Compatibility of Lithium batteries

[Ann-Marie]

can the troll bridge be used with lithium batteries? do you have an idea as to what the minimum size of lithium batteries would be to run the two battery system and the trollbridge 24 with adequate power on a standard bass boat?

The Trollbridge24 is a switching device, it puts the batteries in parallel so they can be charged from a 12 volt alternator or charger and it automatically puts the batteries in series when you need 24 volts.So it is compatible with any type of 12 volt battery, the charging control is being done by the charging source.

Before you switch to Lithium you should check if your alternator and other charging sources are compatible. To get maximum capacity from a Lithium battery you need precise controls. For safety when using Lithium batteries in a lead based system the level of charge will typically be limited to somewhat less than 100%.

Lithium batteries are more compact, more lightweight and more expen$ive but an amp-hour is an amp-hour from any battery. Useable amp-hours are limited by safe levels of discharge and loss of voltage during discharge. Lithium batteries suffer much less than conventional batteries from both these disadvantages so I imagine that if you needed a 100 amp-hour capacity lead based battery you could probably get by with a 75 or 50 amp-hour Lithium based battery.

Perhaps others with empirical experience can provide more accurate information.

[Lou r Pitcher]

I am happy to see the use of the more accurate term "usable amp-hours' for comparing battery performance rather than the traditional battery spec "amp hours" which includes amp-hours that if actually used would be damaging to the life of the battery.

Lithium Ions often correctly tout they hold their voltage until becoming discharged. The amount of a full discharge though varies among Lithium Ion manufacturers with some being stopped before they are 100% depleted.

Most flooded lead acid batteries for reasonable battery life can be repeatedly discharged only 50%, so a 100 Ah flooded lead acid could be stated to have 50 usable amp-hours

Many AGMs can be repeatedly discharged 80% without an excessive reduction of their life, so a 100 Ah AGM might be stated to have 80 usable amp hours.

In both cases above the output voltage does drop as the battery reaches its' safe discharge level. The voltage drop is not linear and I think is not near as significant as the Lithium Ion battery marketing departments often present. The voltage drop only becomes pronounced when the battery's safe discharge levels are exceeded. By using only the usable Amp-hours one can almost ignore the tenths of a volt voltage drop experienced by flooded lead acids and AGMs.

Seems if burgoffjd wanted to replace the performance of a 100Ah Odyssey AGM having been used at regular 80% discharges , he may need to have almost an 80Ah Lithium Ion........or even a 100Ah Lithium Ion if it is from one of the manufacturers that stop their battery from ever becoming full discharged.