Batteries for Trolling Motors – Knowledge  Matters, Part 2

David Hutton
Palmetto Fly n Fish, March 2021

Introduction

In part 1, we took a deep dive into the different types of batteries, how they work, and some benefits to each. If you're not subscribed and missed it, here's the link to it:

Batteries For Trolling Motors, Part 1

Now, in part 2, we will look at the practical side of things to help you decide on the battery you should have, and how to get the most from it.

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The number one concern people have with a trolling motor battery is always the same:

“How long can I run a motor out on the water?”

Some guys wanna go all day, some don't. But everyone wants to know the answer to that question.

To answer it, we have to know two things:

1. A battery's amperage hour rating

2. A motor's current draw, in amps.

Let me say up front that trolling motor run-time is not a, "one-size fits all," kind of thing.
But you can approximate your potential run time, and have a good idea of what you'll need to get you there.

Amperage Hour rating
    A battery's amperage hour rating, abbreviated as amp/hour, or "Ah," is like the gas tank of a car. It basically describes how much current a battery can deliver over time.
For example, a 100 amp hour battery will last longer than a 55 amp hour battery.
    To be a little more precise, a 100 amp hour battery can deliver 100 amps of current for 1 hour – thus the name, “amp hour.”    

By the same token, it can also deliver 1 amp of current, for 100 hours.
This ability to cover a range of current draw possibilities is what saves us.

    There's a simple mathematical formula that covers this, in fact:

Amp hour rating (capacity)/current draw from motor = runtime

    So, lets say your motor was running at a low speed, drawing 5 amps from your 100 Ah battery. Using the formula, we would divide 100/5 to get a 20 hour run time.
    Going the other way, if you're running wide open and drawing 40 amps, the result would be 100/40, for a 2.5 hour run time.

Motor Current Draw
    A motor's exact amperage draw rating isn't always easy to find, but it will be available from the manufacturer. You can check the spec sheet that came with the motor, or if you don't have that, check on the internet

    Most manufacturers will only list a motor's maximum current draw at top speed. That's really all they can do, but it's enough.
With that information, we can extrapolate across the range, from zero to max, using that maximum value as a baseline.

    But we don't run our motors at a constant speed for a defined time-span, do we?
We run them fast, slow, and an awful lot of the time, somewhere in between.
Sometimes we don't run them at all.

    You have to understand that your power consumption is determined by the conditions, and how YOU choose to run the motor.
    For example, if you must power through a high flow river current, or against a stiff wind, you will require a higher power setting and draw more current.
If you paddle protected backwaters a lot, as I do, you may draw very little current from the battery in a given fishing session.

    So what's the simple answer to how much battery you need?
Drum roll please: There isn't one.

    Take a look at the chart above, and notice the first word in the heading - “approximate.”

    Really, it all comes down to throttle management. You can run at a moderate pace throughout the day, going from spot to spot, using drifting, paddling, anchoring, etc., or, you can run flat out for 2 1/2 hrs. and go to the other end of the lake.

    But the whole battery conundrum can usually be distilled down to:

Get the physically largest deep cycle battery that you NEED, which you can physically manage without throwing out your back, or upsetting the balance of your boat.
This is different for each application.

    For trolling motor use in a small boat, for example, I generally recommend a battery with AT LEAST a 100 amperage hour rating, and a Group 24-31 case size rating.
In a kayak you may want a motor with a reduced thrust factor, and that could mean a smaller battery.
But above all, know your motor's current draw and the battery's amp hour rating.
    From there, you can take what you've leaned here, do some simple math and find out what you need for YOUR situation
    And that's a result!

Some Battery DO's and DONT'S

Use Variable Speed Motors

    Using a variable speed motor (vs. a fixed speed motor) generally results in significantly longer run times. Variable motors are more energy efficient, especially at slower speeds. They are also much more convenient as they allow you to dial in the speed to the exact setting you want. 

    Actually, I'm not sure there are any fixed-speed motors available anymore. I haven't seen one, at least.

    There are also new electronic devices called “pulse width modulators” that feed the power to your motor in high frequency pulses. This stretches out the battery life, and they're worth considering if you want to add another tech project to your system.

Use A Higher Voltage Motor

    As voltage increases, you can get the same power using less current. In this way, larger 24v and 36v multi-battery trolling motor systems can provide the same thrust as 12 volt motors with less current draw. This results in longer run times.
    The motors are more expensive, of course, and you need TWO or THREE batteries in series to pull off this trick, so that might not be practical in YOUR situation.     

But seriously long run times are possible with 24v or 36v motor.

Don't Fully Deplete Your Battery: Big NO – NO!

    Running a battery “bone dry” on a regular basis will reduce the lifespan of your battery.
    Whenever possible, make it a habit to recharge your battery(s) before they are completely empty.
    Using a battery voltage monitor while on the water will help you know your battery's charge level, and reduce the chances of unexpectedly running out of juice miles from shore.
    For lithium batteries, use a lithium specific monitor that reads in remaining amp hours, and not just voltage.

