LiFe Battery

[Tbnrider]

I just received a 36Volt 12AH LiFePO4 battery which came with a charger. 
The charger is labelled as a Li-ion charger.

A Li-ion or LiPo battery is normally voltage charged to a maximum applied voltage of 4.2Volts per cell
A LiFePO4 battery is normally voltage charged to a maximum applied voltage of 3.6 Volts per cell

Isn't this charger going to overcharge this expensive LiFe battery?? 

[Cornelius]

Li-ion (Lithium-ion) are a collective term for all Lithium based batteries.

I'm not sure, but I think your battery have 12 LiFePO4 cells, which means that the correct charging voltage should be around 43.2V to 43.8V

Take a closer look on the label of your charger; doesn't it state the output voltage?

[Tbnrider]

Li-ion (Lithium-ion) are a collective term for all Lithium based batteries.
I'm not sure, but I think your battery have 12 LiFePO4 cells, which means that the correct charging voltage should be around 43.2V to 43.8V

That's true, but very often the term Li-ion is used to describe a LiCoO2 cell with liquid electrolyte, and LiPo describes a cell of the same chemistry with polymer electrolyte.

My experience with other LiFe cells (mostly A123) has been that the cell voltage immediately after full charge is 3.6V and over the next day or so the cell self-discharges to about 3.3V and stays there.  I charged the 36V Golden Motor battery and measured the voltage at the charging jack at 40.9V after about 6 hours after charge.  That would seem to confirm that there are 12 cells in the pack as you suggest, that have self-discharged so far to about 3.4 V per cell.

The output of the charger is labelled as 42.0 V so yes, it is appropriate for a LiFe pack of 12 cells.

However, I have another problem with this new battery pack.  The voltage at the main output is zero, regardless of the switched position of the key switch. 

Am I missing something, or do I have a faulty new battery pack?

[Tbnrider]

'However, I have another problem with this new battery pack.  The voltage at the main output is zero, regardless of the switched position of the key switch.  Am I missing something, or do I have a faulty new battery pack?'

Please ignore this latest problem.  I discovered what I was doing wrong.
I pushed the key switch in before turning it to ON and got no voltage reading at the output. (That's what it says to do on the key switch).  I discovered that if I just turn the key switch ON and OFF without pushing it, I get my voltage output. (I still don't know what pushing the key button does.)

Boy!! If there had been a simple 1-page list of the specifications and a few basic instructions supplied with the battery, it probably would have answered all my questions before I had to ask them!!!

[Bikemad]

I have not seen the GM pack, but I'm guessing that pushing the key switch probably releases the locking pin to allow the battery pack to slide off the mounting plate.

Alan
 

[Tbnrider]

I have not seen the GM pack, but I'm guessing that pushing the key switch probably releases the locking pin to allow the battery pack to slide off the mounting plate.

Yes.  That is exactly what it does.  The switch has 3 positions.  Power ON, OFF, and LOCKED (Pin extended)

Thank you for the explanation

[Tbnrider]

The switch has 3 positions.  Power ON, OFF, and LOCKED (Pin extended)

Sorry.  Poorly described.  The pin is extended  for the Power ON and Power OFF positions, thus locking the battery to the mounting plate, and the third position with the button pushed causes the pin to retract so the battery can slide off the plate.