Marine batteries for electronics, starting outboards and powering 24-volt or 36-volt trolling motors have come a long way in the last 20 years. Where we basically had a cranking battery and a deep cycle lead acid battery for our trolling motors, now we have a plethora of options from AGMs to Lithium and of course still lead acids. The marine batteries of today are some of the best trolling motor batteries and best marine electronics batteries we&#;ve ever had at our disposal.
With all this new technology in batteries, especially around lithium options, it&#;s created a lot of misinformation and made it more complicated to find the right battery for your setup and budget. This piece will share a ton of hands-on experience on the best marine batteries and trolling motor batteries out there today and how each one and each company handles their batteries. We will give you a bunch of good options you can trust.
We have also interviewed several of the engineers for today&#;s batteries and will follow up with a comprehensive guide to lithium power in another piece shortly. In addition, we have individual reviews of each battery coming shortly as well.
Of all the lithium options out there, we have the most experience with Dakota Lithium. I have run Dakota Lithiums for the last two years. I have used the 12V 100AH batteries and have charged them with both the Dakota Lithium 10A charger and the Minn Kota MK550PCL LiFePO4 compatible charger. Our team in Minnesota has run multiple configurations of Dakota Lithiums on the ice, in boats and in kayaks.
What we have loved is how well these batteries manage their power and how consistent they always are. I have tested them to several extremes: fishing hard on hot above 100-degree days as well as fishing on below freezing days. I&#;ve gone up to four trips without charging them and had them finally go to sleep on my fifth trip. And I&#;m always able to wake them easily by just plugging them up to their Dakota 12V charger.
The best part is I now charge them after every use and they are never below 75% on my trolling motor batteries or my electronics battery. They are charged and ready to rock in under an hour most days. It&#;s pretty incredible how well they hold up and provide clean, consistent power. Additionally, they make some great lithium chargers in 12V, 24V and 36V options.
Dakota Lithium has been providing stable lithium power for longer than a lot of other brands, and their batteries are some of the most proven in a wide plethora of applications. They offer some of the most robust options as well as, considerably, the widest array of options to fit any scenario or need you could have in fishing. Even their smaller batteries are solid choices for kayak fishing and ice fishing applications as we&#;ve used them a bunch for both.
Millertech is one of the more impressive lithium battery options out there with more than 15 different options of lithium batteries for anglers and boaters with more in design now. They have a battery to fit every application a fisherman may need. Their prices range from $329 up to $1,499 covering a lot of bases in batteries that will last you 5-10 years, sometimes much longer depending on usage.
We spent a lot of time testing their batteries in a variety of situations from powering electronics, starting an outboard and powering a trolling motor. Their battery management system (BMS) is very well designed, and we never encountered the first problem. It hardly seemed that the batteries even got drained down. I ran the Millertech Dual Purpose 12V 135Ah lithium battery for several trips without charging and it was still more than 50% charged. A very impressive battery to say the least.
The battery is rated at 1,500 cold cranking amps, which is not really a thing in lithium power, but it&#;s more than enough to start an outboard. What you actually need to start an outboard is so many continuous amps for a number of seconds. Say, 5 seconds. So say 20 amps at 5 seconds. This battery has 200 continuous amps. Now keep in mind, you might not want to get this as a cranking battery if you have an engine where it voids the warranty, like Yamaha. However, you can for sure with a Mercury outboard and probably other brands as well. So it&#;s more than enough to crank your outboard and power your graphs all day long.
We&#;ve also tested the 24V 80Ah battery as a single battery for a 24-volt trolling motor, and it&#;s been super impressive as well. The batteries are extremely well made, manage power terrifically and charge fast. We are reassured that any issue that might come up will be handled swiftly.
What you really pay for in this battery are the quality components and build and the service and hassle free warranty. This is where Millertech really shines. They believe that is where they excel. They are making batteries to last a long time, but they are standing behind them with a no-hassle, long-term warranty with quick, immediate service. We talked to the owner Lester Miller about this recently.
&#;All of the top lithium battery makers are using the best cells,&#; Miller said. &#;Can I make a battery better than the other guys? Probably not if we are all using the best available stuff. But what I can do is make sure if you have a problem, I take care of it. And if you dial our for support, someone answers immediately. If you spend a lot of money on a lithium battery, someone better pick up the when you call and need them. That&#;s what we&#;re focused on. Building the best, smartest batteries possible that fit the actual needs of anglers, and then being there if they need us or just have a question about the best way to maintain their battery.&#;
Full disclosure, we know a lot about lithium power now thanks in large part to spending time learning from the engineers at these companies and owners like Lester Miller. This is one of the best batteries we have tested thus far. Read the full spec sheet here.
I&#;ve fished a bunch of days out of a kayak with a Motorguide Xi3 trolling motor with this battery and I love it. It charges fast, holds a charge a long time and provides ample power for all day trolling around in a big 13-foot kayak. It&#;s built with precision waterproofing, vibration controls and fire suppression technology. One of the worst things for a lithium battery is water on the cells and keeping water out of batteries in an environment prone to be more watery is an important feature. Higher peak discharge means it also has stronger starting power. But for running a graph or a trolling motor all day on a small boat or yak, this battery is hard to beat.
Compact. Light. Powerful. These are all reasons we rated this as a top choice for Fishing Kayaks. I have been running the ZPRO Lithium 12V 50Ah battery in my Jackson Kayak Byte FD to power my Livescope and 9-inch graph. It&#;s impressive how good my screen looks and how it&#;s good all day. The battery charges quickly at the end of the day as well. ZPRO has done a lot of testing and provides a lot of options that fit a wide variety of fishing applications from kayak batteries to full 36-volt trolling motor solutions and everything in between.
Who Makes the Best Lithium Batteries?
Here at Dakota Lithium we believe quality is measured by lifespan. How long a battery lasts. The best lithium battery for you is one that gives you the power, performance and reliability to live your best life and pursue your passions to the fullest, be it cruising the open road in your RV, fishing for bass, or crossing oceans in your sailboat. Different applications require different batteries, that&#;s why here at Dakota Lithium we make a wide range of battery sizes so your can build the best battery system for your needs.
Apuestas Móviles con Caliente: Juega Donde Quieras, Cuando Quieras
¿Te imaginas poder disfrutar de tus juegos de apuestas favoritos en cualquier momento y lugar? Con el avance de la tecnología móvil, esto ya es una realidad. Las apuestas móviles se han convertido en una forma cada vez más popular de disfrutar del emocionante mundo de las apuestas en línea. En este artículo, exploraremos las ventajas y beneficios de las apuestas móviles con Caliente, una de las plataformas líderes en el mercado.
Descubre cómo puedes jugar donde quieras, cuando quieras, sin restricciones ni limitaciones. Con la comodidad de tu éfono o tablet, tendrás acceso a una amplia gama de opciones de apuestas, desde tragamonedas y juegos de mesa hasta apuestas deportivas en vivo. Además, exploraremos la seguridad y confiabilidad de las apuestas móviles, así como las promociones y bonificaciones exclusivas que Caliente ofrece a sus usuarios. ¿Estás listo para llevar la emoción de las apuestas contigo a todas partes? ¡Acompáñanos en este viaje y descubre todo lo que las apuestas móviles con Caliente tienen para ofrecer!
