Ahhhhh, killing me. ok, so how do I plug in to update ? I know , we can't , boooo

I asked the same question and was told that it can't be done by the user it has to be done by Shorai - using the weird little port on the side of the charger... I don't remember reading anything that mentioned that there are periodic updates to the firmware either, only way I found that out was to have a warranty issue and call in about it... When I plugged the charger in to see if it would re-awaken my dead battery, it flashed the same lights as Kruz's. Alls good now and everything seems to be ok - so we will see over time. My bikes are stored a lot more than mosts are so I may get even a shorter life out of them than anyone, due to parasitic losses from bike systems and not being put on the charger as much (wifey "maintains" my bikes while I am away)...

When I plugged the charger in to see if it would re-awaken my dead battery, it flashed the same lights as Kruz's. Alls good now and everything seems to be ok - so we will see over time.

OK Big Willie I 'm a touch confused now, let me see if I have this right. Your R/R went bad high charging voltage smoked the battery and then you tried to use your Shorai charger which gave the four flashes followed by a pause error code from the LEDs? No charging? You then sent the charger back to Shorai for re-programming but correct me if I'm wrong here, they also replaced your battery with a new one at the same time? I'm trying to understand just what problem the firmware update actually fixed. It sounds like the error code was due to damaged cells from overcharging not from anything wrong with the charger. The firmware patch could have been just a routine update and not part of your original charging problem. Just speculating here because I don't have all the facts yet.

OK, no email back from Shorai yet so I called the main number and tried to speak with a tech, no luck. The gal that answered the phone listened to my story and told me to send in the charger after filling out an RMA online.

I explained that the charger worked fine on another Shorai battery and she said OK, fill out an RMA on the battery and send it back in.

Apparently they have a pretty liberal warranty policy, most likely factored into the original price tag.

At 2 to 3 times the price of an L-A there's probably a lot of wiggle room built in to their cost structure to pay out these waranty claims.

Here's my dilemma, I'm going to get 25% off list price for a new battery at 26 months. Shorai charges about $170 for this battery, online you can pick 'em up for about 30 to 40 bucks less so it looks almost like a wash.

What would you guys do, run it til it dies and just buy one online or send this one in to Shorai and have the bike down for probably two weeks going through the warranty hassle to save almost zero bucks?

What would you guys do, run it til it dies

Run it for sure. Your Voltage is still really high. Started my bike 5 min ago. When key first turn on I only have 12.6 until 02 sensor heats up , then goes to 13.6,,,,,,,, Trade ya lol

* Last updated by: Romans on 3/11/2013 @ 7:02 PM *

OK thanks Romans , I feel better already, heck it might last another year if I'm lucky. Forgot to ask them about the firmware update, I'm thinking it has nothing to do with my issue. I'm pretty sure BigWillies problem was a seriously smoked battery...e.g. dead cells that were throwing an error code, the update was probably not part of the problem. Speculating here but if the update were a big deal they'd issue some kind of recall or try to contact owners. Maybe not though. Let me know how your new charger works out.

A bunch of guys were talking about the Shorai charger on another forum and they seemed to all be getting weird beeps and odd flashing lights. Maybe just nature of the beast!

I think if you try and hit both buttons BEFORE she's charged...whether it takes two minutes...or two hours....it's going to beep to tell you.."this won't 'store' this way until I'm charged first"That's what I think it's doing.Mine beeped until I turned the store mode off and charged first.Then they both went on without beeping.Maybe that's what's going on here?

OK thanks Romans , I feel better already, heck it might last another year if I'm lucky

With a charge I hope mine comes back to anything over 14,,,, When charger gets here will post before after pics. Fingers crossed.

Has anyone here with one of these batteries forgot the key on overnight ? Curious if Shorai could be brought back to life.

Well I rode the CBR tonight and checked battery voltage after pulling in, just over 15 volts on my Radio Shack VOM, optimistic but virtually identical to the new Shorai in the ZX10R when it came off the charger. So what gives here? The charger seems to like one battery and will charge fine but spits out the error code on the other. I'm tired of worrying about this stuff, just going to keep using it until it quits.

I think if you try and hit both buttons BEFORE she's charged...whether it takes two minutes...or two hours....it's going to beep to tell you.."this won't 'store' this way until I'm charged first"That's what I think it's doing.Mine beeped until I turned the store mode off and charged first.Then they both went on without beeping.Maybe that's what's going on here?

I hit only the Charge button but both the amber and green lights start the flashing sequence. I think my battery is OK, anyway I have bigger problems to worry about right now....

^^^^ welcome to MY personal hell.

OK Big Willie I 'm a touch confused now, let me see if I have this right.

Jussayin' that it (the charger) did the same as yours and when I called in about it, they told me to send in the charger with the battery. That's really the only reason that I mentioned the charger, because they wanted to check it out along with the battery and because they led me to believe that the problem could have been the charger. I do have to applaud their warranty program though, I told them exactly what happened with the bike and battery and they still not only sent me a replacement, but sent the the next size up to boot and checked out the charger. Guess I could have explained a little better in the first place.

