How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Trolling Motor
The capacity of a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery for a trolling motor depends on several factors, such as the thrust of the motor, the desired runtime, and the weight and size of the battery.
Choose The Right Type of Battery for Your Trolling Motor
As a general guideline, a LiFePO4 battery with a capacity of 50-100 Ah should be sufficient for most trolling motors in the range of 30 to 55 pounds of thrust.
LiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
【Grade A Lithium Battery & 10 Years Lifetime】LiTime lithium iron batteries have exceptional quality since they are manufactured by Automotive Grade LiFePO4 Cells with higher energy density, more stable performance & greater power.
【100% Top Protection】LiTime LiFePO4 battery has built-in 100A BMS to protect it from overcharging, over-discharging, over-current, overheating, and short circuits with excellent self-discharge rate, ensuring the LiFePO4 battery's safety level and optimize the 12V battery performance. Our battery is IP65 waterproof, setting you free from worrying to install indoors or outdoors.
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For motors in the range of 55 to 80 pounds of thrust, a battery with a capacity of 100-150 Ah would be appropriate.
LiTime 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
【Automotive Grade Lithium Battery】LiTime 12V 200Ah Lithium Batteries have superior quality since it is manufactured by Automotive Grade LiFePO4 Cells with higher energy density, more stable performance & greater power.
【1/3* Lightweight】LiTime 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Battery weighs only 48.28 lbs, compared to lead-acid batteries, lithium battery provides 56Wh/lb energy density, and only 1/3* the weight of the lead-acid battery, which makes it easier to install or move. It is a perfect upgrade for any 12V Deep Cycle battery. This makes Lithium batteries perfect for solar homes, RVs, campers, motor homes, and off-grid applications.
【Flexible Capacity Expansion】LiTime Lithium Battery can be connected in parallel and series for larger capacity and higher voltage.
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For motors in the range of 80 to 100 pounds of thrust, a battery with a capacity of 150-200 Ah would be suitable.
LiTime 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery is suitable for you.
【Max. 40.96kW Capacity Expansion& 61.44kWh Output Energy】LiTime 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 Battery has 3840Wh energy and supports 2560W load power. And this Lithium Battery also can be connected 4 in parallel &4 in series for a larger 40.96kW Capacity Expansion. Allow being extended up to 4P4S to get a 48V (51.2V) 1200Ah Lithium battery bank and get the max. 61.44kWh energy (4P4S) that could be widely used for solar homes emergency backup power, off-grid systems, RV campers, and solar system.
【Grade A Qualified Cells&Safety 200A BMS】LiTime 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 batteries have exceptional quality since they are manufactured by Automotive Grade LiFePO4 Cells with higher energy density, more stable performance & greater power. Highest-level safety based on UL Testing Certificate for the cell inside the battery and built-in 200A BMS to protect the LiFePO4 Battery from overcharge, over-discharge, over current, and short circuit with excellent self-discharge rate. 100% safe, renewable energy.
【100% Cleaner Energy & Save 1/2 Power Fees】LiTime 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 battery provides 4000-15000 cycles times and 3840Wh energy, which means our 300Ah LiFePO4 battery produces 15360kWh (3840Wh*4000 cycles times=15360kWh) in its 10-year lifespan.
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For larger trolling motors with a thrust of 200 to 300 pounds, a LiFePO4 battery with a capacity of 200-300 Ah would be required to provide sufficient power and runtime.
LiTime 12V 400Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery With 250A BMS, 5120Wh Usable Energy is your best choice.
【1/3 Lightweight & 10-year Lifetime】 LiTime LiFePO4 battery can run 4000-15000 cycles (10-year lifetime), which is quite superior to lead acid batteries with 200~500 cycles (3-year lifetime). Plus, our 12V 400Ah lithium-ion battery weighs 86.2 lbs, only 1/3 the weight of a lead acid battery at the same capacity. Besides, our lithium battery case is IP65-level waterproof, and you can move it by grabbing the handles on both sides, which will set you free from worrying to install indoors or outdoors.
