Upgraded to Lithium Trolling Motor Batteries! Install Process.

Capt. BassinLou · February 11, 2024, 03:32:06 PM

Yep, that's a new battery charger. But this one charges Lithium batteries.

My original TM batteries are not putting out the same power as they use, to.

The new lithium batteries arrive on Tues. So I thought to save time might as well remove the old stuff and install the new charger.

This Noco is bigger than my previous charger. So I had to install it in a different location.

Let's see how it all works once the new batteries arrive. Gulp.

Smallie_Stalker · February 11, 2024, 04:34:30 PM

Nice Lou! I have heard only good things about the NOCO. Looking forward to your thoughts after a few trips out on the water.

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Capt. BassinLou · February 11, 2024, 04:40:44 PM

Quote from: Smallie_Stalker on February 11, 2024, 04:34:30 PMNice Lou! I have heard only good things about the NOCO. Looking forward to your thoughts after a few trips out on the water.

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Thanks, Jim. Went ahead and connected the cranking battery. Charger works!

topdsm0138 · February 11, 2024, 05:47:25 PM

Nice. NOCO is some decent stuff and not too expensive either. I have the single bank one for going on 3yrs now. There's not been one issue out of it.

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big g · February 11, 2024, 06:29:07 PM

Good luck Lou, your going uptown big time with those two new batteries.

J.W. · February 11, 2024, 08:07:56 PM

Lou, I have that same charger but the 4 bank. I like it a lot, but just so you know, if the BMS on a lithium battery trips, the charger may not know what to think. I've had it tell me that the battery was damaged once, and also had it tell me the polarity was reversed on another. I just disconnected everything from the tripped battery and reset the BMS. Once the BMS was reset, they'd charge normally again.

You're gonna love the lithiums, especially when you're lowering them into the bilge.

Quite a weight savings.

Capt. BassinLou · February 12, 2024, 04:30:10 AM

Quote from: J.W. on February 11, 2024, 08:07:56 PMLou, I have that same charger but the 4 bank. I like it a lot, but just so you know, if the BMS on a lithium battery trips, the charger may not know what to think. I've had it tell me that the battery was damaged once, and also had it tell me the polarity was reversed on another. I just disconnected everything from the tripped battery and reset the BMS. Once the BMS was reset, they'd charge normally again.

You're gonna love the lithiums, especially when you're lowering them into the bilge.

Quite a weight savings.

Appreciate that tip! Thank you. As far as the lithium battery. I know how light they are, I have one for my BassHunter boat's trolling motor.

Princeton_Man · February 12, 2024, 05:20:05 AM

Yup, I've been running that same setup for a number of years now (5 I think) and couldn't be happier. I was running three Duracell Group31s, at 75lbs each. replacing two if them with the GyLL Lithiums at 24lbs each lightened my battery load by 100lbs! I'm going to have to use a more expensive lithium when I have to replace my cranking battery, but the upside to it will be getting another 50lbs out of the back.

Excellent upgrade Lou!

Capt. BassinLou · February 12, 2024, 05:52:08 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on February 12, 2024, 05:20:05 AMYup, I've been running that same setup for a number of years now (5 I think) and couldn't be happier. I was running three Duracell Group31s, at 75lbs each. replacing two if them with the GyLL Lithiums at 24lbs each lightened my battery load by 100lbs! I'm going to have to use a more expensive lithium when I have to replace my cranking battery, but the upside to it will be getting another 50lbs out of the back.

Excellent upgrade Lou!

Thanks Jim. Appreciated your help.

Princeton_Man · February 12, 2024, 11:40:22 AM

Quote from: Capt. BassinLou on February 12, 2024, 05:52:08 AM
Quote from: Princeton_Man on February 12, 2024, 05:20:05 AMYup, I've been running that same setup for a number of years now (5 I think) and couldn't be happier. I was running three Duracell Group31s, at 75lbs each. replacing two if them with the GyLL Lithiums at 24lbs each lightened my battery load by 100lbs! I'm going to have to use a more expensive lithium when I have to replace my cranking battery, but the upside to it will be getting another 50lbs out of the back.

Excellent upgrade Lou!

Thanks Jim. Appreciated your help.

I hadn't realized it's been 5 years since I upgraded until replied to your post. I put them in in February 2019. Time sure flies by.

Donald Garner · February 12, 2024, 01:04:56 PM

Lou congrats on the upgrade to the Battery Charging System and those Lithium batteries. This will be a (Brand / Model) that I'll look into when I do the next upgrade on my charging systems.

Question: How long > years are you getting out of your present batteries? I just pulled my old batteries out of my Stratos (3ea) and G3 (2ea) all were bought in the spring of 2019. I noticed that I wasn't getting the power out of them that I should.

