Lithium battery question

[TriStateBassin106]

This year i'm purchasing a new lithium battery for my 55lb minn kota to replace my old lead acid battery, with this new purchase do I have to also buy a new charger? I'm currently using the minn kota portable charger to charge all my current batteries. will that also work with the lithium? I'm new to lithium batteries so I personally have no idea. thanks! 

[LonnieP]

No it won’t work. For Minn Kota, you have to use the Precision charger for Lithium. I use a Noco Genius and it works well.

[MN Fisher]

It should be clearly marked on the charger if it's lithium compatible - as well as a switch (pushbutton) to change modes.

 

Like Lonnie - I've got a NOCO Genius so when I upgrade from AGM to Lithium I'm already set with a charger.

 

[HenryPF]

On 2/13/2024 at 3:47 PM, LonnieP said:

No it won’t work. For Minn Kota, you have to use the Precision charger for Lithium. I use a Noco Genius and it works well.

Minn Kota says otherwise

 

https://minnkota-help.johnsonoutdoors.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413522095895-Charging-Lithium-Batteries#ChargerCompatibility

 

12V lithium-based (LiFePO4) batteries can be charged with Minn Kota Digital, PC or PCL chargers. Unless his charger is ancient, the only portable charger on Minn Kota's site is digital.

[gim]

The charger itself should indicate what type of battery can be used. Either that or the box/manual that came with the charger.

 

I don’t have a minnkota charger but mine specifically say “Lead acid or AGM battery use only” right on the charger.

[TriStateBassin106]

1 hour ago, HenryPF said:

Minn Kota says otherwise

 

https://minnkota-help.johnsonoutdoors.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413522095895-Charging-Lithium-Batteries#ChargerCompatibility

 

12V lithium-based (LiFePO4) batteries can be charged with Minn Kota Digital, PC or PCL chargers. Unless his charger is ancient, the only portable charger on Minn Kota's site is digital.

This is my charger, bought in 2021 mk 110 portable 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

This is my charger, bought in 2021 mk 110 portable 

And it's not Lithium rated - from the info page

"Battery Type 12v AGM, 12v Flooded Lead Acid"

 

https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/battery-chargers/portable-chargers

[TriStateBassin106]

42 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

And it's not Lithium rated - from the info page

"Battery Type 12v AGM, 12v Flooded Lead Acid"

 

https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/battery-chargers/portable-chargers

Figured that, anyone know of any good 12v lithium chargers around the 100 dollar price range? 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

Figured that, anyone know of any good 12v lithium chargers around the 100 dollar price range? 

If you only got the one battery to charge - the NOCO Genius 5x1 is on sale on Amazon for $70

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GENIUS5-Fully-Automatic-Temperature-Compensation/dp/B07W8KJH44

 

I run the 5x2 for my 100ah trolling battery and the 35ah 'house' battery (runs everything else)

[LonnieP]

4 hours ago, HenryPF said:

Minn Kota says otherwise

 

https://minnkota-help.johnsonoutdoors.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413522095895-Charging-Lithium-Batteries#ChargerCompatibility

 

12V lithium-based (LiFePO4) batteries can be charged with Minn Kota Digital, PC or PCL chargers. Unless his charger is ancient, the only portable charger on Minn Kota's site is digital.

I had a Minn Kota Digital charger before I switched to Lithium. I was told by the owner of the battery company that it wouldn’t work for Lithium batteries 

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

Figured that, anyone know of any good 12v lithium chargers around the 100 dollar price range? 

noco genius 10 single bank runs $100. The genius 5x1 is about $70. If you need to charge two at a time, then it’s $140 for the genius 5x2.

[Tennessee Boy]

Most LifePo4 battery sellers state that their batteries can be charged by a standard charger in AGM mode.  It’s complicated and depends on the specific battery and specific charger.

[WRB]

Deep cycle Marine battery applies to Lithium also, avoid general use.

The reason a charger needs to be higher charging voltage for faster charging a deep cycle Marine Lithium Battery.

Good brands are Ionic and Dakota. IMO a 50 AH 12VDC will run the op’s TM, 100 AH for a weekend  or windy and current usage.