La revolución de las apuestas móviles: una nueva forma de jugar
Con las apuestas móviles de Caliente, podrás jugar donde quieras y cuando quieras, sin importar tu ubicación. Ya no tendrás que estar atado a tu computadora para disfrutar de la emoción de las apuestas deportivas. Con la aplicación móvil de Caliente, podrás acceder a una amplia variedad de deportes y eventos en tiempo real, desde la comodidad de tu éfono o tablet.
¿Quieres hacer una apuesta durante el partido de fútbol que estás viendo en el bar? ¿O tal vez prefieres jugar unas manos de póker mientras esperas en la fila del supermercado? Con Caliente, todo esto es posible. Nuestra aplicación móvil está diseñada para brindarte la mejor experiencia de juego en dispositivos móviles, con una interfaz intuitiva y fácil de usar.
No importa si eres un apostador experimentado o si apenas estás comenzando, las apuestas móviles de Caliente te ofrecen la oportunidad de disfrutar del emocionante mundo de las apuestas en cualquier momento y lugar. ¡Descarga nuestra aplicación móvil hoy y comienza a jugar!
Caliente: la plataforma líder en apuestas móviles en México
Apuestas Móviles con Caliente te ofrece la posibilidad de jugar donde quieras y cuando quieras. Con la aplicación móvil de Caliente, puedes acceder a una amplia variedad de apuestas deportivas y juegos de casino desde la comodidad de tu éfono inteligente o tableta. Ya sea que estés en casa, en el trabajo o de viaje, simplemente ingresa a la aplicación y comienza a disfrutar de la emoción de las apuestas en línea. Con Caliente, no hay límites para tu diversión.
¿Quieres apostar en tu equipo favorito mientras estás en el estadio? ¿O tal vez probar tu suerte en una ruleta virtual mientras esperas en la fila del supermercado? Con las apuestas móviles de Caliente, todo esto es posible. La aplicación te ofrece una experiencia de juego fluida y segura, con una interfaz intuitiva y fácil de usar. Además, podrás acceder a promociones exclusivas y bonificaciones especiales que te permitirán aumentar tus ganancias. No pierdas más tiempo, descarga la aplicación móvil de Caliente y empieza a jugar hoy mismo.
¿Quieres saber más sobre las apuestas móviles con Caliente? Visita nuestra página web en http://calliente.org/ y descubre todas las opciones de juego que tenemos para ti. En nuestra plataforma, encontrarás una amplia selección de deportes y eventos en los que apostar, así como una variedad de juegos de casino emocionantes. Además, podrás acceder a estadísticas en tiempo real, pronósticos y consejos de expertos para mejorar tus posibilidades de ganar. No esperes más, únete a la emoción de las apuestas móviles con Caliente y comienza a disfrutar de la mejor experiencia de juego en línea.
Beneficios de las apuestas móviles: comodidad y accesibilidad sin límites
Apuestas Móviles con Caliente te ofrece la libertad de jugar donde quieras y cuando quieras. Con nuestra plataforma móvil, puedes acceder a una amplia variedad de opciones de apuestas desde la comodidad de tu éfono o tablet. Ya sea que estés en casa, en el trabajo o en movimiento, nunca tendrás que perderte la emoción de apostar en tus deportes favoritos o juegos de casino.
Nuestra aplicación móvil está diseñada para ser fácil de usar y compatible con dispositivos iOS y Android. Con solo unos pocos toques en la pantalla, podrás explorar nuestras diferentes categorías de apuestas, realizar depósitos y retiros, y seguir de cerca tus apuestas en tiempo real. Además, ofrecemos promociones exclusivas para nuestros usuarios móviles, brindándote aún más incentivos para jugar desde tu dispositivo móvil.
Con Apuestas Móviles con Caliente, no hay límites para tu diversión. Disfruta de una experiencia de apuestas sin interrupciones mientras te desplazas. Nuestra plataforma móvil está disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, para que nunca te pierdas la acción. ¡Descarga nuestra aplicación hoy mismo y comienza a jugar donde quieras, cuando quieras!
Seguridad y confianza: garantías de juego justo en apuestas móviles con Caliente
Disfruta de la emoción de las apuestas en línea con Caliente, ahora disponible en versión móvil. Con las apuestas móviles de Caliente, puedes jugar donde quieras y cuando quieras. Ya no estarás limitado por la ubicación o el horario, ya que podrás acceder a tus juegos favoritos desde tu éfono o tablet.
Con la plataforma móvil de Caliente, tendrás acceso a una amplia variedad de opciones de apuestas, incluyendo deportes, casino y juegos en vivo. Podrás realizar tus apuestas en tiempo real, seguir los eventos deportivos en vivo y disfrutar de una experiencia de juego emocionante desde la comodidad de tu dispositivo móvil. Además, Caliente te ofrece promociones exclusivas para los usuarios de su plataforma móvil, brindándote aún más oportunidades de ganar. ¡No pierdas más tiempo y descarga la aplicación móvil de Caliente hoy mismo para comenzar a disfrutar de las apuestas móviles!
En conclusión, las apuestas móviles con Caliente son la opción perfecta para aquellos amantes de los juegos de azar que buscan la comodidad y la emoción en un solo lugar. Con la aplicación móvil de Caliente, puedes jugar donde quieras y cuando quieras, sin importar el momento o el lugar. Además, disfrutarás de una amplia variedad de juegos y apuestas deportivas, con cuotas competitivas y bonificaciones exclusivas. No pierdas la oportunidad de vivir la emoción del juego en la palma de tu mano. Descarga la aplicación de Caliente hoy mismo y comienza a ganar grandes premios desde la comodidad de tu dispositivo móvil.
Here&#;s 8 reason&#;s why the best batteries are Dakota Lithium
- Dakota Lithium LiFePO4 batteries will provide double the usable power and run time of lead acid. More power and run time means more time on the water or on the road without having to plug in at night. Allows for boondocking or camping off grid in your RV, fishing from sun up to sun down in your boat, or powering whatever is important to you for longer.
- Dakota Lithium batteries last 5X longer than AGM or lead acid batteries. Providing piece of mind and greater lifetime value. All backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty.
- Dakota Lithium weighs 60% less than deep cycle lead acid batteries. Less weight means more maneuverability and speed and less wear and tear on your rig. And the batteries are light enough that you can easily install and service them yourself.
- Dakota&#;s lithium iron phosphate technology works down to negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 Celsius) meaning you can travel in all seasons.
- The self discharge rate of a Dakota Lithium battery (i.e. how much power is lost each month the battery is not being used), is 1/4 that of a lead acid battery. That means if you take a break between adventures your batteries will still have plenty of power the next time you hit the road or get on the water.
- Dakota Lithium iron phosphate is optimized for solar energy with 50% more efficiency than a lead acid battery and 100% of the energy your solar panels have collected is accessible and usable.
- You need less batteries when you use a Dakota Lithium. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) has a flat voltage curve. That means that the voltage does not drop as you use the battery. You get all the juice down to the last drop. Historically if you power your house electronics with a deep cycle lead acid battery you would only be able to use half of the capacity of the battery before the voltage is too low to run anything. That&#;s why your lights dim when your lead batteries are low. With Dakota Lithium you can use all of the power of the battery, meaning that a 100 Ah battery from Dakota Lithium is equal to 200 Ah in lead acid batteries.
- Dakota Lithium has an 11 year warranty. That means you can install your batteries once, instead of replacing heavy lead acid batteries every few years. Giving you peace of mind and the confidence to go further, and play harder.
