What makes or breaks the ‘8 power rule’ is not the model, but if motor is brushless or not.
If you are not certain, call the Johnson group with your serial number.
Lithium Batteries
- Thread starter Irion
- Start date
If you are not certain, call the Johnson group with your serial number.
Squirrel
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
To be clear, it did not cook the trolling motor, the add on Co-Pilot right/left turn function stopped working. The TM still works fine with the foot pedal. This was checked out with the Minn Kota guy in Colorado. Sq
RandyAustinFishing
Well-Known Member
Just cooked my Ultrex this morning. I have run it on Lithium battery for 5 years. I was told at the shop that it is not a matter or if but when when the lithium battery cooks a brushed motor.
So I ordered a new Minn Kota Ultrex Quest. It is brushless and designed for Lithium batteries.
Dorado
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
I have the brushless Terrova, and it will run on 24 or 36 volts. It works way better than my old Terrova (which was old), and is very efficient with 2, 12 V 100 AH batteries. I can troll all day for Kokanee on 6 and still have 60% of battery life left . The only downside is it is much heavier and has a larger footprint (it barely fits under my custom ranger boat cover).
FishnFly
Well-Known Member
Like anything in life and definitely with boats…one thing always leads to another! These toys we love are ridiculous! Can’t take your money with you so it’s best you spend it on a custom pocket extension for your new trolling motor.
It’s like remodeling. You think a project is straight forward and simple…then you start only to find out all the things that you didn’t know about and now have to fix. Never a dull moment in this life!
Dorado
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Like anything in life and definitely with boats…one thing always leads to another! These toys we love are ridiculous! Can’t take your money with you so it’s best you spend it on a custom pocket extension for your new trolling motor.
It’s like remodeling. You think a project is straight forward and simple…then you start only to find out all the things that you didn’t know about and now have to fix. Never a dull moment in this life!
I knew the quest model was significantly heavier compared to the old model, but I didn’t expect it to be two times heavier! It weighs around 100 pounds, and was difficult to install without assistance.My starter battery has not been working very well and I replaced it yesterday. Group 27 lead acid battery is stupidly heavy! Made me start thinking about how much boat weight I could save if I had a lithium starter/house battery… But I don’t think it’s worth it (to me) to spend $2000 on getting the proper set up!!!
I would think with how everyone is moving to lithium, there would be some new, more affordable models coming on the market. Maybe there isn’t I just don’t know?
Ryan
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
RandyAustinFishing
Well-Known Member
Lithium and cheap right now are usually not a good idea. Fire hazard and can damage certain electrical components.
I am a big advocate of lithium batteries, just make sure they are quality.
Mine have been great and still are, but just be careful.
I am a big advocate of lithium batteries, just make sure they are quality.
Mine have been great and still are, but just be careful.
RandyAustinFishing
Well-Known Member
Also mine had a 12 year warranty and the company is apparently going or gone out of business and the warranty is useless. I have had mine 5 years and they have been great.
So the company behind the batteries is also important.
So the company behind the batteries is also important.
RandyAustinFishing
Well-Known Member
Mine are Next Gen out of Peoria Arizona. Like I stated I think they may be out of business.
Ryan
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
One can find non biased reviews of just about every battery they are interested in with just a small search. Lots of reviews where they actually will take the battery apart and show the construction.
I’m not advocating blindly just purchasing whatever one finds that’s the cheapest option but I also believe that the adage of “you get what you pay for” is not true in batteries.
The biggest upside to some of the more expensive batteries is you can actually call or maybe even go into a retailer and speak with them if you have a problem while the less expensive models you are limited to electronic communication. One needs to decide how much that level of service is worth.
I’m not advocating blindly just purchasing whatever one finds that’s the cheapest option but I also believe that the adage of “you get what you pay for” is not true in batteries.
The biggest upside to some of the more expensive batteries is you can actually call or maybe even go into a retailer and speak with them if you have a problem while the less expensive models you are limited to electronic communication. One needs to decide how much that level of service is worth.
