Wally West Loc: SW Nebraska

Need some advice. I have a 24 volt Minn-Kota Ulterra trolling motor (absolutely love it). A pair of batteries will last a little over a season before they start running down, from a full charge, in a couple hours. They are hooked up to an on-board charger when not in use. A season is 100-130 trips. Is this what I am to expect? Or are there batteries available that would give me better longevity?

Ron620DVS Loc: Guntersville Alabama

The lifetime of your batteries will also be influenced by their typical depth of discharge. A battery that most frequently reaches 50% depth of discharge will last longer than a battery that is often pushed to a greater depth of discharge. However, at the same time, repeated shallow discharge (5-10%) of a deep cycle battery also contributes to shortened lifespans.

Ron620DVS Loc: Guntersville Alabama

How to Charge a Deep Cycle Battery 🔋


https://www.minnkotamotors.com/blog/article/how-charge-deep-cycle-battery

🎣

Wally West Loc: SW Nebraska

Yeah, I use the heck out of them. I'll usually run them down to 25-30% on a typical outing. I'm spending around $110-$120 per battery. Was wondering if there was a particular battery that would be best a 24- volt system. Thanks for your input, appreciate it

Jeremy Loc: America

Lead Acid batteries don’t like being discharged passed 11 volts without causing sulphate on the lead inside the batteries. So a 24V system if it’s 2 12v batteries in series you probably don’t want to get much lower than 22 ( no load ) . The best would probably be 4 6v batteries but they take more space.

Lithium batteries are the really good stuff now..... but expensive. If you were to compare them to lead acid. A lead acid battery excepts charge like a sponge with a hose being sprayed towards it. Lithium is like a Mylar ( no pores ) balloon being blown up when charged . Lithium is very expensive but very effective and much more efficient. If you could have solar panels on a boat the batteries would last even longer because you wouldn’t be using any power they are producing. Most really nice boats these days have solar panels now. There is also desulphating procedural maintenance on lead acid batteries. I build portable inverter / battery power systems at work. There is also different ways to route the conductors to extend battery life big time especially if several batteries are being used in parallel / series

Raw Dawg Ron Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Are you using deep cycle batteries, they take discharges better and trickle charge to last longer! Fast charge tends shorten the batteries life.

doc alden

You told us what kind of trolling motor you have, but you haven't told us anything about the batteries. That would be more helpful since they're the problem, not the motor. For instance, are they automotive batteries, marine batteries or deep cycle batteries? There's a difference!

Wally West Loc: SW Nebraska

As far as I know the onboard charger has a trickle charge & the batteries are deep cycle & the correct group number for the motor, 27 if I remember right. Don't remember the amps, etc.

doc alden

If they're deep cycle they should last much more than one year. Your batteries should say 'Deep Cycle' somewhere on the label. If it says 'Marine Battery' it may or may not be a deep cycle. Here's some information; it's a short, but informative, article.

https://sciencing.com/marine-vs-deep-cycle-battery-5606295.html

Here's another, somewhat longer article about RV deep cycle batteries, which are the same as deep cycle batteries for trolling motors.

https://koa.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-rv-batteries/

Wally West Loc: SW Nebraska

Thanks Doc, Jeremy, Ron & Ron. Haven't read the articles yet Doc. Hopefully they'll give me the info I'm looking for. Yeah I was expecting a set of batteries to last 2-3 years and was suprised when they were lasting only a year. Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it

Kowalski

There just ain't a cheap way to run trolling batteries. If you get 100 trips a year, the batteries probably don't owe you a thing. You've been well served.

Wally West Loc: SW Nebraska

Point taken sir. Thanks

Salmoneater22 Loc: I live in S.E. Washington state.

I agree, a couple bucks a trip ain't bad.

fishinphil

i'd spring for an optima battery...deep cycle marine, of course. Might be a few bucks more than you think, but its life span will make you happy in the long run.

Ron620DVS Loc: Guntersville Alabama

I have ran Optima battery’s for years. Been very pleased with them plus much lighter in weight.