The best US lithium battery manufacturer is Dakota Lithium. Dakota Lithium is an ISO : certified lithium battery engineering company, which means Dakota Lithium quality control practices meet the highest international and US quality standards. Dakota Lithium has been engineering, designing, and manufacturing lithium batteries since and is the leading authority on ultra-long lifespan lithium batteries.
Dakota Lithium batteries are Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) compliant for use in RVs, camper vans, and other homes on wheels. The most popular batteries for use in RVs, Trailers, Adventure Van builds, or overland trucks are the 12V 100Ah, 12V 135Ah and 12V 280Ah batteries since they have the greatest energy density by volume and are drop in replacements for standard RV house batteries. This off grid power system also uses RVIA compliant batteries to build a solar powered electrical system for most RVs, vans, or campers. Learn more about RV batteries and shop RV batteries here.
Dakota Lithium batteries are compliant with the new American Boating and Yachting Council (ABYC) standards for lithium batteries. Learn what ABYC standards for lithium batteries mean for boat owners from Dakota Lithium founder Ryan Ellison here. This means insurance companies have clear guidelines for what is a safe and reliable lithium battery and are more likely to insure your boat if lithium batteries are on board. This gives more boat owners the option to upgrade to the performance and reliability of Dakota Lithium batteries. In addition, the Dakota Lithium Plus 12V 135Ah battery meets the standards set by Mercury Motors for lithium starter batteries for outboard and marine motors, allowing boat owners to run full lithium systems with no need to have both lead acid and lithium batteries on the same boat. Learn more about marine batteries here.
Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Dakota Lithium batteries are build for extreme performance in extreme conditions. This relentless focus on reliability and lifespan has inspired athletes across the globe to choose Dakota Lithium for their power needs. Dakota Lithium is the official battery of Bassmaster and is the choice of tournament fishing champions. New batteries are beta tested by professional athletes in tournament conditions, their feedback is collected by our ISO certified engineering team and used to improve the next generation of Dakota Lithium batteries. Two time Bassmaster champion Hank Cherry used Dakota Lithium batteries for his trolling motor and onboard electronics. Bassmaster champion Brock Mosely uses Dakota Lithium batteries for his bass boat, including the trolling motor and sonar. Duane Hjelm, national Walleye fishing champion, uses Dakota Lithium for his tournament boat, trolling motor and onboard electronics.
The Best Lithium Battery for Trolling Motors
Dakota Lithium is the leading manufacturer of high performance batteries for trolling motors. Used by top tournament anglers, Dakota Lithium batteries are optimized for electric trolling motors, providing exceptional run time and reliability in the roughest of conditions.
When choosing a lithium battery for your trolling motor look for a battery that has an Amp Hour (Ah) rating that is higher than the max amp draw of your trolling motor (max amp draw is the amps used at the highest power setting and with all features like spot lock turned on). A simple rule of thumb is: if you run your trolling motor mostly on a low setting, or for no more then half the day choose a battery that is slightly above the amp draw. For example, if you have a 12V 55 lb thrust motor that pulls 55 amps then a DL+ 12V 60Ah battery would be a good choice. If you are often out for a 12 hour day and have your trolling motor running for most of the time you would benifit most from a 12V 100Ah battery. If you run your motor at highest power level often, or fish rivers in heavy current, or your boat is larger and/or you often fish off shore, then you want twice as much Amp Hours (Ah) as your max amp draw. So a 12V 100Ah battery would be a good choice, or a DL+ 12V 135Ah battery.
Here&#;s a guide of what battery you need for your size trolling motor
Motor Thrust / Max Amp Draw (A) @ Voltage (V) / Recommended Battery
Download & print trolling motor battery selection guide (.pdf)
* For fishing kayaks, canoes, or any boat with a capsize risk we recommend the Powerbox+ 60 or building a waterproof / submersible battery box.
Dakota Lithium is the Battery of Campions
Dakota Lithium is the official battery of Bassmaster and Kayak Bass Fishing.
The Best Battery for Your RV, Van, or Camper is Dakota Lithium
Here&#;s a simple guide to what lithium battery is the best for your vehicle.
Size of RV / Van | Recommended Battery | Recommended Off-Grid System
The Best Batteries for Solar Panels on RVs & Camper Vans
Dakota Lithium batteries are the best choice if you are considering adding solar panels to your RV, Van, or trailer because they have the highest efficiency rating for solar power. That means you get more power from each solar panel, and can use more of the power you collect. A deep dive on solar power efficiency is here.
Here&#;s a size chart for what solar panels you need by size of RV & how many Dakota Lithium batteries you have.
The Best Batteries for RVs with Air Conditioning
Air conditioning appliances draws a lot of power and require a large battery bank when not connected to shore power. At minimum you will need 400 Amp Hours to run air conditioning in a RV trailer, Van, or Camper. The size of the vehicle you are cooling and how often the AC unit will be running determines how many batteries you will need. Please note, this assumes you are running the AC intermittently, and mostly at night. If you are camping in a very hot climate and the AC will be running more then 8 hours a day then you will need additional battery capacity to camp off grid.
Size of RV / Van | Hours a Day AC is On | Recommended Battery | Recommended Solar Capacity
Dakota Lithium batteries Strengths:
Long Cycle Life: LiFePO4 batteries from Dakota Lithium last up to 2,000 to 8,000 charge cycles, 5 &#; 10X longer than traditional lead-acid batteries. This provides you with exceptional reliability and peace of mind, backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty.
High energy density: Compared to traditional lead-acid batteries, Dakota Lithium batteries have an exceptionably high energy density. This means they can store more energy in a smaller, lighter package. This makes them an ideal choice for applications where space and weight constraints are concerned. For example, this 48v golf cart battery set has as much usable power as a lead acid battery set but is 1/4 the weight, and 1/3 the total size.
Light weight: Dakota Lithium batteries are anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 the weight of traditional batteries, depending on application. For a golf cart, boat or RV this can be a savings of hundreds of pounds, allowing you to go faster and further on a single charge.
Fast Charging: Dakota Lithium LiFePO4 batteries can be charged 5X faster than traditional lead-acid batteries, so devices and systems can be backed up and running quickly and with less downtime.
Low Self-Discharge: Dakota Lithium batteries have a low rate of self-discharge, which means they can keep their charge for longer without being used. This is a game changer for boat, RV, and motorcycle owners who no longer need to replace their batteries every spring.
Safe and good for the environment: Dakota Lithium LiFePO4 batteries are safer and better for the environment than lead-acid batteries. They don&#;t contain harmful things like lead or acid, making them less likely to pollute the environment or cause health problems. Dakota Lithium batteries are 100% cobalt and conflict mineral free with lithium sustainably sourced from Austrailia.
Wide Operating Temperature Range: Dakota Lithium batteries can operate effectively in a wide range of temperatures, from -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F). This makes them suitable for use in extreme climates and conditions.
100% US Technical Support: Enjoy exceptional technical support for the lifetime of your battery, backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty.
11 Year Warranty: With nearly two decades of experience engineering and manufacturing lithium batteries, Dakota Lithium knows how long a Dakota Lithium battery will last. That&#;s why Dakota Lithium has an 11 year warranty on all batteries.
