Picking A Trolling Motor Battery

An electric motor system contains a very important element known as the battery. You should always use a high-quality trolling motor battery. Trolling batteries can be completely discharged and then recharged multiple times but that is not the case with automobile batteries. When you are choosing a trolling motor battery, you should consider your budget, ampere hour rating and the battery type. In an electric trolling motor, you can’t use a starting battery (cold cranking amps (CCA) are used to rate starting batteries). You have to use a deep cycle marine battery.

Let’s take a look at the best battery for a trolling motor and for a Minn Kota trolling motor. We will also go through the factors that affect the run time of a trolling motor battery.

Best Battery for a Trolling Motor

Universal Power Group 12v 100ah Battery with Solar Wind, AGM Deep Cycle
This trolling motor battery is designed by using Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology. With a faster charging speed and having a high quality, this battery is great to use for a trolling motor. Another added advantage of using the Universal Power Group 12V 100Ah battery is that you can use it with lead-acid too which means it requires less maintenance.

The rating of this deep cycle battery is 100 Ah. As compared to other batteries, the reserve capacity of this battery is much higher. With a one-year warranty, you can get it changed or replaced in case you have any problem with this trolling motor battery. If you are searching for a reliable battery, then you should definitely buy the Universal Power Group 12V 100Ah battery.

Best Battery for a Minn Kota Trolling Motor

You can use a single or multiple lead acid, trolling motor 12-volt battery/batteries for a Minn Kota trolling motor. Choose a trolling motor battery with at least a 110-amp hour rating to get the best results. For trolling motors, it is recommended that you use AGM and lead acid wet-cell batteries. These should be deep cycle 12-volt batteries. Trolling motor batteries are deep cycle which can be completely discharged and then recharged many times. For a Minn Kota trolling motor of 30 pounds you can use the Mighty Max Battery 12V 35Ah SLA Battery for Minn Kota Endura C2. It is a rechargeable battery that is maintenance free.

How Long Can a Trolling Motor Run on a Battery?

You have to consider the trolling motor battery’s amp hour rating and the amperage draw of the motor to know the time duration for which the battery will last. You cannot accurately calculate the run time of the trolling motor battery but you can get an estimation. Ampere Hour Rating: This rating shows the time for which the battery can supply a steady amperage. The battery can hold more power if the rating is larger and therefore it can power the motor at a certain speed for a longer time. For instance, a 110-amp hour battery can supply 22 amps of power for 5 hours (22 amps * 5 hours = 110-amp hours) before it is discharged.

In another scenario, the same battery could last for 11 hours by supplying 10 amps of power (11 hours * 10 amps = 110-amp hours) before it runs out of charge. So, a greater amp hour rating means that it can last longer. Motor Amperage Draw: The run time of a trolling motor battery is also dependent on the motor amperage draw rating. This rating shows how much current (amperage) will a motor draw at a certain speed. The manufacturer can provide you the motor amperage draw rating.

To approximately calculate the run time of a motor, you have to divide the ampere hour rating of the trolling motor battery by the amperage draw. For instance, you have a 110-amp hour battery and the trolling motor requires 22 amps at medium speed, then the run time can be calculated as follows:

110-amp / 22 amps = 5 hours run time

This means that you can run the trolling motor for 5 hours before the battery is discharged.

How Long Does a 12-Volt Battery Last on a Trolling Motor?

A question that might pop up in your mind is about the time duration of a 12-volt battery for running a trolling motor. If a battery has a capacity of 1 Ah then it will deliver 1 amp of current for an hour. Deep cycle batteries which are used in trolling motors usually have a rating of 100 Ah and smaller ones are normally rated from 25-50 Ah.

You can take a look at the table below to get a general idea about the trolling motor battery run time for the Endura 30 (trolling at a speed of ‘2’ and drawing 10 amps).

Amp Hours	Amperage Draw	Hours of Use
100	50	1.7
100	40	2.1
100	30	2.8

 

If you are using your trolling motor for 5 hours at 25 amps (average 50 % load), then it will need a battery load of 125 Ah (5 hours * 25 amps = 125 Ah). For maximum battery life, a 250 Ah battery bank needs to be kept at 50 %. Normally, small trolling motors use 20 Ah (at 12 volts).

Conclusion

You can buy a 12V trolling motor battery with a rating of at least 110 Ah (group size 27). The run time of the trolling motor is dependent on the amp hour rating. The trolling motor will run for a longer time if the amp hour rating is higher. You can choose a trolling motor battery with at least 180 mins reserve capacity in case the amp hour rating is not mentioned. A pretty helpful tip is that you should always recharge your battery after using it in order to extend its life. If a trolling motor battery is not charged properly, the battery might fail.