Lithium Batteries

I

Irion

Active Member
Not having any luck trying to bring up threads on Lithium batteries when I know there has been plenty.
Can someone help me with the link or just suggest what they recommend? Just installed a new Minn Kota Ultera and want to switch out my old AGM's to possibly one 24-volt lithium.
Thanks' in advance, Howard.
 
I too have gone to lithium. Almost went with a 24V instead of two 12V. They are located in the front of my boat. But got to thinking if I ever want to attach a 12V accessory up there (a backup sonar, crappie light, etc. for instance), I would have either 12V battery to attach it to. Just something to consider depending on placement. Good luck with it.
 
I'm on season 3 or 4 with Litime's for my 24v Terrova (running 2-12v batteries). No complaints at all.
I have never run them out in a day of fishing, trolling and using spot-lock. Mine are pre bluetooth so the usage is a little harder to track, but I've yet to run them down even to the point of slowed/reduced performance. I can't speak to their charger (I'm using the minnkota onboard that came with my boat (it is the lithium compatible model)
After a day of fishing at Powell, I charge them with a small gas generator for an hour or two back at camp (if I remember, haha) and even on a 12 day trip I haven't managed to kill them.
 
I’ve been running 2 li-time 12v 100ah for a couple years.
Had an issue last year with one, tried a couple things customer service suggested, but no luck.
At their suggestion, so I would not have down time I purchased a new one, then returned the “bad” one, they gave me full refund for the new one. No issues they work great and last a long time have Bluetooth for live time monitoring .
 
Ryan said:
FWIW, I don't think that is the way lithium batteries work. I believe the BMS shuts them down when they go to a low level, they don't "slow down" like traditional batteries.
Click to expand...
That is my understanding as well, but I have heard "reviews" online about some chinese brand lithiums actually doing just that and wanted to point out that my Litime's have never had that issue to this point
 
I have 1, 3 year old, LiTime 100 amp battery (non Bluetooth) that I am not sure of it's condition. It doesn't seem to last very long in my Lance Camper, only using LED lighting, propane fridge and water pump. I haven't found anyone in the Denver area that can "load test" a lithium battery for me. Other than sending it back, what options do I have? Sq
 
this is always a good discussion.
the upfront cost is a huge roadblock
for an elective decision vs a mandatory
must do.
we’ve been exceedingly impressed w/our
2 Expion360 120ah batts. these have an impressive
warranty, where many brands have just a 1-3 yr replacement.
haven’t seen on these ww threads any mention of
AntiGravity which also produces a great product w/a
full 10 yr warranty. and today is their last day for approx
50% discount during their short spring sale. we have quite
a few of their products, always good.
will soon bite the bullet on a lithium crank battery for our merc
175hp, as mercury poo-poo’d them for their engines, until recently…..
but only for Relion batts which they are associated with. imagine that, geez.
 
For trolling motor batteries, there’s really no reason not to go with lithium. They are actually as cheap as lead acid now, and have exponentially more charged/recharge cycles. Not to mention they are so much lighter. Just be sure you have a quality battery charger made for lithium batteries. I also have the. Vatrer 100 amp hour Bluetooth model. I am on my third season, no issues whatsoever. I can troll for Kokanee using just the electric all day, and still have more than 50% of battery left!
 
I run a 50ah 24 volt LiFePO4 IONIC battery for my Garmin Force, a 100ah 12 volt IONIC LiFePO4 starting battery, and a 100 ah 12 volt IONIC LiFePO4 battery for my Garmin 10 inch and 12 inch charts with Garmin Livescope. The batteries have an 11 year warranty. They are all supported by a Power Pole Charge which monitors all units for power distributes it as needed and a 60 amp alternator on my 150hp Mercury 4 stroke which charges all batteries as I run between fishing spots or return to shore. I regularly fish a week without ever plugging into AC. It's been phenomenal. The batteries last all day without issue and they charge exceptionally fast. Yes, it was expensive, but the technology is well worth it.
 