Dakota Lithium&#;s Technology Advantage
- Dual Purpose Battery Management System (BMS): Every
Dakota Lithium battery is built with a BMS that protects the battery from overcharging, over-discharging, short-circuiting, and high temperatures, ensuring the battery lasts a long, long time, and is safe and performs as designed. Dakota Lithium Plus batteries , like the DL+ 60Ah battery , the DL+ 135Ah battery and DL+ 280Ah battery are built with Dakota Lithium&#;s patented dual purpose battery management technology. Engineered for maximum reliability, and versatility, the Dakota Lithium Dual Purpose BMS provides both sustained deep cycle performance that gives steady power for a long time AND 1,000 cold cranking amps (CCA) of engine starting power. This ability to both start engines and provide deep cycle performance is the plus is the DL+ line of batteries. The best part is the Dual Purpose BMS gives not only more flexibility, but also enhances the performance of the battery in deep cycle only applications or in engine starting only applications. In deep cycle applications the battery can handle sudden amp spikes, like turning on an air conditioner, that would cause other deep cycle batteries to fail. In engine starting applications the battery uses the deep cycle capacity to provide up to 10X the number of engine starts per charge. More flexible. More Reliable. Simply better.
- Chemistry & Safety Advantage: Dakota Lithium manufactures exclusively Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. Iron phosphate batteries are also called LiFePO4 or LFP which refers to the chemical makeup of the cells inside the battery. Dakota Lithium&#;s iron phosphate technology allows the company to engineer for an exceptionally long battery lifespan and safety, allowing for a 5 to 15 year use life depending on applications, backed up by a best in class 11 year warranty. LFP chemistry does not have oxide, preventing the possiblity of a thermal runaway that is possible with other types of lithium batteries. This chemistry safety advantage is why Dakota Lithium batteries are approved by RVIA for use in RV and homes on wheels, and the ABYC for use in boats and marine applications.
- Ultra-long-lifespan: Dakota Lithium&#;s research laboratory at the University of North Dakota, PhD scientists and engineers create new cathode and anode battery materials for use in Dakota Lithium batteries. While other battery companies are focused on light weight batteries for air planes, or drones, Dakota Lithium is focused on increasing the lifespan and reliability of Dakota Lithium batteries for use on land and water. This research has allowed Dakota Lithium to launch a series of ultra long lifespan batteries, including the Dakota Lithium 12V 280Ah battery, which has an estimated lifespan of 15 years and exceptional energy density with the usable power of six 100 amp hour group 31 marine batteries inside a Dakota Lithium battery case that is the size of one group 31 battery.
- Energy Density: Dakota Lithium is leading the industry in energy density by volume (watt-hour per cubic inch). Recent break throughs have resulted in the Dakota Lithium Plus 12V 135Ah battery. Built in a group 24 size battery case, the DL+ 135 Ah battery is 35% smaller in volume than a traditional 100 Ah group 31 marine battery, but has 35% more Amp Hours (Ah). When compared to a traditional group 24 lead acid battery it really shines, with 5X the usable power inside a battery that is the same size as most car batteries. Plus the Dual Purpose BMS allows for 1,000 cold cranking amps, giving you both incredible energy density and versatility.
FAQs:
Marine batteries for electronics, starting outboards and powering 24-volt or 36-volt trolling motors have come a long way in the last 20 years. Where we basically had a cranking battery and a deep cycle lead acid battery for our trolling motors, now we have a plethora of options from AGMs to Lithium and of course still lead acids. The marine batteries of today are some of the best trolling motor batteries and best marine electronics batteries we&#;ve ever had at our disposal.
With all this new technology in batteries, especially around lithium options, it&#;s created a lot of misinformation and made it more complicated to find the right battery for your setup and budget. This piece will share a ton of hands-on experience on the best marine batteries and trolling motor batteries out there today and how each one and each company handles their batteries. We will give you a bunch of good options you can trust.
We have also interviewed several of the engineers for today&#;s batteries and will follow up with a comprehensive guide to lithium power in another piece shortly. In addition, we have individual reviews of each battery coming shortly as well.
OUR PICKS FOR BEST MARINE / TROLLING MOTOR BATTERIES
DAKOTA LITHIUM 12V 100AH
Best Selection of Lithium Marine Battery Options
Of all the lithium options out there, we have the most experience with Dakota Lithium. I have run Dakota Lithiums for the last two years. I have used the 12V 100AH batteries and have charged them with both the Dakota Lithium 10A charger and the Minn Kota MK550PCL LiFePO4 compatible charger. Our team in Minnesota has run multiple configurations of Dakota Lithiums on the ice, in boats and in kayaks.
What we have loved is how well these batteries manage their power and how consistent they always are. I have tested them to several extremes: fishing hard on hot above 100-degree days as well as fishing on below freezing days. I&#;ve gone up to four trips without charging them and had them finally go to sleep on my fifth trip. And I&#;m always able to wake them easily by just plugging them up to their Dakota 12V charger.
The best part is I now charge them after every use and they are never below 75% on my trolling motor batteries or my electronics battery. They are charged and ready to rock in under an hour most days. It&#;s pretty incredible how well they hold up and provide clean, consistent power. Additionally, they make some great lithium chargers in 12V, 24V and 36V options.
Dakota Lithium has been providing stable lithium power for longer than a lot of other brands, and their batteries are some of the most proven in a wide plethora of applications. They offer some of the most robust options as well as, considerably, the widest array of options to fit any scenario or need you could have in fishing. Even their smaller batteries are solid choices for kayak fishing and ice fishing applications as we&#;ve used them a bunch for both.
PROS
- Longtime Proven Platform
- Tons of Options
- Great Chargers
- Great Warranty
CONS
- Smack dab in the middle of the high end on price
Buy at Walmart.com
Buy at Amazon
Buy at FishUSA
MILLERTECH LITHIUM 12V DUAL PURPOSE 135Ah
Best Dual Cranking and Electronics Battery / Best Service
Millertech is one of the more impressive lithium battery options out there with more than 15 different options of lithium batteries for anglers and boaters with more in design now. They have a battery to fit every application a fisherman may need. Their prices range from $329 up to $1,499 covering a lot of bases in batteries that will last you 5-10 years, sometimes much longer depending on usage.
We spent a lot of time testing their batteries in a variety of situations from powering electronics, starting an outboard and powering a trolling motor. Their battery management system (BMS) is very well designed, and we never encountered the first problem. It hardly seemed that the batteries even got drained down. I ran the Millertech Dual Purpose 12V 135Ah lithium battery for several trips without charging and it was still more than 50% charged. A very impressive battery to say the least.
The battery is rated at 1,500 cold cranking amps, which is not really a thing in lithium power, but it&#;s more than enough to start an outboard. What you actually need to start an outboard is so many continuous amps for a number of seconds. Say, 5 seconds. So say 20 amps at 5 seconds. This battery has 200 continuous amps. Now keep in mind, you might not want to get this as a cranking battery if you have an engine where it voids the warranty, like Yamaha. However, you can for sure with a Mercury outboard and probably other brands as well. So it&#;s more than enough to crank your outboard and power your graphs all day long.
We&#;ve also tested the 24V 80Ah battery as a single battery for a 24-volt trolling motor, and it&#;s been super impressive as well. The batteries are extremely well made, manage power terrifically and charge fast. We are reassured that any issue that might come up will be handled swiftly.
What you really pay for in this battery are the quality components and build and the service and hassle free warranty. This is where Millertech really shines. They believe that is where they excel. They are making batteries to last a long time, but they are standing behind them with a no-hassle, long-term warranty with quick, immediate service. We talked to the owner Lester Miller about this recently.