Tom

 

[HenryPF]

From Minn Kota themselves -

 

In cases where a Lithium battery type is not available, manufacturers may recommend using the AGM setting.

 

The manufacturer of his battery charger will say it will work, how is this being debated?.

 

 

[gim]

6 minutes ago, HenryPF said:

The manufacturer of his battery charger will say it will work, how is this being debated?.

 

Click on the link below, then go to "features."  At the bottom it clearly says 

 

• Supported Battery Types: 12v AGM, 12v Flooded Lead Acid

https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/battery-chargers/portable-chargers

[mcipinkie]

Yes/No/Maybe.

 

Suggest you contact Andy Council at Drewcraft.  He can give you the "real" answer, not something written by the company attorneys. Steered me in the right direction and saved me a bunch of money that I would have paid him.

 

Ionic rep, but extremely knowledgeable.

 

Too many "experts" on line.  Andy is the real deal.

[TnRiver46]

If you’d like to avoid all these thoughts/issues/debates, you could always use a regular battery. They still work 

 

I may be crazy but we can fish sunrise to sunset as long as I remember to charge the battery 😂 

[Jig Man]

I just had a lithium battery installed for a house battery to run some electronics.  The battery company said use a 10 amp charger.  I have a MK single 10 amp Precision.  It is working on the agm setting but when monitored by the electronic guy he thought it wasn’t functioning 100% so he called MK.  They recommended getting a new charger.

[Tennessee Boy]

28 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

It is working on the agm setting but when monitored by the electronic guy he thought it wasn’t functioning 100% so he called MK.  They recommended getting a new charger.

Did your electronics stop working?  What was the issue?

[gim]

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

It is working on the agm setting

Personally, if I have a charger that only has a lead acid or AGM setting, I am only using a lead acid or AGM battery with it. I don’t care what anyone on a forum says. If you want a charger that works with a lithium battery, buy one that that specifically indicates it can be used with one. Not one that that only has AGM or lead acid setting.

 

Its not a difficult concept.

[Jig Man]

The issue had to do with charging sequence lights.  Both the distributor and MK said that battery would be fine on the agm setting.

 

 I am waiting for the new charger just to be on the safe side.

[HenryPF]

So on research for this charger issue I spent some time looking it up - some (guessing here) lithium batteries require 14.6volts to charge the battery to 100%. It seems some chargers only output 14.2v like the Minn Kota Precision chargers (their top of the line ones)

 

I would follow mcipinkie advise and contact Andy Council at Drewcraft.

 

I did order a $159 lipo i posted on this forum to screw with and I have a pure lithium only charger and a MK210D laying around and to play with to see the charging rates, etc.

 

 

 

[FishTank]

On 2/15/2024 at 11:49 AM, WRB said:

Deep cycle Marine battery applies to Lithium also, avoid general use.

The reason a charger needs to be higher charging voltage for faster charging a deep cycle Marine Lithium Battery.

Good brands are Ionic and Dakota. IMO a 50 AH 12VDC will run the op’s TM, 100 AH for a weekend  or windy and current usage.

Tom

 

 

I just used my LiTime 100A battery for the first time. I have a 55lb thrust GPS Motor Guide. I fished for about 6 hours in heavy wind and used it the whole time I was out, especially the spot lock. I only used 25% of the battery. My previous lead acid batteries might not last a full 8 hours for me.

 

I have been using a NOCO 10AH charger. Works great. I even used it to bring an old battery back to life. 

 

[BucksBasser]

On 2/19/2024 at 8:38 AM, HenryPF said:

So on research for this charger issue I spent some time looking it up - some (guessing here) lithium batteries require 14.6volts to charge the battery to 100%. It seems some chargers only output 14.2v like the Minn Kota Precision chargers (their top of the line ones)

 

I would follow mcipinkie advise and contact Andy Council at Drewcraft.

 

I did order a $159 lipo i posted on this forum to screw with and I have a pure lithium only charger and a MK210D laying around and to play with to see the charging rates, etc.

 

 

 

 

Correct.  I'm a retired EE with a lot of Lithium battery experience.

While yo can charge LiFePo batteries with regular lead acid chargers, you won't get a full charge or get the best life from the battery.