Squirrel said:
I have 1, 3 year old, LiTime 100 amp battery (non Bluetooth) that I am not sure of it's condition. It doesn't seem to last very long in my Lance Camper, only using LED lighting, propane fridge and water pump. I haven't found anyone in the Denver area that can "load test" a lithium battery for me. Other than sending it back, what options do I have? Sq
Click to expand...
Have you contacted LiTime? I think that’s the main option.
 
I use two 100 amp 12 volt for 24 volt trolling motor. I am concerned with running full throttle for more than short bursts. Read that not all motors can be operated long term at full throttle without damage. Work great. Have a 45 amp I put in a Goal Zero case when old battery became weak. For night fishing. Will likely spring for Lithium for next starting batt. All LiTime. Also bought a 10 amp charger from them to supplement my 5 amp NOCO charger with Lithium setting. I depend on my handheld volt meter to monitor state of charge. Using Lithium slightly different than AGM according to what I have read.
 
I can offer a real life review of a nice bargain brand. I picked up the Cyclenbatt mini 12.8 volt100 amp-hour battery, and was so impressed I bought three more to back up the AC in the van. They are currently on Amazon for $165. I used them all winter trolling for kokanee, and on a recent trip to Lake Powell. With my 16' inflatable skiff and a 70 lb thrust Watersnake 12 motor I get a top speed over 5 mph and a range of 13-18 miles. They run nearly full power with a slight voltage drop, then the BMS shuts it down. They have run well below freezing. I have put most of the use on one battery and it has not faded through many recharges.

I'm not sure why these batteries came down in price so much, but a battery of this quality used to cost over $500 (I know, my van has four of them). I was impressed by a YouTube of someone testing torturing and tearing apart the battery with a very good verdict:
 
mcpltret said:
this is always a good discussion.
the upfront cost is a huge roadblock
for an elective decision vs a mandatory
must do.
we’ve been exceedingly impressed w/our
2 Expion360 120ah batts. these have an impressive
warranty, where many brands have just a 1-3 yr replacement.
haven’t seen on these ww threads any mention of
AntiGravity which also produces a great product w/a
full 10 yr warranty. and today is their last day for approx
50% discount during their short spring sale. we have quite
a few of their products, always good.
will soon bite the bullet on a lithium crank battery for our merc
175hp, as mercury poo-poo’d them for their engines, until recently…..
but only for Relion batts which they are associated with. imagine that, geez.
Click to expand...
AS always, mcpltret, you are informative & always quite the.....cunning linguist.... :rolleyes:

but as a neophyte to the 'benefits' of lithium batteries......is this about long term low amperage trolling motor use....like we used to use 'deep cycle' RV batteries for? :unsure: So you would use a standard lead acid battery to start the engine.....then use these to power trolling motors & toys......?

But then you say you want a lithium 'crank' battery....why? Why wouldn't a less expensive 3 yr free replacement Costco battery fill the bill....and then use these to power the trolling motor for longer time? :unsure:

Pardon my usual
naïveté.....

I Just might need...... a recharge....;)
 
Rainbowbridge said:
AS always, mcpltret, you are informative & always quite the.....cunning linguist.... :rolleyes:

but as a neophyte to the 'benefits' of lithium batteries......is this about long term low amperage trolling motor use....like we used to use 'deep cycle' RV batteries for? :unsure: So you would use a standard lead acid battery to start the engine.....then use these to power trolling motors & toys......?

But then you say you want a lithium 'crank' battery....why? Why wouldn't a less expensive 3 yr free replacement Costco battery fill the bill....and then use these to power the trolling motor for longer time? :unsure:

Pardon my usual
naïveté.....

I Just might need...... a recharge....;)
Click to expand...
For one thing, weight savings alone is a huge benefit. They also offer more "burst" voltage than standard lead acid batteries.
 
Rainbowbridge said:
AS always, mcpltret, you are informative & always quite the.....cunning linguist.... :rolleyes:

but as a neophyte to the 'benefits' of lithium batteries......is this about long term low amperage trolling motor use....like we used to use 'deep cycle' RV batteries for? :unsure: So you would use a standard lead acid battery to start the engine.....then use these to power trolling motors & toys......?