&#;All of the top lithium battery makers are using the best cells,&#; Miller said. &#;Can I make a battery better than the other guys? Probably not if we are all using the best available stuff. But what I can do is make sure if you have a problem, I take care of it. And if you dial our for support, someone answers immediately. If you spend a lot of money on a lithium battery, someone better pick up the when you call and need them. That&#;s what we&#;re focused on. Building the best, smartest batteries possible that fit the actual needs of anglers, and then being there if they need us or just have a question about the best way to maintain their battery.&#;
Full disclosure, we know a lot about lithium power now thanks in large part to spending time learning from the engineers at these companies and owners like Lester Miller. This is one of the best batteries we have tested thus far. Read the full spec sheet here.
PROS
- Great warranty
- Great builds and expertise
- Best in class service
- Lots of pro anglers using these
CONS
- Price at the upper end but not most expensive
BUY AT MILLERTECH
TRACKER LITHIUM 12 VOLT 60 AH BATTERY
Best Kayak Fishing Battery
I&#;ve fished a bunch of days out of a kayak with a Motorguide Xi3 trolling motor with this battery and I love it. It charges fast, holds a charge a long time and provides ample power for all day trolling around in a big 13-foot kayak. It&#;s built with precision waterproofing, vibration controls and fire suppression technology. One of the worst things for a lithium battery is water on the cells and keeping water out of batteries in an environment prone to be more watery is an important feature. Higher peak discharge means it also has stronger starting power. But for running a graph or a trolling motor all day on a small boat or yak, this battery is hard to beat.
PROS
- Great Size and weight
- Great handle
- Very waterproof
CONS
- not as long established as others
Buy at BassPro.com
ZPRO LITHIUM 12V 50AH
Best Kayak Fishing Battery
Compact. Light. Powerful. These are all reasons we rated this as a top choice for Fishing Kayaks. I have been running the ZPRO Lithium 12V 50Ah battery in my Jackson Kayak Byte FD to power my Livescope and 9-inch graph. It&#;s impressive how good my screen looks and how it&#;s good all day. The battery charges quickly at the end of the day as well. ZPRO has done a lot of testing and provides a lot of options that fit a wide variety of fishing applications from kayak batteries to full 36-volt trolling motor solutions and everything in between.
Additional resources:Building-integrated Photovoltaics
The 12V 50Ah comes with a handy app that tells you how each individual cell is doing as well as operating temperature, voltage levels and a lot more! It&#;s one of the better apps for these bluetooth battery options we&#;ve tested. We also got the 10AMP charger for $79. It charges the battery fast enough to be back on the water in about 4 hours.
I keep mine in the YakAttack BackPak Pro Krate along with my Livescope module. I can take the whole crate out and charge and travel with ease. Then I can fasten the crate to my Kayak to keep my battery secure on the water. The ZPRO Lithium 12V 50Ah has been a perfect kayak solution for me.
PROS
- Great size and weight for kayaks
- Great app with lots of information
- Powers graph and add-ons for full long days
- Very good service
CONS
BUY AT ZPRO LITHIUM
PRECISION POWER LITHIUM 12V 100AH
Best Electronics Dedicated Battery
A relative newcomer to the Marine Battery market, the Precision Power has been testing for more than 2 years behind the scenes, putting their battery through every possible scenario through a network of anglers and using that feedback to perfect the control board and algorithms of their lithium battery prior to release. Their engineer has arguably some of the most extensive knowledge and background in lithium power of anyone in the industry. They are moving slowly and cautiously to understand how lithium power is needed in fishing boats and what issues anglers constantly face with power in boats to best address these concerns with the best batteries on the market. Several batteries are in development now that they have done the ground work on what is missing and needed in lithium power for marine applications.
All of this is in an effort to make sure fishermen feel confident they are getting a well made, solid battery at the price. It is IP66 rated for waterproof build. The death knell of lithium power is water. So keeping water off the cells is paramount. Where most folks run into trouble is charging a really cold battery, and the heat builds up condensation inside the battery. These batteries have a slick display panel for the status of the battery and an app on Android. The Apple app is going through final stages of approval.
The batteries have a 5-year full warranty and a 10-year limited warranty. Customer service is what they pride themselves on. Working at all hours of the night to help fishermen make sure they are good to go the next morning for an early tournament. They are also currently developing other options so their lineup will continue to expand after perfecting this first battery for marine electronics&#;their bread and butter knowledge base.
PROS
- Very good engineering (longtime lithium power engineer)
- Lots of application testing
- Outstanding support
CONS
- Newer company
- 5 year full warranty compared to 10 for others
Buy at Precision Sonar
POWERHOUSE LITHIUM 16V 80AH
Most Powerful Electronics Battery / Best Bluetooth App
The voltage is probably what stood out to you on the list, as it should. This is actually a great differentiator and what sets this marine battery apart from its counterparts. This was the first, and one of just a couple, 16V lithium multi-cell marine battery options on the market. While some of you are worried about it blowing up your graphs, it&#;s actually the opposite. Many guys have been powering their Livescope box with jimmy-rigged cordless drill batteries that are 16 volts. Today&#;s modern electronics are power hogs and actually want more than 12-volts. Increased power allows you to have a cleaner image, especially on live imaging and forward-facing technologies.
Terry Brown has been running the PowerHouse Lithium battery system in his boat and raves about how clear and bright his graphs are while fishing all day without any interference or stepping down while the motor is in use. He paired it with a PowerHouse Lithium Run and Gun 16V Charger so he can charge his batteries on the water and off.
PowerHouse Lithium offers good warranties that include full replacement for the first 7 years. At 7-10 years, it is repair or replacement, whichever is necessary. They also offer the only additional extended offer past 10 years where at 11-15 years you can still get a 30% discount on buying your replacement if you are the original owner as a reward for being a loyal customer.
Their service is some of the fastest and preventative in the industry. Their app checks for potential problems on a constant basis with the battery. The app will report a slight degradation in any cell, so you can file a claim and get a replacement quickly BEFORE YOUR BATTERY DIES. You don&#;t even have to send the battery back for verification, you simply send the app screenshot of the cell in question and they ship your replacement, sometimes same day if filed early enough. Customers in Zone 1 or 2 will have a new battery the next day and usually 2-3 days for everyone else. You might not even experience any downtime.
This is another solid brand doing some unique things with lithium marine power.
PROS
- Unique 16V option for cleaner electronics
- Very good customer service
- App has preventative monitoring for issues
- Bonus discounts past 10 year warranty
CONS
BUY AT OMNIA FISHING
RELiON LITHIUM RB 36V 40Ah
Reliable 36V System
These came in late in our testing, so they have not been in our boats as long as some others. I am super impressed with the RELiON 36V 40Ah system. I&#;m currently running the 36V 40Ah battery in parallel with another one and getting 80Ah on my 36V system. These batteries are powerhouses. You get a 38.4V system Wh per battery with a capacity of 40Ah and you can run the system in parallel to double your amp hours.
What many folks don&#;t know is that 36V controllers are made to work in 36V environments and give you way more leeway in one battery degrading your whole system. First, you have to understand in parallel or series systems, when one battery goes down, the whole thing is down. You&#;re only as good as your worst battery.
