshastigheden bliver for lav og at tændingssystemet ikke kan fungere ved alt for lave spændinger.
When it comes to the lithium starter battery, the situation is quite different—and much more favorable. Lithium batteries generally experience less voltage drop under load, but more importantly, they do NOT experience a continuous drop in voltage as you begin to use their capacity.
This means you can achieve 4–5 times as many SUCCESSFUL STARTING ATTEMPTS (i.e., 70–80) compared to a lead-acid battery.
Another key factor is that the voltage reaching the ignition system from the lithium starter battery under load is somewhat higher than that from the lead-acid battery. Data logs we have collected ourselves show that the Jigawatt starter battery delivers up to 1.5 volts higher voltage under heavy load (starting attempts) compared to the lead-acid battery, which is a huge advantage for all ignition systems—and can also be an advantage in certain high-performance vehicles that may have various subsystems that function better at a higher voltage, e.g., fuel pumps, gearshift systems, etc.
Furthermore, the internal resistance DECREASES as the number of starting attempts increases, since the battery heats up due to the many starting attempts (internal resistance decreases as temperature rises), which in turn means that the starting current actually increases. This effect generally does not occur with lead-acid batteries, as their thermal mass is too large for the battery to heat up enough to have any significant impact.
This is clearly shown in the graph above, where you can see that the lithium battery has an almost completely flat discharge curve and only drops at the very end, when approximately 5–10% remaining, whereas for the lead-acid battery, the voltage drops steadily as the capacity is used up and has already fallen below 10 volts when approximately 30% of the capacity has been consumed.
Another consequence of this is that if, for example, you have a 30 Ah lead-acid starter battery with 300–350 cold cranking amps (CCA), you actually only have (30% of 30 Ah) 9 Ah available for starting attempts —or to put it another way: You’re driving around with a large, heavy 6–7 kg battery, where you can actually only use 30% of it for starting attempts; the remaining 21 Ah and many kilograms of lead are, in this context, useless.
By comparison, a 12 Ah lithium battery is sufficient; as described earlier, at least 90% of its capacity can be used for starting, which corresponds to (90% of 12 Ah) 11 Ah —our version of this battery weighs less than 2 kg and is called the LBB18S—and, incidentally, has a CCA rating of 750.
The real reason for the significant difference in performance lies in the differences in chemistry and construction between the two battery types, with lithium batteries having an energy density (Wh/kg) that is approximately four times higher. It should also be noted that the lead-acid battery is essentially an invention from 1859, while lithium-ion starter batteries were invented in 1997 and are continuously being developed and improved. The figure above shows the difference in energy density between lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries.
From a technical, performance, and environmental standpoint, the lead-acid battery is likely to soon have outlived its usefulness as a starter battery, and a steadily growing number of motorcycle and car manufacturers are beginning to install lithium-ion starter batteries in their new models.
Extremely long standby and battery life
The self-discharge rate of a lead-acid battery is typically 10–20% per month, which means that a lead-acid starter battery must be charged regularly; if you forget to do so for too long, you risk completely ruining the battery.
With the LBB-S, it’s a completely different story. The self-discharge rate is approximately 1% per month, which in practice means that when the battery is fully charged, it can be left for at least two years without recharging and still be ready for use!
When it comes to lifespan, it’s the same story. A typical lead-acid battery lasts for 300–400 charge cycles before it dies, while the LBB-S lasts for about 1,500 charge cycles—or at least four times as long.
Optimal terminals
The terminals have three M6 threads—one on each terminal. This should virtually eliminate the need for terminal adapters for the two heavy-duty wires (starter and ground). It also means that you can use the two remaining M6 threads for secondary wires—a clear advantage if you have many additional installations on your motorcycle.
Choosing a battery:
Here is a general guide to choosing a Jigawatt starter battery. If you’re unsure, please don’t hesitate to contact us—we often have specific knowledge about which battery is right for your particular motorcycle. And remember that you can NEVER choose a battery that’s too large, but if you choose a battery that’s too small or just barely sufficient, it can compromise both the battery’s lifespan and its starting performance under difficult conditions such as cold weather, a worn-out starter motor, poor electrical connections, etc.
Jigawatt LBB7S, LBB11S, and LBB12S:
All newer Japanese and European motorcycles with 2- and 4-cylinder inline engines under 1,000 cc
Jigawatt LBB14S, LBB16S, and LBB18S:
All older Japanese and European motorcycles, as well as V-twin (Ducati, Moto Guzzi, etc.) and boxer-engine (BMW) models, and certain notoriously difficult models from manufacturers such as KTM and the Ducati 996.
Jigawatt LBB18SP, LBB20SP, and LBB30SP
All Harley-Davidsons, other motorcycles with very high compression ratios/known starting issues, and cars used for street racing, drag racing, drifting, and similar activities.
Or:
Contact us by email or phone for free advice on starter batteries in general and on which battery is right for your motorcycle.
What do our customers say?
LBB14S-1 - The polarity is 1, since the positive terminalis on the left
LBB20S-0, shown here mounted on a Harley-
with a 1,640 cc engine.
