Lifepo4 trolling battery
- Thread starter Ronbow
- Start date
Any idea if the Noco Genius 10 is worth it over the cheaper Noco Genius 1?
Never mind. Spelled out pretty well in this chart:
NOCO Genius1 vs Genius5 vs Genius10: Who's the real "Genius"?
This comparison and guide will help you determine which of the NOCO Genius Series battery chargers is best suited for your car charging needs
gmundcars.com
Haggis57
Steelhead
I started out with the smallest battery box (shotgun shell box) that would fit my SLA battery. I used a couple of pieces of plastic in the sides to keep the battery from moving around. I was lucky that I didn't have much choice and had extra room. When I added a PWM controller, I was able to the controller, disconnect, battery tester, etc. all in the same box. Can't say it was good planning, but it did work out!
Ken
Old406Kid
Legend
I'm confused as to your unit saying it's a wireless control yet I see a wire. I did a quick search but didn't find that particular control.
Wireless Trolling Pro was the name of the website for LS Engineering LLC and he may have had i wireless controller at one time. I tried to purchase a similar wired PWM in Aug/Sept of last year. By Dec no product was sent as his supply source was an issue. Correspondence was lacking so before the deadline I requested PayPal refund my money 2/10/22
I believe he probably closed up shop as his website does not exist.
I believe he probably closed up shop as his website does not exist.
I do somehow enjoy that there is a device that clearly says "wireless" with an equally obvious wire coming out of it.
Haggis57
Steelhead
Yeah his marketing and product naming selection left something to be desired. I think his original controller may have been a wireless model, but he quickly expanded to making both wired and wireless models. My hand controller is indeed all hardwired as you correctly surmised from the photo. I figure with wired model decreases the chance of "operator error" and dropping a wireless controller overboard! And it is cheaper, which my Scottish Grandmother would approve of!
As Mark pointed out, it appears that he has closed his business. I also experienced almost non-existent communications and a pre-Covid delivery that was 2 or 3 times as long originally promised. It's too bad his business/communications skills were so lacking. It's a really nice compact unit that works as advertised. I'm going into my 4th season with it and it has performed flawlessly with a Minn Kota C2 30.
Old406Kid
Legend
It's too bad that he's no longer in business as it looks like a simple plug and play unit. What was the cost?
I copied a page from his website.
Haggis57
Steelhead
Yeah, I think it is a nice "fit-for-purpose" package. Two wires to the motor and two to the battery and you're done. Nice, functional hand controller with a generous amount of cable. The bulge on the back plate is a heat sink. I just put the heat sink side towards the outside of my battery box, away from the battery itself. I don't have any other provisions for cooling and it is working fine, although I don't use the motor trolling, only re-locating.
I've seen pictures of a similar Minn Kota variable speed controller, but never came across any place you could order the controller by itself. I thought it would be convenient to use the Minn Kota controller with one of the Amazon/Ebay PWM boxes, if you could get the Minn Kota controller for a reasonable price.
Old406Kid
Legend
Thanks for posting the wiring diagram. I like the idea of a dc breaker over a fuse.
Haggis57
Steelhead
I like the DC breaker as well. I think I got that idea from a kayak forum. The last thing I do before launching is close the breaker and the first thing I do when I land is open the breaker. That functionality is more useful than the overload protection in my mind. While the WTP hand controller is really functional, it doesn't really have much resistance between forward and reverse. I found it was very easy to nudge it off the neutral position when moving around in the boat during launching and landing.
steelheardr99
Steelhead
I have two i have installed in my jet boat to run a Minn Kota trolling motor i bought to fish the lakes with, They are ADCBATT LiFePO4 Battery 100AH, 12V Lithium Battery, 3500-8000 Deep Cycle Battery, Built-in 100A BMS.
I installed them in NOCO HM327BKS Group 27 Snap-Top Battery Box's For Marine, RV, Camper And Trailer Batteries which they fit in pretty close and so far no problems. I also installed an on board Minn Kota battery charger and wired that to all three on board batteries. I will get some pics up in the am.
I installed them in NOCO HM327BKS Group 27 Snap-Top Battery Box's For Marine, RV, Camper And Trailer Batteries which they fit in pretty close and so far no problems. I also installed an on board Minn Kota battery charger and wired that to all three on board batteries. I will get some pics up in the am.
steelheardr99
Steelhead
This is the trolling motor on the front of the boat, Its mounted on a quick release bracket so i can remove it just remove the padlock and lift.
here you see the front of the boat trolling motor and puck, The puck is a directional senser and the trolling motor has the GPS built in. The puck has to be wired also. I ran the puck wire under the front over to the trolling motor and then ran it with the trolling motor wires to the batteries.
I then ran the wires down to the floor inserting a Camco Trac Outdoors high-current connector it comes in a kit and it is for 8 Gauge wire which is what i used, I also covered the wires with 1/4 inch Cable Sleeve, Cord Wrap Wire Protector Tubing(the wires from the puck) and American Terminal Wire Loom Black 3/4" Split Tubing Hose Cover for all the wires from the trolling motor.