With a 12V battery you have 4 cells at roughly 3.2V or something like that to get you to 12.8V. So if one of those cells gets close to its shutoff level, the whole battery is dead. This gives you less leeway in that shutoff threshold. However, if you have a 36V system you have a lot more leeway with one cell shutting down the battery. Ultimately, 36V systems in parallel are actually a better choice for anglers than three 12V batteries in a series. Your 12-volt batteries have 12V controllers and are somewhat limited on managing a 36V system. A 36V controller is way better equipped to handle your 36V power environment in each battery and as a system.
The RELiON 36V 40Ah batteries impressed me with their power. I ran a trolling motor the other day on a windy day for about 4 hours. When I got off the water and checked the charge (part of my testing), I had used hardly anything for power. I hooked it up to my 36V 18A Dakota Lithium Charger, and in 8 minutes my batteries were fully charged. Now, granted, a Garmin Force is very good at managing power consumption when on Anchor Lock. I was doing that a lot and used almost nothing out of my RELiON system. I have a lot of examples of this. I&#;m somewhat amazed how little these RELiON batteries have to be charged. An hour on my charger most days, and the system is fully charged again.
It&#;s some of the cleanest power I&#;ve used. This battery is $1,089 which lands it middle of the road for other comparable 36V lithium batteries with similar amp hours. Not the best but not the worst either. They are part of the Navico group so if you&#;re a Lowrance guy, they are being optimized for those systems. They power my Garmin system equally well. Lastly, they don&#;t make chargers so you will need a lithium charger of your own.
PROS
- It manages power consumption very well
- Charges fast as a result
- 36V system option
CONS
- Price is upper range but less than some for comparable batteries
- 7 Year Full Replacement Warranty while several others are 10
BUY AT AMAZON
BUY AT WEST MARINE
IMPULSE LITHIUM
Reliable 36V and 12V options
Wired2fish Associate Editor Sam Hanggi switched over to all lithium batteries a few years ago. Currently he runs the 12.8-volt, 160-amp hour Impulse Lithium as both a cranking battery and to run all five of his graphs. He also runs two 36.8-volt, 40-amp hour Platinum Series Impulse Lithium batteries for his Ghost trolling motor. He charges all of his Impulse Lithium batteries using the Power-Pole Charge.
Not only did he go from 5 lead acid batteries to three lithiums, but he went from 300 pounds to 91 pounds in his battery compartment with these Impulse Lithiums.
He has been testing these batteries for a while. The 12.8V 160Ah Impulse Lithium battery will run 5 graphs, plus Humminbird 360 and Active Target 2 modules, all day for several days before needing to charge. It also has plenty of continuous cranking amps to fire a Mercury 250 PRO XS 4-stroke without fail. They charge quickly and hold a charge well with a good lithium charger.
Impulse Lithium also offers a full, 10-year (non-prorated) warranty on their batteries. Read our full review on Impulse Lithium 12.8V and 36.4V batteries.
PROS
- Proven platform (lots of pros using these)
- Full 10-year warranty
- Good options
CONS
BUY FROM IMPULSE LITHIUM
GOLDENMATE LITHIUM 12V 100Ah
Best Budget Lithium Battery
We took a chance on the Goldenmate battery after seeing it on Amazon. They reached out to us, and we agreed to test it to see if one of these lower priced Amazon batteries was as good as the rest. I have to say, we have been very pleased with this battery thus far, especially at $295 (discount for W2F readers). It has a great digital read out on top, as you charge it. It has a bluetooth app that connected quickly and kept me informed on the battery through my testing. I charged it with a 10A 12V LiFePO4 charger, it charged fast and the charger shut off correctly. We used it as our electronics battery; I was also able to fish 4 trips with it before having to charge it again. So it has a good run time.
I actually expected to have issues as there are so many off-brands on Amazon, that it&#;s sometimes difficult to tell the good ones from the less reputable ones. The Goldenmate Orion has been nothing short of impressive to me. Obviously longevity is the question here as is service. So I will continue testing that more and report back. They use grade A cells, and the warranty is 5 years for manufacturer defects. They report that you will get 10 years or 3,000 to 5,000 cycles. Even after that period you will still get 75% to 80% of the battery&#;s rated capacity as it slowly degrades after 10 years. Service is also said to be &#;within 24 hours&#; so it won&#;t be instant and quick like the more prominent brands.
I give this battery a thumbs up. It was my most pleasant surprise in the group as a lesser known brand. Goldenmate is offering our readers a discount on their batteries as well.
If you buy direct from Goldenmate on the button below, you can use code WIRE2FISH to SAVE 30% on their site. Use this code: 786Q9JNH to save 5% on the Amazon link below.
PROS
- Good Price for Lithium power
- Battery performs well
- Great readout and info on battery app
CONS
- Service is &#;within 24 hours&#;
- Warranty is shorter than most at 5 years
BUY AT AMAZON Discount Code: 786Q9JNH
BUY AT GOLDENMATE Discount Code: WIRE2FISH
EVERSTART MARINE
Best Budget Lead Acid Battery
I ran the Walmart Everstart Batteries for more than a decade without a single problem. I had 3 of those 29 series Deep Cycle batteries last me more than 5 years. The fact that you can pay roughly $100 and get a battery to power your stuff for 5 years is a pretty darn good deal in my opinion. I still use an Everstart Marine battery for my cranking battery because all it does is start the boat and run my livewells.
These are simple, no-nonsense lead acid batteries. They will degrade over time and not put out as much power in the latter years. However, they are easy to keep charged if left on a trickle charger or charged right after use. They come with a 2-year, free-replacement warranty. I&#;ve even had them prorated if brought back in year three, which is when they start to degrade. This battery also has 845 MCA to start your outboard. Although it&#;s made specifically for marine deep cycle use.
PROS
- Price is great compared to lithium options
- Familiarity for users of lead acid batteries
- Can be charged by nearly all chargers 12V Chargers
CON
- Shorter lifespan than lithium
- Needs to be charged after every use to prevent early degradation
- Only 2-year warranty
- Battery will reduce in power during the day unlike lithiums
BUY AT WALMART
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING MARINE BATTERIES
When it comes to marine batteries or trolling motor batters, you have your typical 12-volt lead acid batteries, AGM (or Gel Mat) batteries and you have lithium batteries (LiFe PO4). These can be used to start an outboard, power lights and pumps, power multiple electronics and fish finders and run a 12, 24 or 36-volt trolling motor. One of the key components are that the batteries are waterproof. The batteries need to provide ample energy and duration to power your various needs on the boat or kayak and, the batteries need to do so for many years. Obviously there is a tradeoff between price and longevity. When it comes to technologies like lithium batteries, you pay more for service, support and warranty as well as improved information about your battery through bluetooth apps and on-battery displays.
The two main things you need to know before purchasing a marine battery are your budget and your power needs. You can rough estimate some of it. But you can also power to cover your bases. A 12-volt lead acid battery that is a 31 series will have a bit longer run time than a lead acid battery that is a 24 series. They will also generally have more continuous cranking amps to start an outboard multiple times throughout a day of fishing. Likewise, a 12V 160Ah battery is going to be able to run more electronics for a longer period than, say, a 12V 40Ah battery will. Start to game it out by asking yourself simple questions like the following:
- How many graphs do you have? (2 in the front and 2 in the back)?
- How many add on accessories do you have (i.e. Power-Poles, Livescope, Mega 360)?
- How many continuous cranking apps does my outboard recommend?
- How many volts does my trolling motor require?
- How will I be using my trolling motor (i.e. cutting through grass all day or fighting current draws more power)?
