The running time of a lithium trolling motor battery before needing a recharge depends on several factors, including the capacity (amp hours) of the battery, the power draw of the trolling motor, and other electrical demands on the battery. To determine the running time of your battery, you will need to consider these factors and do some calculations.
The capacity of a battery is measured in amp hours (Ah). It refers to the amount of energy a battery can store and deliver over a specific period of time. A higher capacity battery will have a longer running time compared to a battery with a lower capacity.
Note that epoch lifepo4 batteries have a 100% depth of discharge meaning all 100Ah is usable. Typically, lead acid batteries have a ~50% depth of discharge and deep discharges can damage that battery, lithium has no memory effect so can repeatedly discharge up to 100%.
The power draw of the trolling motor is the amount of energy it requires to run. This is usually measured in watts or amps. You can find the specifications of your trolling motor's power draw from the manufacturer's manual or online. In most scenarios, professional fisherman average about a 30% power setting. Trolling in a high flow current would likely require a higher power consumption.
We’ve included the following table provided by Garmin to help determine what your power draw might be:
In addition to the power draw of the trolling motor, other electrical demands on the battery can also impact its running time. This includes other electronics on board such as lights, fish finders, and other appliances. To accurately determine the running time of your battery, you will need to add up all the electrical demands on the battery.
To determine the running time of your lithium trolling motor battery, you will need to do some calculations. Here's an example:
Suppose your battery has a capacity of 100Ah and the power draw of your trolling motor is 20 amps. To calculate the running time in hours, divide the capacity of the battery by the power draw of the trolling motor:
100Ah / 20A = 5 hours
This means that, under ideal conditions, the battery will run for 5 hours before needing a recharge. However, this calculation does not account for other electrical demands on the battery.
Suppose you also have a light that draws 5 amps and a fish finder that draws 2 amps. To account for these other electrical demands, you will need to add them to the power draw of the trolling motor:
20 amps + 5 amps + 2 amps = 27 amps
Next, divide the capacity of the battery by the total power draw:
100Ah / 27A = 3.703 hours
This means that, with the other electrical demands on the battery, it will run for just about 3 hours and 42 minutes before needing a recharge if you were using this power draw continuously.
Many of our customers can comfortably run their trolling motor and other accessories for a full day fishing trip with our 50Ah models. With our 100Ah models, many customers report 2 or more full days of fishing before needing a recharge.
Determining the running time of a lithium trolling motor battery before needing a recharge requires taking into consideration the capacity of the battery, the power draw of the trolling motor, and other electrical demands on the battery. By doing some calculations, you can get a good estimate of the running time of your battery and plan accordingly for your boating or fishing trips.
It is important to note that the actual running time may vary depending on conditions such as temperature, battery chemistry, and other factors. To ensure the best performance from your battery, it is recommended to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for charging and maintenance.