But then you say you want a lithium 'crank' battery....why? Why wouldn't a less expensive 3 yr free replacement Costco battery fill the bill....and then use these to power the trolling motor for longer time? :unsure:

Pardon my usual
naïveté.....

I Just might need...... a recharge....;)
Click to expand...
hello sr.rbb,
good questions, will give an add’l .02c from a non linguist, but i
am a ling cod fan.
and smokin joe, as everyone in this thread, have facts at hand. all has been
great info.
for same same battery sizes, lithiums weigh ~ 50% less. that’s
huge.
lithiums last ~ 4x longer & used mostly for elec trolling motors, & they recharge
significantly faster.
good lithiums should last 10+ years, vs 3-4 w/lead acid. yes, lead acid could last
longer w/excellent care, but i personally don’t trust them to do so b/c of the
extreme summer heat in sw utah & powell area.
generally speaking, lead acid deep cycles are used for trolling motors & cranking batts like in your
car for boat engine use. these two types of lead acid batts are built different
and not optimum for crossover use (ie, lead acid starter batt used for elec trolling motors or deep cycle
for cranking engines).
generally, as i understand electricity….ie., only once discover why not to put your
finger in electrical socket at home…..a standard 12.5v lead acid needs a charger
inputting ~13.5v to recharge ( and is what many boat engines provide.
12.5 volt lithiums, however, for a full charge need 14.5+ volt charge, and hence
the boat’s charging system(s) must account for this. the newer chargers can
charge the two different type batts, usually from shore power. afloat, your big boat engine keeps
the lead acid starter battery charged, but not the lithiums which are usually up front and
are charged directly when back at camp. additionally, when trolling, a kicker motor such
as a 9.9hp won’t charge any lithium if it was wired to it.
next item, will the big boat engines’ alternator supply a full charge to a lithium it is wired to?
that depends on the individual motor & wiring, & how many batts. but it appears some on this thread
are doing just that, which i’m glad to hear.
and why not inexpensive costco batts? another good question to ponder. our batts in the back
of our lund, brings out the proverbial sailors language in me (which i’m not a sailor). small
hole w/two heavy batteries needing to be checked twice/yr for distilled water fills, then not
mixing up the wires, leaving one unattached (visibility is not good in those very small transom
caves that take a toll on my knees, hips, & shoulders), etc. lithiums at 25 lb are easy to move
around & are basically maintenance free.
lithiums discharge much slower and you can take them down to a very low voltage w/out damaging
them. lead acid are just the opposite (see attachment), and can be permanently damaged easily
if not monitoring them.
but yes, 3-4 costco batts/10 years would be less expensive, but not by much. lithiums don’t
incur cavecussing and motrin, either.
summary, we installed a newer 4 channel charger that has individual channel adjustments
(lead acid and lithium settings). two are set for lithium up front, two set for the lead acid batts in back.
the engine only charges the lead acid batts (both the 175hp & 9.9hp), so once underway the lithiums
are on their own & recharged back at camp w/plug in which will charge all 4 batts.
in closing, you ain’t a naivete lad, but you do need a recharge. i’m about to plug in myself. our charging
systems are wearing out. and this is why the convenience of minimal maintenance, less boat weight, and
4x usage before any interstate battery purchases @ costco is worth it once the big bite wears off.
this is a bit discombobulated, but my nightly med internal alarm has been going off, as i have too
quickly turned into my grandparents.
cheers to all.
 

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I’ve been running a Dakota 60Ah starting battery that also runs the house, 12 inch garmin, livescope, stereo, burrito warmer, electric cooler etc. I stop for hours and it always cranks. Also have two Tournament Lithium 100Ah on 24 volt trolling motor and a cheap compact Amazon 100Ah that I put in a Harbor Freight “Pelican box” with 12v and USB connections for camp. Love them all, worth the money and easy to pull out to garage in the winter. My only concern is fire, a lithium battery fire would sink you pretty quick! 3 years in, no issues. I would get two 12’s vs a 24 because if one goes bad or the BMS goes out you are out less dough. All in about $2,000 and over 100lbs lighter!
 
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