I installed rubber gromets were the wires went under the floor to protect them from chafing and used a fish wire to pull the wires under the floor to the seat box.
The seat box's on this boat are quite big and had room for both batteries and battery charger
The battery boxes are strapped down and screwed to the floor and the battery charger is also screwed down to the floor.
You can just see the 60amp fuse i had to install per Minn Kota
When i get home all i have to do is plug the battery charger in to the power cord from the socket on the side of the house and all three batteries on board will be charged.
To be continued:
here you see the front of the boat trolling motor and puck, The puck is a directional senser and the trolling motor has the GPS built in. The puck has to be wired also. I ran the puck wire under the front over to the trolling motor and then ran it with the trolling motor wires to the batteries.
I then ran the wires down to the floor inserting a Camco Trac Outdoors high-current connector it comes in a kit and it is for 8 Gauge wire which is what i used, I also covered the wires with 1/4 inch Cable Sleeve, Cord Wrap Wire Protector Tubing(the wires from the puck) and American Terminal Wire Loom Black 3/4" Split Tubing Hose Cover for all the wires from the trolling motor.
I installed rubber gromets were the wires went under the floor to protect them from chafing and used a fish wire to pull the wires under the floor to the seat box.
The seat box's on this boat are quite big and had room for both batteries and battery charger
The battery boxes are strapped down and screwed to the floor and the battery charger is also screwed down to the floor.
You can just see the 60amp fuse i had to install per Minn Kota
When i get home all i have to do is plug the battery charger in to the power cord from the socket on the side of the house and all three batteries on board will be charged.
To be continued:
steelheardr99
Steelhead
The 3rd wires going from the battery charger to the starting battery which at the moment is an AGM battery.
And one of the ADCBATT LiFePO4 Battery 100AH, 12V Lithium Battery, 3500-8000 Deep Cycle Battery, Built-in 100A BMS in the NOCO HM327BKS Group 27 Snap-Top Battery Box for Marine, RV, Camper and Trailer Batteries with the Fastronix 1/2" Stud Terminal Covers on to cover the terminals and make it all look nice.
One thing i like about the Minn Kota battery charger is that it will charge any battery, For me it is charging an AGM battery and two LiFePO4 batteries at the same time.
The one thing i will say is if you are thinking of buying LiFePO4 batteries work out which ones yoe like and watch the price, I paid $610 for both the batteries when they went on sale and Amazon offered me a $60 off coupon they are now back at $749 for two. I shopped for 6 months and watched prices before i took the plunge. I just looked on amazon and 100AH LiFePO4 batteries are starting at $318 each and go up from there
And one of the ADCBATT LiFePO4 Battery 100AH, 12V Lithium Battery, 3500-8000 Deep Cycle Battery, Built-in 100A BMS in the NOCO HM327BKS Group 27 Snap-Top Battery Box for Marine, RV, Camper and Trailer Batteries with the Fastronix 1/2" Stud Terminal Covers on to cover the terminals and make it all look nice.
One thing i like about the Minn Kota battery charger is that it will charge any battery, For me it is charging an AGM battery and two LiFePO4 batteries at the same time.
The one thing i will say is if you are thinking of buying LiFePO4 batteries work out which ones yoe like and watch the price, I paid $610 for both the batteries when they went on sale and Amazon offered me a $60 off coupon they are now back at $749 for two. I shopped for 6 months and watched prices before i took the plunge. I just looked on amazon and 100AH LiFePO4 batteries are starting at $318 each and go up from there
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Here is my very simple setup for my frameless pontoon. Essentially an Outkast Fish Cat Scout…but the version the make for Sportmans Warehouse.
Built a simple motor mount from PVC pipe and plastic cuttting boards based off some pics I saw from @Haggis57 setup. Small battery but I am not trolling with it. Just used getting from point a to b on bigger lakes. First time used was today. Used it for a 10 minute run to the end of the lake, then flippered back fishing the shoreline. Then across the lake a few times. Then 3 quarters way up the lake again. Probably 25 minutes of use. Still had juice 6 hours later when I took out. Good for now but may upgrade the battery at some point.
(Battery is in box. Pic is from when I was testing).
Motor mount (mounted on boat in truck for testing).
Built a simple motor mount from PVC pipe and plastic cuttting boards based off some pics I saw from @Haggis57 setup. Small battery but I am not trolling with it. Just used getting from point a to b on bigger lakes. First time used was today. Used it for a 10 minute run to the end of the lake, then flippered back fishing the shoreline. Then across the lake a few times. Then 3 quarters way up the lake again. Probably 25 minutes of use. Still had juice 6 hours later when I took out. Good for now but may upgrade the battery at some point.
(Battery is in box. Pic is from when I was testing).
Motor mount (mounted on boat in truck for testing).