【100% Protection from 250A BMS】 LiTime 12V 400Ah LiFePO4 battery has built-in 250A BMS (Battery Management System) to protect it from overcharge, over-discharge, over-current (250A), over temp (167 °F) and short circuit. Without memory effect, no matter what state the battery is, it can be used as soon as it is charged.
【3200W Power & Fast Charging】 With a 3200W high load power, our 12V 400Ah lithium battery is perfect for RV, marine, boat, fishing, camping, solar home, trolling motor, and off-grid applications. It can realize 100% SOC & DOD, providing astronomical boosts in lifetime compared with lead-acid batteries. A 12V 80A/40A lithium battery charger is recommended; the lithium battery will be fully charged within 5hrs/10hrs.
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It is important to note that the actual runtime of the motor will depend on various factors such as the speed, the weight of the boat, the wind and current conditions, and the efficiency of the motor. It is always advisable to choose a LiFePO4 battery with a slightly higher capacity than your estimated requirement to ensure that you have enough power for your needs.
Battery Recommendations
The higher the amp-hour rating, the more run time you will receive. When using lithium batteries, you want to ensure the battery provides enough continuous discharge amperage to run the motor at its max amp draw. If you are having any issues with your trolling motor and you are using Lithium batteries, verify you have enough continuous amperage available for the motor to pull its max amp draw. The chart below shows the max amp draw by motor thrust.
| Trolling Motor Thrust/Model | Required Continuous Discharge Amperage |
| 30 lb. | 30 |
| 40 lb., 45 lb. | 42 |
| 50 lb., 55 lb. | 50 |
| 70 lb. | 42 |
| 80 lb. | 56 |
| 101 lb. | 46 |
| Engine Mount 101 | 50 |
| 112 lb. | 52 |
| Engine Mount 160 | 116 |
| E-drive | 40 |
| Talon Shallow Water Anchor | 30 |
| Raptor Shallow Water Anchor | 70 |
Note: A starting battery is not suitable for use with an electric trolling motor.
Battery Types
For many years, the "traditional" (lead-acid, AGM) batteries are the most popular trolling motor batteries but if you’ve been in the market for new trolling motor batteries recently you may have noticed some changes to what’s available in the market. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) marine batteries are becoming a more common option for powering trolling motors, fish finders, and other accessories. You can learn more about What Are LiFePO4 Batteries & Why They Are the Best in our recent blog.
If you plan to keep your boat and trolling motor system long-term, LiFePO4 Lithium could prove to be a smart investment. With up to 10-year wlife span the total cost of ownership may come out to be a wash vs. re-buying flooded batteries in the same time period.
Anyway, our choice will depend on your budget, your installation specifications, and your priorities.
Lead Acid
Lead acid batteries are the most affordable option. Depending on quality, lead acid batteries will last between 2-3 years. The downside of lead acid batteries is that they require occasional maintenance – topping off the water – and they are also prone to vibration and spillage.
AGM Batteries
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) Batteries are a type of lead acid battery that is completely sealed, generally, last longer on a charge, and typically has a longer life span. While a traditional deep-cycle battery might last approximately 2-3 years, an AGM deep-cycle battery can last up to three or four years. AGM's cost more than standard lead acid wet-cell batteries – up to 2x more – and may not be an option for those on a tight budget.
LiFePO4 Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries are starting to become more and more popular for a variety of reasons:
- Extremely Lightweight - For smaller boats and boats where weight can be a considerable factor, lithium batteries offer a 70% average reduction in weight compared to traditional batteries.
- Significantly Longer Battery Life - LiFePO4 Lithium batteries can last up to 10 years whereas lead acid wet-cell and AGM batteries have an average life span of 2-4 years. Even though there is a higher up-front cost for lithium batteries, they can save you money in the long run. If you calculate the cost of replacing your batteries every 2-3 years as opposed to every 10 years with lithium, you'll most likely be spending less on batteries.