Remember Your Batteries In The Off-Season

    It's really bad for batteries to be left uncharged for months at a time. It contributes to shorter battery life and reduced performance.
    During the off-season, use a battery tender or battery trickle charger to keep a small amount of current running through your batteries.
    Alternatively, you can re-charge your batteries every month or so to ensure they retain a charge and don't sit empty.
    Both options will significantly increase the life of your batteries.

Don't Mix Battery Types

    Resist the urge to mix old batteries with new ones. Ideally you want multi-battery banks to be of the same age and type.

Charge Batteries After Each Use

    Leaving batteries in a discharged state after use will decrease their longevity and performance. So make it part of your routine to charge them as soon as possible after you've used them.
    If you are using flooded, wet-cell batteries, also get in the habit of checking and topping up liquid levels every time you use them.

Storage

    Keep your batteries in a cool, dry place in the off-season and maintain them in a charged state.

Connecting the Battery

- Terminal connectors should be periodically examined for signs of corrosion. Don't just look at 'em, or pour Coca-Cola all over 'em...Take them apart and clean them as needed.
Know what's happening there, and keep ahead of any problems with your connections.

- The best way to hook the motor to the battery is with large-lug, ringed terminals that attach flat to the terminal with nut and bolt hardware. 

    If your battery has tapered posts, make sure they are clean and bulldog tight.
    If you have alligator clip connectors, dump them as soon as possible.
    From there, have an in-line circuit breaker, and use quick disconnects on the motor and battery if you want to remove them.

- Your wiring should be sized appropriately.
Wire that is too small will not conduct current efficiently, and will dissipate power in the form of heat.
Wire that is too large conducts current fine, but it may cost you more than is needed.
    Each motor manufacturer recommends the proper wire size, depending on how far from the battery the motor is placed. Since we're not tossing out random info, here, I'm gonna tell you to find out what wire sizes your motor manufacturer says to use... and then follow those instructions to the letter.

- Keep your battery clean and covered in use, and don’t leave it outside to freeze over winter.

    To really be honest, these things are easily as important as the battery itself.

FAQ
Q. What do the "group numbers" on batteries mean?
A. The group number indicates case size dimensions.
This is important because you could maybe use a somewhat smaller battery, and still get the same capacity as a larger one. That's why its important to understand the amp hour specification and how it applies.

Q. Is one brand better than another?
A. Generally speaking, no.
Saying that will get many brand loyal people worked up, but it is ALWAYS your first priority to understand that battery current capacity / Motor current draw = run time.

The name on the case, where you bought it, it’s price, or even its internal makeup are secondary, and may mean next to nothing.
There may be those batteries with better warranties, or some slight edge in materials, and certainly there's some great advertising hype involved.
But the science, technology and manufacturing behind batteries is well established, and plenty of people get YEARS from their Walmart brand batteries.

Q. Can batteries go bad from sitting?
A. Absolutely.
They lose a percentage of their charge, month after month, just sitting on the shelf. This means that the manufacturing date is important at the time of purchase. Look for batteries that are no more than 6-8 months old.
And once charged and in service, they should not sit around without being on the charger periodically to keep them topped up. I cycle charge those not in use once a month, and I rotate them into service through the season.

Q. Are these batteries expensive?
A. Yes.
However, it depends on your financial situation.
Some guys think nothing of having $4500 tied up in lithium batteries, high-end chargers, etc.
Me, that’s my fishing budget for the rest of my life!
So it's a different expense for everyone.
For those of us with pockets of average depth, plan to spend $1-$1.75 per amp hour for a decent AGM, deep cycle battery. You can shop around and find sales, or deals, but plan on that.

TIP: You can link batteries in parallel to gain current capacity.
For example, I use TWO 55 amp hour batteries connected in parallel to give me 110 amp hours. I get them for free, so its a no brainer to use them.

As you can see, when connected this way, the current capacity is additive.
This means each time you add one to the circuit, in parallel, you add the new battery's current to the total.

So you could buy one, now, to get you going, and literally double or triple your run time by buying another next month!

Q. How often should I charge the battery, and do I need a special charger?
A. That's easy: charge it as soon after discharging it, as possible.
Ideally, when you get it home from using it, you'll put it on the charger straight away.
As for the charger, use a charger that offers self-adjusting current levels, and a maintenance feature. This type reduces the amount of current flowing to the battery as it gets approaches peak charge, and then it shifts to “charge maintenance mode,” what some people call a “trickle charge.”

Finally no matter how careful and knowledgeable you are – things can go wrong.
Because of that, I strongly urge you to have a collapsible paddle on board, just case.

For general information about trolling motor batteries, this will help:
www.trollingmotors.net%2F86992071-picking-a-trolling-motor-battery

Thanks to the following online resources for their presence and information...

Dakotalithium.com

trollingmotors.net

wikipedia

https://www.crownbattery.com

Interstatebatteries.com

battlebornbatteries.com


As always, thanks for reading, and dont forget to...

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Tight Lines,

David

Palmetto  Fly n Fish

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