Battery Monitor and Install

Green_Monster · April 14, 2025, 07:40:53 AM

Hey All-

I just recently purchased (2) LiTime 100ah batteries for my trolling motor and want to be able to monitor them either on battery or by bluetooth on my phone. I have done a google search and can find monitors but am just not sure what would be best and also if just one monitor is needed for the dual bank. Any help would be appreciated greatly! Tight lines!

Capt. BassinLou · April 14, 2025, 05:32:41 PM

The only way to monitor your lithium batteries is if they are equipped with a BMS system. The BMS system has Bluetooth capabilities.

Green_Monster · April 15, 2025, 07:01:34 AM

The batteries I bought do have the BMS but they do not come equipped with bluetooth, so I was looking for something to attach to battery that would send info to my phone as to how the batteries are. I have seen the smart shunt monitors that do that but just not familiar with them to know if that is only thing you can get or if there are other options.

Princeton_Man · April 16, 2025, 06:11:08 AM

You save some $$ going with the GEN1s but unfortunately adding Bluetooth monitoring will hike the cost up above the second generation with the built-in Bluetooth. The internal Bluetooth monitoring also provides more accurate data. That said, I'm totally happy without the Bluetooth monitoring. My lithium batteries are 1st generation with BMS but no internal heater for Winter, I use a small bilge heater during the Winter months. Prior to buying the lithiums I was using Duracell Group 31 batteries. Those Duracells were awesome, they'd last 8 hours fighting wind and weeds the entire day. I have never discovered how long these lithiums will last yet. They certainly outlast me. I've been out in some pretty nasty conditions with them and all I know is they will last a lot longer then the group 31 Duracells. Amazingly, they fully recharge in just a few hours. I'm going on, I believe 5 years with them and they haven't failed or showed any signs of giving out yet.

If you're determined to have a BlueTooth monitor, the shunt monitors, are probably your best bet.

topdsm0138 · April 20, 2025, 09:15:49 AM

I've been using this one on my boat for almost 3yrs now. It's a cheaper option for for you.
https://a.co/d/iSOjn2U

Tiny boat, but a big deck.

Green_Monster · April 21, 2025, 05:47:40 AM

Thanks all for the feedback. Was out with them Saturday for the first time and they performed well while fishing 8 hours. Used the trolling motor more then normal just to see what they would do. Going to put on charge and see how long they take to recharge and see how much was used.

Princeton_Man · April 21, 2025, 10:17:07 AM

Quote from: Green_Monster on April 21, 2025, 05:47:40 AMThanks all for the feedback. Was out with them Saturday for the first time and they performed well while fishing 8 hours. Used the trolling motor more then normal just to see what they would do. Going to put on charge and see how long they take to recharge and see how much was used.

You should be impressed. As I said, I got my LiFePo batteries early on. I got them from Dobyns Rods when Gary had signed up to help market Signature Solar's batteries. So mine are not even the latest and greatest, and they are awesome. I'm quite sure I could fish 16 hours without a charge if I needed to. I bought a LiTime Group 31 LiFePo about 18 months ago for my Amateur radio field box. So far, I've only used it twice, but I can operate at 100 watts all day and evening and fully recharge in about 2.5 hours with a 20a charger.

J.W. · April 22, 2025, 09:44:12 AM

Quote from: Green_Monster on April 14, 2025, 07:40:53 AMHey All-

I just recently purchased (2) LiTime 100ah batteries for my trolling motor and want to be able to monitor them either on battery or by bluetooth on my phone. I have done a google search and can find monitors but am just not sure what would be best and also if just one monitor is needed for the dual bank. Any help would be appreciated greatly! Tight lines!

I have two Weize LiFePO4 batteries for my 24v Ultrex, and another for my electronics. The batteries are similar to yours it sounds like. BMS with cold temp charging shut-off, etc, but no Bluetooth monitoring.

Honestly, I haven't needed the monitoring much, being in Louisiana, but if you live or fish where it gets colder, it'd be a good thing to add. I haven't bothered because I can see the voltage of the electronics battery on my graphs, and the only time my trolling motor batteries ever quit on me was after pre-fishing Toledo Bend for a couple of days in sub-freezing temps for a January tournament. I think the charging shut-off kicked in and the batteries didn't get a full charge.

Green_Monster · May 19, 2025, 05:53:52 AM

Thanks for all of the input I really appreciate it! The batteries have been amazing and after a tournament only need minimal charging. I am in the northeast so cold weather in the early spring and late fall could be an issue but the real reason I wanted a monitor was because of the charging of them. I saw a video that they do not like to be fully charged and they shouldn't be charged to full capacity after use. Well when you are going for a tournament you want to be sure your batteries have enough juice for the day. I figured with a monitor I could make sure they were within the "sweet spot" so they say for charge. I charge them before a tournament nonetheless and all has been good.

Princeton_Man · May 19, 2025, 06:42:54 AM

Quote from: Green_Monster on May 19, 2025, 05:53:52 AMThanks for all of the input I really appreciate it! The batteries have been amazing and after a tournament only need minimal charging. I am in the northeast so cold weather in the early spring and late fall could be an issue but the real reason I wanted a monitor was because of the charging of them. I saw a video that they do not like to be fully charged and they shouldn't be charged to full capacity after use. Well when you are going for a tournament you want to be sure your batteries have enough juice for the day. I figured with a monitor I could make sure they were within the "sweet spot" so they say for charge. I charge them before a tournament nonetheless and all has been good.

Providing you have a top shelf charger that's meant to charge and maintain LiFePo4 batteries, you shouldn't worry about any sweet spot. I myself use a NoCo Genius 3 Bank, but MinnKota, PowerPole, Dual Pro, to name a few are all top shelf chargers. Outside of the events of thunder storms or when I'm out of town, mine stays connected and to this day performs like the day they were new.

As I mentioned before, I do put an automatic bilge heater in the boat during Winter months. I don't rely on the BMS alone to protect the batteries from cold charge damage. It's only about 1300 BTUs, even on the coldest days, the bilge and batteries stay around 55°. Even a 100 watt incandescent light bulb will do, but without a thermostat on a warm day, it could get hot in there. This is the bilge heater I use.

Green_Monster · May 19, 2025, 06:56:12 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on May 19, 2025, 06:42:54 AM
Quote from: Green_Monster on May 19, 2025, 05:53:52 AMThanks for all of the input I really appreciate it! The batteries have been amazing and after a tournament only need minimal charging. I am in the northeast so cold weather in the early spring and late fall could be an issue but the real reason I wanted a monitor was because of the charging of them. I saw a video that they do not like to be fully charged and they shouldn't be charged to full capacity after use. Well when you are going for a tournament you want to be sure your batteries have enough juice for the day. I figured with a monitor I could make sure they were within the "sweet spot" so they say for charge. I charge them before a tournament nonetheless and all has been good.
Providing you have a top shelf charger that's meant to charge and maintain LiFePo4 batteries, you shouldn't worry about any sweet spot. I myself use a NoCo Genius 3 Bank, but MinnKota, PowerPole, Dual Pro, to name a few are all top shelf chargers. Outside of the events of thunder storms or when I'm out of town, mine stays connected and to this day performs like the day they were new.

As I mentioned before, I do put an automatic bilge heater in the boat during Winter months. I don't rely on the BMS alone to protect the batteries from cold charge damage. It's only about 1300 BTUs, even on the coldest days, the bilge and batteries stay around 55°. Even a 100 watt incandescent light bulb will do, but without a thermostat on a warm day, it could get hot in there. This is the bilge heater I use.

I have the battery charger from LiTime and it has performed well. Appreciate all your help and input on this topic!