Ionic batteries draining strangely quick

[Bassking10]

Just installed some 50ah ionics in the boat this weekend. I get in the water today to help the power company pull some wire across the lake here at home, run the trolling motor for a bit, and by a bit, I mean a quarter of what I would fishing and the batteries are saying they are already bellow 70% by 10 in the morning. They were both on 100% when I unplugged them this morning. Sat with the talons down watching them most of the time. When they finished up, I fished for about an hour (with the wind) and finished the day up and 57%.

I have verified connections, and wiring.

The app was showing a 42amp draw at 100% thrust and around 21-24 at 50% thrust.

Could this be a trolling motor issue? I have a 2003 motor guide 80lb/24V. Is it drawing to many amps? I don’t know, I’m lost here. I pulled blue tops out. NEVER once killed them and I run the banks hard and chase schoolers around this time of year. Honestly if I were fishing normal today, no doubt I would have had dead trolling batteries by lunch time.

Any advice will be much appreciated!

[DREWTICK]

what charger?

[Bassking10]

Brand new noco 3 bank. Kept my blue top cranking. Charger is set to lithium for trolling batteries.

[PainkillerSPE]

Are they 12v 50ah wired in series to. Make 24?


For your trolling motor you should shoot for at least 100ah for all day use. Based on your number the 50ah battery would last a little over an hour at max.

[Bassking10]

Yessir it’s (2) 50ah/12v wired up 24v in series. 6 gauge wire from trolling motor plug, to the batteries. 6 gauge jumper as well.

[DREWTICK]

first thing you need to do is change the charger settings to AGM, prolonged use and charges on the lithium setting will gradually bring down the performance of the IONICS, after much testing IONIC recommends the AGM setting
also constant trolling at 42amps on 2 50ah will bring them down pretty quick , if you did that constant you would only get 1 hour and 20 minutes of run time

( for those that have been using the noco on lithium with no issues you may be fine ) but those chargers are very inconsistent and and tend to cut off a little early on the top end , AMG will top them off a little higher and better balance the cells

[PainkillerSPE]

So it sounds like you may need more amp hours or run at a lower speed.

I also read that ionics need a few discharges and recharges to reach their full potential and operating temps also will affect capacity.

[Bassking10]

What doesn’t make sense to me, is how all these guys are getting 1 hard day of running bed fish or the guys getting 2 days out of one charge cycle and I would have been dead by lunch today. I was not on 100% thrust the entire time. I only did that to check the amp draw. I will try the AGM setting on charge and see what happens.

[Bass in the grass]

A lot of guys are using the ghost or force and they are better/more efficient on voltage used.

[Bassking10]

That’s what I’m beginning to wonder, is it the old trolling motor. Things have changed a lot in 20 years.

[PainkillerSPE]

That’s what I’m beginning to wonder, is it the old trolling motor. Things have changed a lot in 20 years.

The brushless trolling motors are about 40 to 60 percent more efficient.

[billnorman1]

I also have two 50AH Lithiums and an 80# T/M. I use the Noco, set to Lithium. I've never had any issues fishing tidal waters with battery failure BUT I keep in mind not to run long distances on full 100% power because my batteries are rated at 50Amp output and trolling motors have been known to have internal wiring failures if operated at full power for extended period of time.
You said you were pulling wires, were you using the T/M to do that? That would raise the current demand.
What is the normal power level left after a normal fishing day?

[jrh_67]

I started with 2 Ionic 50ah batteries with an 80 ultrex and end up swapping them for the 100ah. I just felt I didn't have enough in reserve with the 50's. Bought mine from Drewtick here on the forum and he helped me get where I needed to be with them. He went above and beyond to help me out. I'm much happier with the 100ah and doubt I'll ever get close to running these down.

[Bassking10]

Billnorman1- the pull of wire was about 60 yards across a cove and was literally slack line really. I was using the trolling motor to pull the wire. I have not been able to use these on a normal fishing day yet. I installed them Saturday and had to help them yesterday. I will be able to test them out for a normal fishing day in the next 2 weeks, to get a true test. It’s frog fishing/ cover water time for me. I’ll put them to the test and come back with results.

Also beginning to wonder if it’s a better decision to swap over to 100ah instead of replacing trolling motor…

[GOTTA BIG SACK]

Got me curious because I was thinking of going with the 50's. If you read the reviews on Ionics website everyone says the 50 is plenty and lasted as long as the lead they replaced.

[Bassking10]

That’s why I’m scratching my head dude. Guys are fishing current and have 60-70% reserve left. I’m just wondering if it’s the inefficiency of my 03 trolling motor.

[bobcoy]

If your trolling motor does not have a PWM speed control. ( I don’t think it does) you will use nearly twice the amps of one that does have it. MK was the first and I think it was around 2005 or so. (I think they called it Maximiser)JMO Bob

[billnorman1]

If your trolling motor does not have a PWM speed control. ( I don’t think it does) you will use nearly twice the amps of one that does have it. MK was the first and I think it was around 2005 or so. (I think they called it Maximiser)JMO Bob

That thought crossed my mind but on Minnkotas 100% on the speed dial meant it had the Maximizer circuit, don't know about MG. He mentioned set on 100%. A MK would have had 1 through 5.

[Bjxds]

I recently installed 2 6AH on a 80lb Ultrex 24V, and have run them hard, 5-10 in various conditions for several hours and still have over 50% left. I do not have Ionics, but was told the percentage calibration shown on the app is not always accurate, it is better to look at the voltage and of each battery and the individual cells. I have never been below 13.1 volts on either battery.

Also I have noticed the percentage of battery as shown on the app changes, ie the other day when fishing 1 showed 70% and the other showed 35%. Before charging them several hours later on showed 90% and the other showed 70%.

Just trying to verify the math used in post # 6.....SOOO if he was running 2 100 AH at the same load, ie pulling 25ah they would only last 4 hours??? Something doesn't sound right.

[bobcoy]

Yes minn kota had 5 speed till the maximizer came out. I had an MG in that era. The dial went to 10 but as I recall it was a 10 speed (not a gradual increase) I recall the MK adds proclaiming their efficiency increase over all other motors. Long ago and I don’t remember like I used to. Bob