* Last updated by: bigwilliezx on 3/12/2013 @ 12:52 AM *

No, no... that's quite all right Big Willie, I appreciate all of the info I can get on this. Right now after seeing the voltage after a ride, I'm thinking my battery is OK but not sure why the Shorai charger won't charge it or balance the cells. Oh well, I'll play with it a little bit more and see what I can find out.

Glad I could add something Kruz... Hey, are both your batteries the same? I mean, are they both either earlier models (flimsy terminals) or later models (sturdy terminals), or are they one of both? Maybe that's the issue and it's just the charger needin to be updated? Just thinking out loud here, no basis in fact or anything, just making an assumption, but could it be that the charger has issues with dealing with one or the other type because it is lacking the firmware update??? That's prob why they want you and had me to send in the charger? But the battery sounds like it's ok. jm2c of course....

BigWillie, I have one of the original light terminal batteries from early 2011 and two new ones from 2013 with heavy terminals. The charger is brand new 2013 issue and seems to work fine with the two new batteries. You could be right, the new BMS charger may not be compatible with the older batteries BMS electronics throwing a code. Makes sense as otherwise the battery is working fine.

If I could get Shorai to respond to my emails I could get some answers.

Hopefully that's all it is and there is really nothing wrong with the battery... I really, didn't have any issues contacting Shorai, although, I put my wife on it - resident buldog! She's very persistant and will call someone every 10 minutes all day long if that's what it takes to get something done!

I heard back from Shorai, they said to send the charger back for free diagnostics and firmware update. Sounds like my battery may be OK.

Romans, I would send yours back in for the free checkup if customs/shipping is not too much of a problem.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/14/2013 @ 7:56 AM *

I set mine on Store Mode....(it) turned the green light 'off'.Now only the yellow(battery is fully charged).IDK IF I pushed the 'charge' button till the light went out...I may have.But it's supposed to be sitting in 'store mode' for any length of time(after the battery is fully charged).That's where she's at right now.Gonna go out tomorrow God willing and fire her up(and ride).This morning...I got the yellow light (on the dash)at first start.Then I cycled the key...and started.No yellow light.It's starting voltage...that's what's doing that.Before...I was keeping it in green light/yellow light 'mode'.We'll see how THIS does in the AM.

Mine was bought this year...so I imagine the firmware and all is up to date.

I did fianlly hear back from Shorai's tech guy, Shawn Higbee. He confirmed that I have a cell imbalance issue, common problem if a balancing charger is not used periodically and he said that the charger will not go into charge mode if the cells are too far off. He suggested that I try the "Store" mode which will discharge the battery down to 60%, then recharge to 80% for long term storage. He said if that works, a steady amber light will come on, then hit the "Charge" button and it should take it back to 100% at which time a steady green light comes on.

Here's the Shorai techs contact information:

Shawn Higbee
email to: racetech@shorai.org

Romans, send him your serial number (off the small sticker on the right side of the charger)and he will check to see if you have the latest firmware updates.

I set mine on Store Mode....(it) turned the green light 'off'.Now only the yellow(battery is fully charged).IDK IF I pushed the 'charge' button till the light went out...I may have.But it's supposed to be sitting in 'store mode' for any length of time(after the battery is fully charged).That's where she's at right now.Gonna go out tomorrow God willing and fire her up(and ride).This morning...I got the yellow light (on the dash)at first start.Then I cycled the key...and started.No yellow light.It's starting voltage...that's what's doing that.Before...I was keeping it in green light/yellow light 'mode'.We'll see how THIS does in the AM.

Grn is this your new 14R? Have you posted up pics of the new bike yet?

Yes, use Store mode if the bike is going to sit for awhile, otherwise during the active riding season you can periodically use Charge mode to keep the cells balanced and have her topped off at 100%.

For some reason these batteries don't like to be stored at 100%, they will last longer if stored at 60-80%.

yes..my new 14R..one pic...for ya;)

Grn, it's good to see you back on two wheels again, I see you've already done some mods...enjoy....and take it easy and just enjoy the ride!

Thanks Kruzerman.This time around...gonna do just like you said...leave the track racing to the track guys!;)Not gonna do any other performance mods to her...stock motor...w/slips ONLY.Plenty enough for me.

The Green MAchine is reborn!! Looking GOOD, man!!

I did fianlly hear back from Shorai's tech guy, Shawn Higbee. He confirmed that I have a cell imbalance issue, common problem if a balancing charger is not used periodically and he said that the charger will not go into charge mode if the cells are too far off. He suggested that I try the "Store" mode which will discharge the battery down to 60%, then recharge to 80% for long term storage. He said if that works, a steady amber light will come on, then hit the "Charge" button and it should take it back to 100% at which time a steady green light comes on.

Now I understand why it doesn't crank the bike fast when I have been putting it in storage mode. Kruz with the numbers of bikes you have, you would need at least three chargers to keep your batteries in proper working condition.