Trolling Battery Question

[MikeBannio]

I have a 20 lb thrust trolling motor. Will either of these batteries work?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-MAXX-29-Marine-Battery/16795213

or

http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-27DC-6-Marine-Battery/16795212

Also, might upgrade to a 54 lb thrust motor. How much running time do you think I'd get off the battery you recommend.

The boat is a 14 foot aluminum Vee. Appreciate any help, fellas.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

define 'work'... Yes, either will work, but not for very long. You need a deep cycle battery, neither of those is.

 

[MikeBannio]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

This battery thing is so confusing for me. How about this one?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-24DC-6-Marine-Battery/16795210

This is a third battery I saw at Walmart the other day but it said it's "For RV's Deep Cycle, and Other Applications" on it but when I searched it on their website it came up as this. I don't get it. Will a battery say "Deep Cycle" on it? Do they look different then regular batteries?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

This battery thing is so confusing for me. How about this one?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-24DC-6-Marine-Battery/16795210

This is a third battery I saw at Walmart the other day but it said it's "For RV's Deep Cycle, and Other Applications" on it but when I searched it on their website it came up as this. I don't get it. Will a battery say "Deep Cycle" on it? Do they look different then regular batteries?

That one will work. As for how much run time you'll have depends on what kind of TM you have and how fast you're running the boat with it.

Battery life will be extended with a variable speed trolling motor, a 3 or 5 speed motor won't get the same extended battery time.

 

[MikeBannio]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

So what's the difference between that one and the two I posted at the begining of this thread. The second one says it's a 27dc and the third one says 24dc. So the 24 is a deep cycle but the 27 isn't? I'm running a 20 lb thrust trolling motor on it and that's it. It's not used to start my boat or anything else. Just run the trolling motor.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

Looking closely at the labels, all 3 of those appear to be "dual purpose" batteries which means they will work for starting or deep cycle applications. Who knows if they just re-use the pictures online. I'd just go to the store and buy the largest battery marked "deep cycle" that I felt like spending the coin on.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

The number you are looking at is just the 'group' the battery is, which is battery terminology for physical size. A group 27 is larger than a group 24. Doesn't mean better, just larger physically.

Deep cycle batteries are constructed differently. Much larger plates and lower cranking amps. They are designed to withstand charge/discharge cycles, if you try to do that to a regular non-deep cycle you will destroy the battery fairly quickly.

And don't get hung up on anything termed 'marine'. Back in the old days they used to be constructed differently, now the only difference is the post configuration. (marine batteries usually have combo posts that have both a post and a wing nut terminal) The only thing you need to look for in the advertising is 'deep cycle'.

As ezmobee mentioned, the label is a little confusing on that. Searching around on google doesn't really give much info either, so I'm not sure if that is a true deep cycle or not. I know walmart does have some of the yellow batteries that are true deep cycle. (deep cycle batteries usually cost more than a regular or combo battery)

 

[NYBo]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

I'm pretty sure that "DC" in the model number stands for "deep cycle" in WalMartese.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

Also, might upgrade to a 54 lb thrust motor. How much running time do you think I'd get off the battery you recommend.

The better question is, how much run time do you want? Inexpensive old tech "speed coil" trolling motors love power and will draw nearly the same amount of power at speed #1 as speed #5, they shunt power around the motor through the speed coils at slower speeds. Digital motors will go far longer on the slower speeds as they are more efficient, probably 3x as long if you are on the slower speeds all the time. They cost more, but you do not have to buy or haul around a second battery.

For an inexpensive battery, go with a group 29 dual purpose like the one you linked to from WalMart. While you are at it, pick up a decent 10-20 amp electronic charger if you don't have one all ready.

For how long the TM's will run on a group 29 battery, my guess is 10 hours for your 20# TM, 4 hours+- on an inexpensive speed coil 50# TM, 10-12 hours on a digital 50# TM. That's just a guess though....

(I don't think you will be happy with the performance of a 20# trolling motor.)

 

[wilb3]

Re: Trolling Battery Question

As alluded to earlier, the 2nd and 3rd batteries should work for you as they are both (DC) deep cycle units. They will provide longer battery life over the posted amperage levels. For example, battery #2 is a group 27 battery which should generate 92 minutes of continuous power at slightly over 50% of full engine speed. This of course is all relative to the gross weight of the boat, wind/current. This is how it was taught to me.