When you have a rough idea how much power you draw and how long you draw it you can figure out what setup you need. The best battery manufacturers will provide the best service to help you pick the exact right batteries for your personal setup, not just try to sell you the most expensive battery.
We will also be providing an in-depth guide for choosing the right lithium power options for marine/fishing applications very soon to remove a lot of the myths around lithium power and help you be very comfortable with running lithium batteries. There seems to be as much misinformation out there as correct information and too many people trying to make lithium power work like lead acid batteries work.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS GUIDE
I, along with the other editors at Wired2fish, spent an inordinate amount of time testing all of the batteries in various scenarios, recording their usage and data, monitoring battery behavior over days of use, testing in different boats, kayaks and more. We will be adding a comparison table shortly to quickly look at all the batteries side by side as well. You can trust that we don&#;t just list what&#;s popular.
We only share information on equipment we have used and fished with. There is not a single battery in this guide that we have not used and tested. A lot of other guides might just go off of Amazon sales or something similar. We won&#;t do that. We have spent months testing to put together the best resource for anglers. We want to make sure there is as much hands-on information in real-world applications for anglers to make the best decisions they can on how they spend their money.
The 12V 50Ah comes with a handy app that tells you how each individual cell is doing as well as operating temperature, voltage levels and a lot more! It&#;s one of the better apps for these bluetooth battery options we&#;ve tested. We also got the 10AMP charger for $79. It charges the battery fast enough to be back on the water in about 4 hours.
I keep mine in the YakAttack BackPak Pro Krate along with my Livescope module. I can take the whole crate out and charge and travel with ease. Then I can fasten the crate to my Kayak to keep my battery secure on the water. The ZPRO Lithium 12V 50Ah has been a perfect kayak solution for me.
PROS
- Great size and weight for kayaks
- Great app with lots of information
- Powers graph and add-ons for full long days
- Very good service
CONS
BUY AT ZPRO LITHIUM
PRECISION POWER LITHIUM 12V 100AH
Best Electronics Dedicated Battery
A relative newcomer to the Marine Battery market, the Precision Power has been testing for more than 2 years behind the scenes, putting their battery through every possible scenario through a network of anglers and using that feedback to perfect the control board and algorithms of their lithium battery prior to release. Their engineer has arguably some of the most extensive knowledge and background in lithium power of anyone in the industry. They are moving slowly and cautiously to understand how lithium power is needed in fishing boats and what issues anglers constantly face with power in boats to best address these concerns with the best batteries on the market. Several batteries are in development now that they have done the ground work on what is missing and needed in lithium power for marine applications.
All of this is in an effort to make sure fishermen feel confident they are getting a well made, solid battery at the price. It is IP66 rated for waterproof build. The death knell of lithium power is water. So keeping water off the cells is paramount. Where most folks run into trouble is charging a really cold battery, and the heat builds up condensation inside the battery. These batteries have a slick display panel for the status of the battery and an app on Android. The Apple app is going through final stages of approval.
The batteries have a 5-year full warranty and a 10-year limited warranty. Customer service is what they pride themselves on. Working at all hours of the night to help fishermen make sure they are good to go the next morning for an early tournament. They are also currently developing other options so their lineup will continue to expand after perfecting this first battery for marine electronics&#;their bread and butter knowledge base.
PROS
- Very good engineering (longtime lithium power engineer)
- Lots of application testing
- Outstanding support
CONS
- Newer company
- 5 year full warranty compared to 10 for others
Buy at Precision Sonar
POWERHOUSE LITHIUM 16V 80AH
Most Powerful Electronics Battery / Best Bluetooth App
The voltage is probably what stood out to you on the list, as it should. This is actually a great differentiator and what sets this marine battery apart from its counterparts. This was the first, and one of just a couple, 16V lithium multi-cell marine battery options on the market. While some of you are worried about it blowing up your graphs, it&#;s actually the opposite. Many guys have been powering their Livescope box with jimmy-rigged cordless drill batteries that are 16 volts. Today&#;s modern electronics are power hogs and actually want more than 12-volts. Increased power allows you to have a cleaner image, especially on live imaging and forward-facing technologies.
Terry Brown has been running the PowerHouse Lithium battery system in his boat and raves about how clear and bright his graphs are while fishing all day without any interference or stepping down while the motor is in use. He paired it with a PowerHouse Lithium Run and Gun 16V Charger so he can charge his batteries on the water and off.
PowerHouse Lithium offers good warranties that include full replacement for the first 7 years. At 7-10 years, it is repair or replacement, whichever is necessary. They also offer the only additional extended offer past 10 years where at 11-15 years you can still get a 30% discount on buying your replacement if you are the original owner as a reward for being a loyal customer.
Their service is some of the fastest and preventative in the industry. Their app checks for potential problems on a constant basis with the battery. The app will report a slight degradation in any cell, so you can file a claim and get a replacement quickly BEFORE YOUR BATTERY DIES. You don&#;t even have to send the battery back for verification, you simply send the app screenshot of the cell in question and they ship your replacement, sometimes same day if filed early enough. Customers in Zone 1 or 2 will have a new battery the next day and usually 2-3 days for everyone else. You might not even experience any downtime.
This is another solid brand doing some unique things with lithium marine power.
PROS
- Unique 16V option for cleaner electronics
- Very good customer service
- App has preventative monitoring for issues
- Bonus discounts past 10 year warranty
CONS
BUY AT OMNIA FISHING
RELiON LITHIUM RB 36V 40Ah
Reliable 36V System
These came in late in our testing, so they have not been in our boats as long as some others. I am super impressed with the RELiON 36V 40Ah system. I&#;m currently running the 36V 40Ah battery in parallel with another one and getting 80Ah on my 36V system. These batteries are powerhouses. You get a 38.4V system Wh per battery with a capacity of 40Ah and you can run the system in parallel to double your amp hours.
What many folks don&#;t know is that 36V controllers are made to work in 36V environments and give you way more leeway in one battery degrading your whole system. First, you have to understand in parallel or series systems, when one battery goes down, the whole thing is down. You&#;re only as good as your worst battery.
With a 12V battery you have 4 cells at roughly 3.2V or something like that to get you to 12.8V. So if one of those cells gets close to its shutoff level, the whole battery is dead. This gives you less leeway in that shutoff threshold. However, if you have a 36V system you have a lot more leeway with one cell shutting down the battery. Ultimately, 36V systems in parallel are actually a better choice for anglers than three 12V batteries in a series. Your 12-volt batteries have 12V controllers and are somewhat limited on managing a 36V system. A 36V controller is way better equipped to handle your 36V power environment in each battery and as a system.
The RELiON 36V 40Ah batteries impressed me with their power. I ran a trolling motor the other day on a windy day for about 4 hours. When I got off the water and checked the charge (part of my testing), I had used hardly anything for power. I hooked it up to my 36V 18A Dakota Lithium Charger, and in 8 minutes my batteries were fully charged. Now, granted, a Garmin Force is very good at managing power consumption when on Anchor Lock. I was doing that a lot and used almost nothing out of my RELiON system. I have a lot of examples of this. I&#;m somewhat amazed how little these RELiON batteries have to be charged. An hour on my charger most days, and the system is fully charged again.
It&#;s some of the cleanest power I&#;ve used. This battery is $1,089 which lands it middle of the road for other comparable 36V lithium batteries with similar amp hours. Not the best but not the worst either. They are part of the Navico group so if you&#;re a Lowrance guy, they are being optimized for those systems. They power my Garmin system equally well. Lastly, they don&#;t make chargers so you will need a lithium charger of your own.