Squirrel
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
I’ve got 1 LiTime 100AH in my Lance and 2 Watt Cycle 100AH for TM use in my boats. Sq
Dorado
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Plenty of batteries that start the motor…the issue with lithium batteries is in the charging off an alternator. There needs to be a disconnect between the alternator and the battery when the BPS kicks in on lithium batteries. In my very basic understanding, if the battery protection system kicks in on LiPo batteries, the voltage essentially jumps to infinity for a millisecond. This will fry your alternator, unless you have some kind of protection…which what the power pole system provides. Their are all kinds of threads on the internet dedicated to various solutions…none are cheap or simple
Ryan
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
I won’t pretend to be an expert on it. I’ve done enough research to upgrade my RV, ready to upgrade my electronics in my Lund, and would like to go with LifePo4 when the time comes for my starting battery. Something that should last 10 years vs 3-4 for not a LOT more $, plus the advantage of weight savings is a HUGE draw from me.Plenty of batteries that start the motor…the issue with lithium batteries is in the charging off an alternator. There needs to be a disconnect between the alternator and the battery when the BPS kicks in on lithium batteries. In my very basic understanding, if the battery protection system kicks in on LiPo batteries, the voltage essentially jumps to infinity for a millisecond. This will fry your alternator, unless you have some kind of protection…which what the power pole system provides. Their are all kinds of threads on the internet dedicated to various solutions…none are cheap or simple
I believe that the charging concerns you mention are very dependent on the vintage of the motor and alternator.
I am running a L4 Verado that has a modern, regulated alternator and is considered compatible for a lithium battery if it is designed for starting.
My search shows that there are 3 pretty good options, and a wide range of price.
Dakota Lithium 12V 135 AH Dual Purpose that is $999.
Dakota Lithium 12V 60 AH Dual purpose that is around $699.
The LiTime I linked above that is $189.
Technology (and pricing) is changing pretty rapidly here. It wasn’t that long ago that battery management systems (BMS) were much more basic and sometimes not even included. And I think there still are differences between the BMS on different batteries.
I think the best advice is for whoever is interested to do some research on their particular application to see what they need and can and can’t do. But to not be discouraged just because it was price prohibitive in the past.
Dorado
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
That’s great to know, I have the same engine
. Definitely worth some investigation!
FishnFly
Well-Known Member
Man. That does sound cumbersome. I put my Terrova on myself. Not too heavy but awkward. Can’t imagine if it was 100 lbs.
My starter battery has not been working very well and I replaced it yesterday. Group 27 lead acid battery is stupidly heavy! Made me start thinking about how much boat weight I could save if I had a lithium starter/house battery… But I don’t think it’s worth it (to me) to spend $2000 on getting the proper set up!!!
I would think with how everyone is moving to lithium, there would be some new, more affordable models coming on the market. Maybe there isn’t I just don’t know?
Yeah. It’s probably not necessary to do this lithium thing for me either. I’ve just been historically pretty bad at disconnecting and removing batteries in the winter. I’ve ow ed the boat for 4 years. Replaced the cranking battery after year one. Now it’s time to replace the 5 or 6 year old trolling batteries.
New is not always better. I just really like lithium batteries. They just work better abd are less demanding. The LiTime batteries mentioned in this thread are pretty darn affordable. Within a few hundred each of a AGM or high quality lead acid. I’ve heard really good things. It’s just the extra problems that might come with lithium (trolling motor burn out, starting concerns, charger replacement, alternator capabilities) so the upfront cost isn’t just the batteries.
If I do this setup though, then I’d be set when I have more cash to upgrade my screens and I’d have the power to run them.
Again…one thing leads to another. In the end I only use my boat 2 or 3 Powell trips a year and then maybe 5 or 6 random day trips or short weekend trips. So the math probably doesn’t make sense. But the ease of use. Efficiency and app monitoring of the battery management system get me pretty excited even as often as I’m out.
I guess I just kinda like having cool stuff!
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FishnFly
Well-Known Member
This is the exact reason I was thinking of installing the Charge by Power Pole. Seems like that system is a true work around as it just manages the power between the different battery chemistry on board. Alternator remains attached to the AGM. Power Pole manages regulation and transfer of appropriate charging power abd starting needs.Plenty of batteries that start the motor…the issue with lithium batteries is in the charging off an alternator. There needs to be a disconnect between the alternator and the battery when the BPS kicks in on lithium batteries. In my very basic understanding, if the battery protection system kicks in on LiPo batteries, the voltage essentially jumps to infinity for a millisecond. This will fry your alternator, unless you have some kind of protection…which what the power pole system provides. Their are all kinds of threads on the internet dedicated to various solutions…none are cheap or simple
Chukardog
Active Member
Lifetime on Amazon I’m happy with mine