- 100% Depth of Discharge - This essentially means that you'll have full power regardless of the level of charge.
- More Power - Due to the consistent, sudden fluctuation in speeds, trolling motors require a fair amount of cranking torque (aka thrust). Lithium batteries supply more power due to their negligible voltage drop when rapid acceleration is required.
- Smaller size: Not only are lithium batteries lighter, but they also take up less space, which means a lot for boats.
It’s important to note that no matter what battery type you choose, you’ll want to make sure you find a “deep cycle” battery. This will be clearly labeled and all it really means is that the battery was designed for using smaller amounts of energy over longer periods of time. LiTime LiFePO4 lithium batteries are all deep cycle batteries that half the wight of traditional batteries while 4 times the energy. Choose from LiTime 12V series LiFePO4 lithium battery for your trolling motors
“Deep Cycle” isn’t terminology you will always find when shopping for Lithium marine batteries, but essentially all LiFePO4 batteries are designed to operate this way.
How Long Does a LiFePO4 Battery Last on a Trolling Motor?
It depends. Every battery and trolling motor is slightly different, and there are many different variables that may influence how long your battery is going to last.
Because of these variables, the same battery may run your trolling motor for a given amount of time on one boating trip and for a completely different amount of time on another trip.
Here are some factors that may impact the run time of a liFEPO4 lithium battery on a Trolling Motor:
Amp Hours
One of the most important numbers when figuring lithium battery run time is the amp hours, or Ah. It shows the amount of amperage the battery could supply over a given time period. How long the battery lasts depends on how many amps your trolling motor is consistently drawing from the battery. The lower the amp draw, the longer the battery will last.
Battery Size
If you buy a small battery to fit in your kayak, for example, it isn’t going to give you as much run time as a larger battery would. That said, a kayak-sized trolling motor will probably draw less power from the battery, which may increase its charge life.
Battery Type
There are four main types of marine batteries: lead-acid, AGM, gel, and LiFePO4 lithium. Of these types, lithium batteries generally last the longest while lead-acid batteries typically need more frequent recharging.
Battery Life Span
Regardless of the type of battery, it will lose its ability to hold a charge over time. Older batteries tend to develop internal resistance that makes them more difficult to charge, and when in use, they may discharge more quickly.
If you have an older battery, you can expect that it won’t last as long as it did when it was newer. The problem will only get worse, so it may be a good idea to keep a battery charger on board your boat, just in case the battery dies sooner than you’re expecting.
LiTime LiFePO4 lithium batteries has more than 10 years life span which saves you big over time.
Maintenance
Some battery types require more maintenance than others, but all types should be properly cleaned and cared for between uses. LiTime LiFePO4 lithium batteries are maintenance-free, however, there is still something that should take attention.
See also: Things You Should Know When Using LiFePO4 Batteries
Weather Conditions
Operating your trolling motor in extreme temperatures, high winds, and choppy waters will force your battery to work harder, thus causing it to discharge faster.
Boat Size
A larger, heavier boat will take more power to push through the water than a small, lightweight boat. More draw on the battery will lead to a quicker discharge.
If you have a larger boat, it’s a good idea to invest in a battery with a higher amp hour rating. A large boat will be able to support the additional size and weight, and you’ll be able to spend more time out on the water, doing what you love.
Usage
If you are using a single battery for more than just your trolling motor, it will discharge more quickly because multiple sources will be drawing from it.
For example, if you’re running your trolling motor and fishfinder off the same battery, neither device will last as long as it would on its own. Both are drawing from the battery simultaneously, so the battery will run out of power sooner than it would power only one device.
Finding the right batteries for your fishing boat can be a tough task, but when armed with the right information it doesn’t have to be.
Additional Battery Tips
Never mix battery types or old batteries with new batteries.
Charge batteries as soon as possible after each use – leaving batteries in a discharged state will decrease their longevity and performance.
Store batteries in a cool, dry place in the off-season and maintain a trickle charge.