PROS
- It manages power consumption very well
- Charges fast as a result
- 36V system option
CONS
- Price is upper range but less than some for comparable batteries
- 7 Year Full Replacement Warranty while several others are 10
BUY AT AMAZON
BUY AT WEST MARINE
IMPULSE LITHIUM
Reliable 36V and 12V options
Wired2fish Associate Editor Sam Hanggi switched over to all lithium batteries a few years ago. Currently he runs the 12.8-volt, 160-amp hour Impulse Lithium as both a cranking battery and to run all five of his graphs. He also runs two 36.8-volt, 40-amp hour Platinum Series Impulse Lithium batteries for his Ghost trolling motor. He charges all of his Impulse Lithium batteries using the Power-Pole Charge.
Not only did he go from 5 lead acid batteries to three lithiums, but he went from 300 pounds to 91 pounds in his battery compartment with these Impulse Lithiums.
He has been testing these batteries for a while. The 12.8V 160Ah Impulse Lithium battery will run 5 graphs, plus Humminbird 360 and Active Target 2 modules, all day for several days before needing to charge. It also has plenty of continuous cranking amps to fire a Mercury 250 PRO XS 4-stroke without fail. They charge quickly and hold a charge well with a good lithium charger.
Impulse Lithium also offers a full, 10-year (non-prorated) warranty on their batteries. Read our full review on Impulse Lithium 12.8V and 36.4V batteries.
PROS
- Proven platform (lots of pros using these)
- Full 10-year warranty
- Good options
CONS
BUY FROM IMPULSE LITHIUM
GOLDENMATE LITHIUM 12V 100Ah
Best Budget Lithium Battery
We took a chance on the Goldenmate battery after seeing it on Amazon. They reached out to us, and we agreed to test it to see if one of these lower priced Amazon batteries was as good as the rest. I have to say, we have been very pleased with this battery thus far, especially at $295 (discount for W2F readers). It has a great digital read out on top, as you charge it. It has a bluetooth app that connected quickly and kept me informed on the battery through my testing. I charged it with a 10A 12V LiFePO4 charger, it charged fast and the charger shut off correctly. We used it as our electronics battery; I was also able to fish 4 trips with it before having to charge it again. So it has a good run time.
I actually expected to have issues as there are so many off-brands on Amazon, that it&#;s sometimes difficult to tell the good ones from the less reputable ones. The Goldenmate Orion has been nothing short of impressive to me. Obviously longevity is the question here as is service. So I will continue testing that more and report back. They use grade A cells, and the warranty is 5 years for manufacturer defects. They report that you will get 10 years or 3,000 to 5,000 cycles. Even after that period you will still get 75% to 80% of the battery&#;s rated capacity as it slowly degrades after 10 years. Service is also said to be &#;within 24 hours&#; so it won&#;t be instant and quick like the more prominent brands.
I give this battery a thumbs up. It was my most pleasant surprise in the group as a lesser known brand. Goldenmate is offering our readers a discount on their batteries as well.
If you buy direct from Goldenmate on the button below, you can use code WIRE2FISH to SAVE 30% on their site. Use this code: 786Q9JNH to save 5% on the Amazon link below.
PROS
- Good Price for Lithium power
- Battery performs well
- Great readout and info on battery app
CONS
- Service is &#;within 24 hours&#;
- Warranty is shorter than most at 5 years
BUY AT AMAZON Discount Code: 786Q9JNH
BUY AT GOLDENMATE Discount Code: WIRE2FISH
EVERSTART MARINE
Best Budget Lead Acid Battery
I ran the Walmart Everstart Batteries for more than a decade without a single problem. I had 3 of those 29 series Deep Cycle batteries last me more than 5 years. The fact that you can pay roughly $100 and get a battery to power your stuff for 5 years is a pretty darn good deal in my opinion. I still use an Everstart Marine battery for my cranking battery because all it does is start the boat and run my livewells.
These are simple, no-nonsense lead acid batteries. They will degrade over time and not put out as much power in the latter years. However, they are easy to keep charged if left on a trickle charger or charged right after use. They come with a 2-year, free-replacement warranty. I&#;ve even had them prorated if brought back in year three, which is when they start to degrade. This battery also has 845 MCA to start your outboard. Although it&#;s made specifically for marine deep cycle use.
PROS
- Price is great compared to lithium options
- Familiarity for users of lead acid batteries
- Can be charged by nearly all chargers 12V Chargers
CON
- Shorter lifespan than lithium
- Needs to be charged after every use to prevent early degradation
- Only 2-year warranty
- Battery will reduce in power during the day unlike lithiums
BUY AT WALMART
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING MARINE BATTERIES
When it comes to marine batteries or trolling motor batters, you have your typical 12-volt lead acid batteries, AGM (or Gel Mat) batteries and you have lithium batteries (LiFe PO4). These can be used to start an outboard, power lights and pumps, power multiple electronics and fish finders and run a 12, 24 or 36-volt trolling motor. One of the key components are that the batteries are waterproof. The batteries need to provide ample energy and duration to power your various needs on the boat or kayak and, the batteries need to do so for many years. Obviously there is a tradeoff between price and longevity. When it comes to technologies like lithium batteries, you pay more for service, support and warranty as well as improved information about your battery through bluetooth apps and on-battery displays.
The two main things you need to know before purchasing a marine battery are your budget and your power needs. You can rough estimate some of it. But you can also power to cover your bases. A 12-volt lead acid battery that is a 31 series will have a bit longer run time than a lead acid battery that is a 24 series. They will also generally have more continuous cranking amps to start an outboard multiple times throughout a day of fishing. Likewise, a 12V 160Ah battery is going to be able to run more electronics for a longer period than, say, a 12V 40Ah battery will. Start to game it out by asking yourself simple questions like the following:
- How many graphs do you have? (2 in the front and 2 in the back)?
- How many add on accessories do you have (i.e. Power-Poles, Livescope, Mega 360)?
- How many continuous cranking apps does my outboard recommend?
- How many volts does my trolling motor require?
- How will I be using my trolling motor (i.e. cutting through grass all day or fighting current draws more power)?
When you have a rough idea how much power you draw and how long you draw it you can figure out what setup you need. The best battery manufacturers will provide the best service to help you pick the exact right batteries for your personal setup, not just try to sell you the most expensive battery.
We will also be providing an in-depth guide for choosing the right lithium power options for marine/fishing applications very soon to remove a lot of the myths around lithium power and help you be very comfortable with running lithium batteries. There seems to be as much misinformation out there as correct information and too many people trying to make lithium power work like lead acid batteries work.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS GUIDE
I, along with the other editors at Wired2fish, spent an inordinate amount of time testing all of the batteries in various scenarios, recording their usage and data, monitoring battery behavior over days of use, testing in different boats, kayaks and more. We will be adding a comparison table shortly to quickly look at all the batteries side by side as well. You can trust that we don&#;t just list what&#;s popular.
We only share information on equipment we have used and fished with. There is not a single battery in this guide that we have not used and tested. A lot of other guides might just go off of Amazon sales or something similar. We won&#;t do that. We have spent months testing to put together the best resource for anglers. We want to make sure there is as much hands-on information in real-world applications for anglers to make the best decisions they can on how they spend their money.
For more information, please visit Stackable Solar Lithium Battery.
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