Bass pro lithium batteries

[aceman387]

This spring I rigged up a 36 lb thrust trolling motor ( Newport vessel )with a 24 inch shaft on my ride 115 kayak.I opted go with Bps Tl160 (60 amp hour) lithium battery instead of a much heavier wet cell option. I took the new set up out today for a trial run ( little over3 hrs) with the new motor on the lowest setting most of the time and maybe the last 20 minutes or so on the highest setting to get back to my truck because a storm front was moving in. The battery seemed to work flawlessly on this initial run but when I got back home and placed it on my new lithium charger it showed one bar. I was wondering if that is what’s to be expected out of a lithium this size or should I take it back and grab another while I still have my 30 day exchange still available ?

[Bankc]

By my calculations, you shouldn't have used more than 30Ah, or half the battery.  That's assuming that Newports publication that that motor draws 30 amps max and each speed below halves the current draw (like it does on my Minn Kota). Did you fully charge the battery before going out?  How long before?  Lithium batteries will eat power if they're just sitting there, doing nothing.  They (should) have a BMS circuit that constantly monitors the battery, and that'll suck power even if its not plugged in.  It's also possible that the charger doesn't know how to read the power left in the battery.  They're really hard to get an accurate measurement from unless you have a circuit installed that counts the amps while it's running.  

 

There could be a problem, but it's hard to tell.  I wouldn't trust the bars on the charger too much.  The only real way to know if the battery has a problem is to hook it up to a load with a consistent power draw, and time how long it takes until the battery drops below 12 volts.  

[aceman387]

It could be my fault because the battery was last charged probably 10 days ago or longer.Is it best to leave the battery on the charger all the time ? The charger I bought was a Noco Genius 5.

[Smalls]

LiFePo4 batteries have a self discharge rate of around 5% a month, you really shouldn't have to leave them on a charger. 

[RobiB]

I have a Lithium Hub Ionic battery which I am charging with a Noco Genius.  The charger always starts on one bar.  The Ionic battery has Bluetooth connectivity with a phone app,  you are able to get continuous readout on the status of the battery in great detail.  I am able to  get the exact charge status, even when only 10% discharged the NoCo starts on one bar.  I would assume your battery would be the same.