All About The Batteries

Below you will find the answers to the questions we get asked the most on RELiON trolling motor batteries.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many RELiON lithium trolling motor batteries do I need?
It depends on your trolling motor voltage. RELiON offers 12-Volt and 24-Volt Lithium batteries. If you have a 12-Volt trolling motor then you can choose from several 12-Volt options, if you have a 24-Volt motor, you can use 2, 12-Volt batteries in series or a single 24-Volt battery and if you have a 36-Volt motor you can use 3, 12-Volt batteries in series.
2. Which RELiON 12-Volt battery should I use for my trolling motor?
RELiON offers several 12-Volt battery options to choose from. The most common models are; RB50, RB60, RB75, RB80 and RB100, which are 50Ah, 75Ah, 80Ah and 100Ah respectively. To get the same runtime as a wet or AGM lead-acid battery, use a lithium battery that is 60% the capacity of that lead-acid battery. If you want more time on the water, size up from there. Ex. 60Ah RELiON lithium battery = 100Ah lead-acid battery
3. Are RELiON lithium batteries a drop-in replacement to my lead-acid battery?
RELiON offers the standard size batteries; Group 24, Group 27 and Group 31.
4. Can I install my RELiON lithium batteries on their side?
Although they will operate on their side, we recommend installing them upright in marine applications.
5. What size cables should I use to connect my RELiON lithium batteries?
For most applications, we recommend either 4-AWG or 6-AWG cables.
6. Are my RELiON Lithium batteries waterproof?
RELiON lithium batteries are enclosed in an IP66 case, which means water projected from any direction will not be harmful. They will get damaged if they are submerged in water. We recommend you do your best to keep your batteries dry.
7. Do I need to use a lithium starter battery if my trolling motor batteries are lithium?
No, you can use a lead-acid starter battery with your lithium trolling motor batteries.
8. Do my RELiON lithium batteries have peak current limitations?
Yes, please refer to the data sheet to get the peak current limit for your particular model.
9. Does RELiON offer a lithium starter battery?
RELiON has an RB100-HP, which is a Group 31 dual-purpose battery that can be used for starting.
10. How much can I discharge my RB100-HP dual-purpose battery and still start my engine?
The RB100-HP can be discharged up to 70% (30% state of charge) and still start most engines.
11. Is it OK to connect my starting battery in parallel with one of my RELiON lithium trolling motor batteries to assist with starting if needed?
Yes, however, if you do so, it is required that you use a switch to isolate each battery so that they can be charged separately with a multi-bank charger.
12. How long will my RELiON lithium batteries live?
RELiON’s Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are designed to provide over 6000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge.
13. Will my existing battery gauge provide an accurate state of charge for my lithium batteries?
Not if it is a typical lead-acid, voltage-based battery gauge. You will need to use a lithium battery gauge for an accurate state of charge.
14. What does it mean if the voltage of my RELiON lithium battery is ≤4-Volts?
Lithium batteries come with Battery Management System (BMS)to protect the battery from various abusive conditions such as low voltage, high voltage, high current and high temperature. If the BMS goes into protection mode, it will disconnect the battery from the terminals and the voltage will read between 0 to 4-Volts. If this happens, simply disconnect the battery cables and reconnect and the voltage should return.
15. How do I store my RELiON lithium batteries?
For long term storage, from 3-12 months, lithium batteries should be stored in a dry environment between 23°F to 95°F (-5°C to 35°C), ideally at 50% state of charge.

Charging Your RELiON Lithium Battery

Frequently Asked Questions

16. What type of charger should I use for my RELiON lithium batteries?
We recommend you use a multi-bank charger so that each 12-Volt battery can be charged separately to ensure they stay balanced and get fully charged. Ideally use a charger with a lithium charge profile, however, most AGM charge profiles will work just fine.
17. How long will it take my RELiON lithium batteries to charge?
That will depend on several factors; how much your batteries were used and the output current of the charger. Lithium batteries can be charged faster than wet or AGM lead-acid batteries, however the charger needs to provide the higher current to do so.
18. What is the maximum current I can use to charge my RELiON lithium batteries?
RELiON Lithium batteries can be charged at a maximum current of 1C (C = the capacity of the battery). Ex. 80Ah RELiON lithium battery can be charged with a maximum current of 80A Refer to the data sheet for your battery for charge current specifications.
19. Do I need to charge my batteries each time I use them?
Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries do not get damaged if they sit partially discharged for extended periods of time. However, we do recommend you charge them after each use to ensure you have the maximum runtime available, every time you use your boat.
20. Will it harm my batteries if I leave the charger connected for extended periods of time?
No, you can leave the charger connected to your batteries indefinitely and it will not harm your RELiON Lithium batteries. The Battery Management System (BMS) in each battery will protect it from being over-charged.

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If you have any questions that we haven't answered, please reach out to us. Our Technical Support team will be happy to answer any questions.

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