LBB14S-0 - The voltmeter is located in the center and turns off automatically when the button is released.
The polarity setting is 0, since the positive terminalis on the right.
LBB18SP, shown here mounted on a Harley with a 1,573 ccm S&S engine.
Jigawatt LBB11S-1, shown here mounted on a Ducati 888 engine. The location under the rear end is not the original one
The heavy-duty terminals on all LBB-S batteries, with three possible positions for power and auxiliary cables
SPECIFICATIONS | Jigawatt LBB7S | Jigawatt LBB11S | Jigawatt LBB12S | Jigawatt LBB14S | Jigawatt LBB16S | Jigawatt LBB18S |
Physical dimensions (L x W x H) | 113 x 70 x 109 mm | 135 x 75 x 132 mm | 150 x 87 x 93 mm | 150 x 87 x 105 mm | 150 x 69 x 130 mm | 150 x 87 x 130 mm |
Weight | 0.80 kg | 0.90 kg | 1.15 kg | 1.30 kg | 1.40 kg | 1.85 kg |
Pole positions | 0 and 1 (+ t. right and left, respectively) | 0 and 1 (+ t. right and left, respectively) | 1 (+ left) | 0 and 1 (+ t. right and left, respectively) | 1 (+ left) | 0 and 1 (+ t. right and left, respectively) |
Maximum discharge current | 260 A, 2–5 seconds at a time | 380 A, 2–5 seconds at a time | 420 A, 2–5 seconds at a time | 600 A, 2–5 seconds at a time | 580 A, 2–5 seconds at a time | 800 A, 2–5 seconds at a time |
Typical CCA according to SAE standards for lead-acid batteries | 100–180 A | 150–230 A | 170–270 A | 260–350 A | 270–370 A | 350–500 Ah (rarely used as a motorcycle battery) |
Number of valid start attempts (tested with a 3-second start and a 3-second pause) | 70–80 | 70–80 | 70–85 | 80–90 | 80–90 | 80–90 |
Number of successful starting attempts for a lead-acid battery of comparable size | 15–25 | 15–25 | 15–25 | 15–25 | 15–25 | 15–25 |
Tested capacity | 4 Ah | 6 Ah | 7 Ah | 8 Ah | 8 Ah | 12 Ah |
Equivalent capacity, starter battery | 6–14 Ah | 8–16 Ah | 9–20 Ah | 10–25 Ah | 10–25 Ah | 20–40 Ah |
Energy content | 48 Wh | 72 Wh | 84 Wh | 96 Wh | 96 Wh | 144 Wh |
Charging, max. charging current 3C | 12 A | 18 A | 20 A | 24 A | 24 A | 36 A |
These values may vary by +/-10% |
SPECIFICATIONS | Jigawatt LBB19S | Jigawatt LBB20SP | Jigawatt LBB30S |
Physical dimensions (L x W x H) | 113 x 70 x 109 mm | 173 x 87 x 154 mm | 166 x 125 x 173 mm |
Weight | 1.90 kg | 2.50 kg | 3.6 kg |
Pole positions | 0 and 1 (+ t. right and left, respectively) | 0 and 1 (+ t. right and left, respectively) | 0 (+ right) |
Maximum discharge current | 800 A, 2–5 seconds at a time | 1,000 A, 2–5 seconds at a time | 1350 A, 2–5 seconds at a time |
Typical CCA according to SAE standards for lead-acid batteries | 350–500 Ah (rarely used as a motorcycle battery) | 450–650 A (not available as a motorcycle battery) | 700–1000 A (not available as a motorcycle battery) |
Number of valid start attempts (tested with a 3-second start and a 3-second pause) | 80–90 | 90–100 | 130–150 |
Number of successful starting attempts for a lead-acid battery of comparable size | 15–25 | 15–20 | 20–30 |
Tested capacity | 12 Ah | 16 Ah | 24 Ah |
Equivalent capacity, starter battery | 20–40 Ah | 20–50 Ah | 30–45 Ah |
Energy content | 144 Wh | 192 Wh | 288 Wh |
Charging, max. charging current 3C | 36 A | 48 A | 72 A |
These values may vary by +/-10% |
General SPECIFICATIONS | Jigawatt LBB-S Series |
Battery technology | Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) |
Terminal type | M6 thread, 3 positions, LBB14S->LBB20SP |
Nominal voltage | 13,2 V |
Charging and operating voltage | 13.2–14.7 V |
Charging method | - The motorcycle's own charging system - Smart chargers such as: Victron 5A or 15A Blue Smart |
Self-discharge | < 1,0% per måned |
BMS, cell balancing | Yes (built into the battery) |
BMS, safety feature - Charging | Yes, max. 15.6 V - (Battery shuts down) |
BMS, safety function - Discharge | Yes, below about 9.5 V - (The battery shuts down) |
Vibration-tested | Yes |
EMC-tested | Yes, EN 61000 |
Puncture-tested | Yes, batteries CANNOT catch fire |
Ambient temperature | -25°F to +60°F |
Expected lifespan | Ages 8–13 / min. 1,500 full charge cycles* |
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