Will a LiFePO4 battery burn out a trolling motor?

[Yazman]

Hey all. I have a Watersnake ASP T24 trolling motor (24lbs thrust) that I use a SLA 12v 35ah battery on. It doesn't last long, and I'd like to use a LiFePO4 battery to get more range. 

 

However, I emailed the manufacturer, and they said, "We do not recommend the use of lithium batteries. Lithium batteries can output and maintain higher voltages which can cause damage to the motor."

 

I see tons of videos of guys using LiFePO4 batteries on this motor without any problem. Are they just taking a chance? Is there some voltage regulator I need to buy? The lithium batteries state 12.8v as the "nominal voltage," but 14.4v as the "charge voltage." The former would be fine, but the latter seems too high. I've also heard lithium batteries drop voltage when they're not charging. Could I just wait for the lithium battery to drop to 13v before I use it?

 

I'm very confused by all of this. Please help.

[schplurg]

Sounds like hogwash to me. If not get a new motor because the one you have must be poo.

 

Maybe someone here will correct me so don't go by my advice only but it sounds completely false.

[Smalls]

There's... a lot to break down here, and I'm gonna try to not cramp my thumbs. 

 

Short answer is that unless you're pushing your motor full blast for an extensive amount of time, your motor will be fine.

 

Lifepo4's charge to 14.4v, and have a resting voltage of 13.6v,. The battery will also maintain 13v+ until its at 80% discharge. 

 

Basically, running at full power, a normal battery will lose voltage and die before your motor starts smoking. Who really knows where the point of damage lies. But even with 150ah Lifepo4's, I've never once heard of anybody actually damaging their motor.

 

Could it potentially cause damage? Yeah, I guess. Will it most likely, almost certainly be fine? Yes.

 

 

 

 

[Yazman]

12 minutes ago, Smalls said:

There's... a lot to break down here, and I'm gonna try to not cramp my thumbs. 

 

Short answer is that unless you're pushing your motor full blast for an extensive amount of time, your motor will be fine.

 

Lifepo4's charge to 14.4v, and have a resting voltage of 13.6v,. The battery will also maintain 13v+ until its at 80% discharge. 

 

Basically, running at full power, a normal battery will lose voltage and die before your motor starts smoking. Who really knows where the point of damage lies. But even with 150ah Lifepo4's, I've never once heard of anybody actually damaging their motor.

 

Could it potentially cause damage? Yeah, I guess. Will it most likely, almost certainly be fine? Yes.

 

 

 

 

Thanks! I do worry because I plan on trolling for a few hours at a time. I only have 2 speeds, so I do tend to keep it cranked on high for quite a long time (low speed is way too slow). I only paid $80 used for my unit, so I guess it's not the end of the world if I do happen to fry it!

 

Now to find a 30-50ah LiFePO4 that doesn't cost so much that my wife will stab me...

[Smalls]

6 minutes ago, Yazman said:

Now to find a 30-50ah LiFePO4

You'll never even come close to damaging anything with that size range. 

 

More affordable quality options are slowly but surely coming to the market. Ampere Time and Miyady are two Amazon offerings that have been highly recommended 

[Yazman]

22 hours ago, Smalls said:

You'll never even come close to damaging anything with that size range. 

 

More affordable quality options are slowly but surely coming to the market. Ampere Time and Miyady are two Amazon offerings that have been highly recommended 

Those are the two I actually have in my Amazon cart. Glad you hear they're recommended. Thanks!

[slonezp]

If the manufacturer hasn't tested their motor on lithium batteries then they will not ok them for use.