Battery selection is essential, especially when it comes to your boat. When deciding on your next trolling motor battery, it could mean the difference between the battery failing and having a great fishing trip with no interruptions. Your bass boat needs reliable marine batteries, as they are necessary for both starting and running. Not all batteries serve the same purpose, however - some are intended specifically for producing cranking power for engine startups and others are used exclusively for running your trolling motor.
Curious about trolling motor batteries and want to learn more? We’ve put together the most frequently asked questions around lithium batteries for trolling motors.
How many trolling motor batteries do I need?
The number of batteries you need depends on your trolling motor voltage. RELiON offers 12-Volt, 24-Volt, and 36V lithium batteries. If you have a 12-Volt trolling motor, then you can choose from several 12-Volt options. If you have a 24-Volt motor, you can use 2 12-Volt batteries in series or a single 24-Volt battery and if you have a 36-Volt motor you can use 3 12-Volt batteries in series or a single 36-Volt battery.
36V Trolling Motor Series Wiring Diagram:
36V Trolling Motor Parallel Wiring Diagram:
Which Lithium Battery Should I Use For My Trolling Motor?
Which lithium battery you need for your trolling motor depends on what size of trolling system you are running. Trolling motors come in 12V, 24V, and 36V power configurations.
12V Trolling Motor Setup
RELiON offers several 12-Volt battery options to choose from. The most common models are; RB52, RB75, RB80 and RB100, which are 50Ah, 75Ah, 80Ah and 100Ah, respectively. To get the same runtime as a wet or AGM lead-acid battery, use a lithium battery that is 60% the capacity of that lead-acid battery. If you want more time on the water, size up from there.
Example: 60Ah RELiON lithium battery = 100Ah lead-acid battery
24V Trolling Motor Setup
If you have a 24V trolling motor system, you can either go with pairing up a couple of 12V batteries in series, or getting a single 24V battery that can save space and weight on the boat. RELiON recommends one of our 24V LiFePO4 batteries like the RB24V40 or RB24V52 to go with your 24V trolling motor.
36V Trolling Motor Setup
If you have a 36V trolling motor system, you can either go with pairing three 12V batteries in series, or getting a single 36V battery. The convenience of not having to carry the extra batteries can be a real difference maker on the water. RELiON has the perfect 36V trolling motor battery in the RB36V40. This powerful lithium battery is easy to install, is IP67 certified, and can easily be seized up by connecting multiple RB36V40's in parallel.
Are RELiON lithium batteries a drop-in replacement to my lead-acid battery?
RELiON offers the standard size batteries; Group 24, Group 27 and Group 31.
Do I need to use a lithium starter battery if my trolling motor batteries are lithium?
No, you can use a lead-acid starter battery with your lithium trolling motor batteries.
Does RELiON offer a lithium starter battery?
RELiON has a RB100-HP, which is a Group 31 dual-purpose battery that can be used for starting.
What type of charger should I use for my deep cycle lithium batteries?
We recommend you use a multi-bank charger so that each 12-Volt battery can be charged separately to ensure they stay balanced and get fully charged. Ideally, use a charger with a lithium charge profile, however, most AGM charge profiles will work just fine.
Do I need to charge my batteries each time I use them?
Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries do not get damaged if they sit partially discharged for extended periods of time. However, we do recommend you charge them after each use to ensure you have the maximum runtime available, every time you use your boat.
To learn more about how to calculate your energy needs and find the optimal battery for your application and usage, visit our Lithium Battery Selector Tool.
Have other questions about RELiON's trolling motor batteries? Check out more of our common FAQs here or contact us.