I'm still using Walmart 29 series / O'Reily's 31 series brand batteries in both boats. Those prices I've seen on the Lithium batteries are scary. My on board charging system is the Minn Kota Digital (3 bank) system in the Stratos and Minn Kota MK 210D (2 bank) system in the G3.

Capt. BassinLou · February 12, 2024, 03:53:41 PM

Quote from: Donald Garner on February 12, 2024, 01:04:56 PMQuestion: How long > years are you getting out of your present batteries? I just pulled my old batteries out of my Stratos (3ea) and G3 (2ea) all were bought in the spring of 2019. I noticed that I wasn't getting the power out of them that I should.

I got 4.5 years of use out of the batteries. They were the original that came with the boat. Last couple of outings I noticed the TM's power was not the same. I had to put the TM on 80% to get the same feel of 50%. Normally 80% would knock me off the boat. Right now I'm just coasting along. They last the whole outing but they are running under powered.

Capt. BassinLou · February 12, 2024, 03:57:59 PM

Quote from: Donald Garner on February 12, 2024, 01:04:56 PMI'm still using Walmart 29 series / O'Reily's 31 series brand batteries in both boats. Those prices I've seen on the Lithium batteries are scary. My on board charging system is the Minn Kota Digital (3 bank) system in the Stratos and Minn Kota MK 210D (2 bank) system in the G3.

Lithium batteries are can be pretty pricey. I was fortunate to find EG4's on sale for $239 each one. So two 100ah TM batteries, and the charger, came in just under $800. Right now, some brands of lithium batteries, are $800 just for one!

Capt. BassinLou · February 13, 2024, 02:24:39 PM

Yep,,, no going back now! I put a hole on my boat! Me! Gulp!!

But it's for this!

Capt. BassinLou · February 13, 2024, 02:33:24 PM

That was easy.

Capt. BassinLou · February 13, 2024, 02:53:37 PM

The batteries arrived as I was installing the charging port. Should be wrapping this install up today!

Capt. BassinLou · February 13, 2024, 03:58:53 PM

Done! The TM works!! Lol!!

Capt. BassinLou · February 13, 2024, 04:02:14 PM

All systems check! Woohoo! This project is done! Water test on Fri!

Capt. BassinLou · February 13, 2024, 04:05:45 PM

Look at the battery size difference.

apenland01 · February 13, 2024, 05:09:31 PM

I have the same Noco charger, but 10x4. I have 3 X2 and one Ionic lithium, so had to update the charger last year when I added the lithium battery. So far it has been excellent with no issues whatsoever. It's plugged in 24/7 at the lake storage...

Capt. BassinLou · February 14, 2024, 04:28:48 AM

Here's a screenshot of the BMS. Nothing fancy, but it tells you the charging state of the battery. In addition to the volts of each invidual cell.

Capt. BassinLou · February 14, 2024, 05:11:19 AM

For those following this thread, here's my take on my entire battery system swap out experience.

Overall I will say that the job was relatively easy. My only challenge with the project, was removing the bottom left screw on the old battery charger. Very tough angle to get to. Fortunately, I was able to remove it with the help of some needle nose pliers.

Second challenge. But it was mental one, was when I decided to install the AC Port Plug. Having to drill that hole on my boat was scary.

Not the drilling part, just the putting a hole in my boat part.

I checked, re-checked, and then checked again before I drilled.

The only heavy lifting was removing the old batteries. Fortunately I have been hitting the weights pretty consistently, so that part was not a challenge.

However, battery removal is something that everyone should be careful with, because lead batteries are heavy!

I took pictures with my smartphone, before I started the job. I took pictures of every terminal connection, so I had reference of what cable went where on each post.

Fortunately, my Vexus has a lot working room, and deciding where to place the new Noco charger, was easy. The Noco products all come with special screws that made the install process easy.

Once it was time to install the lithium batteries, I made sure to clean up, and vacuum all the aluminum shavings. Back traced my battery removal steps with the help of the pictures, and re-connected the cables on to the new lithium batteries.

Did a systems check, and fortunately everything worked on the first go around.

Installing the BMS app on my phone was pretty easy as well. I went to the company website. Signature Solar. Downloaded the appropriate app, got close to the batteries, established a blue tooth connection, done.

My next step will be a water test later this week, and I will report my findings then.

Thanks for reading!

Princeton_Man · February 14, 2024, 06:14:58 AM

Well done Lou!

Capt. BassinLou · February 14, 2024, 06:35:07 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on February 14, 2024, 06:14:58 AMWell done Lou!

Tx Jim!

Donald Garner · February 14, 2024, 03:29:36 PM

Congrats again on the up grade to your on-board charging system and the upgrade to those Lithium Batteries. Your on-board charging cord adapter looks good also.

Yep Drilling holes in your boat is not a fun thing to do.