Gasoline engines run on fuel. This allows the owner to take a certain supply with him to refuel the fuel tank if the fuel runs out. In the case of an electric motor with “refueling”, difficulties may arise.
Before purchasing, consult with the seller and choose the optimal charge source for your electric motor. What types of traction batteries are there, and how to choose the best battery for an electric boat motor? Let's talk about this.
Features of batteries for boat motors
Electric motors have both positive and negative aspects of operation. For example, if you are far from civilization, you do not have access to the power grid. This means you cannot charge the battery for the electric motor. But, on the other hand, the cost and maintenance of such engines will be cheaper than gasoline ones. Beginning boaters, when purchasing an electric motor, also sometimes forget to buy a traction battery for it.
The autonomy of traction batteries is an undeniable advantage. When purchasing a traction battery, you need to remember the following rules:
- Under no circumstances should you open the case. They are specially made non-separable to prevent oxygen from accessing the plates, as this can lead to oxidation and failure of the unit.
- If you purchased a high-capacity battery, you need to install a charge limiter on it, otherwise the engine will burn out when a high charge is applied.
- When purchasing a lead-acid battery, be aware of its toxicity. If the housing is suddenly pierced, it must be disposed of in a toxic waste collection area. Lead is a heavy metal that can cause irreparable harm to health.
- You should not allow the charge level of an acid battery to drop below 20%, this will negatively affect the battery life, especially for batteries with liquid electrolyte, after 4-5 deep discharges, they become unusable.
Onboard boat charger
Boaters who purchase a traction battery need to know that such batteries should not be stored in an unheated room in winter, since at temperatures below -20 Celsius they may become unusable.
And also, you should not expose them to heat or prolonged exposure to direct sunlight - when the mark passes +60 Celsius, the likelihood of an explosion increases in proportion to the temperature increase.
Charging batteries
Periodic controlled recharging is a prerequisite for the normal operation of batteries with liquid electrolyte. It is traditionally believed that this procedure is not necessary for gel and AGM batteries - gas formation and water loss lead to failure of VRLA batteries.
However, in recent years it has become clear that AGM and especially TPPL batteries allow a conditioning mode that is similar to the equalization mode for wet batteries. Like liquid acid batteries, AGM batteries suffer from sulfation and because of this they fail prematurely. Therefore, if the capacity of an AGM battery is significantly reduced, it can often be restored using controlled recharging.
When properly charged, the best wet batteries last longer than gel and AGM batteries, and their cost per amp-hour of energy is significantly less. However, liquid acid batteries are rarely charged and maintained properly, so very few of them reach their full design life.
If an engine is used to charge batteries, and the cost of an ampere hour includes the cost of fuel and maintenance costs, then due to the low rate of charge acceptance by liquid acid batteries, the price of their ampere hour turns out to be higher. The difference in energy costs increases when charging and discharging losses are taken into account. For liquid acid batteries they can reach up to 40%, and for AGM batteries they are 15 – 25%. High losses mean longer charging times, higher cost per amp hour, and more heat, especially for heavily loaded batteries. Regular heating also reduces battery life.
Types of traction batteries
Battery outboard motors are used in many types of transport, for example, trolleybuses, electric vehicles, forklifts. Advantages: high power reserve compared to gasoline engines, environmental friendliness and safety. For novice fishermen, the main advantage will be ease of setup and quick start-up.
Types of traction batteries:
- Gel. GEL is a deep discharge battery for outboard motors. The battery has a lead-acid electrolyte, the leakage of which is prevented by a special gel-like composition.
Gel traction battery - Lithium is an innovative direction in the development of boat electric motors. They are constantly being improved and are often equipped with a special controller that prevents overcharging.
Lithium traction battery
The positive aspects of this type of battery include:
- High charging speed.
- Autonomy.
- Low volume regression rates (do not exceed 1-2% per year).
- Compactness and weight.
- High energy consumption.
The only drawback is the cost - from 20 to 25 thousand rubles.
AGM batteries are a new technology among rechargeable batteries. This is absorbed fiberglass. The technology is interesting because, unlike conventional lead batteries, they do not use liquid as an electrolyte. The basis is a porous layer of compressed fiberglass.
Important: AGM models are maintenance-free, so they do not require regular refilling with electrolyte. Batteries of this type are made in a non-removable sealed housing to prevent acid leakage and possible corrosion. Disadvantages: high sensitivity to overcharging, large dimensions and weight.
Lead-acid traction battery
Lead-acid traction batteries are a common type of battery. Structurally, they are lead plates immersed in compartments containing acid. They are popular as starting batteries.
The main advantage of such batteries is their affordable price and high service life. Disadvantages - the need for regular maintenance and the risk of failure in an unstable position (evened out by rigid installation or additional fasteners).
Types of batteries
The choice of battery for an electric boat motor depends on the size of the vessel, engine power, sailing mode and the presence of additional electrical equipment. We will dwell on this below. First, let's look at the types of traction batteries.
WET batteries with liquid electrolyte. The most popular and inexpensive batteries designed to work “in traction” on small boats. The main advantage is the price. With proper operation, they can easily work for up to five years. The number of discharge cycles is up to 300. They are charged with a regular car charger.
Among the disadvantages, we can mention the need to control the electrolyte level. There is a risk of electrolyte leakage when tilted. Such batteries can be discharged up to 50 percent. Self-discharge of up to 5 percent may occur during storage.
GEL batteries with electrolyte thickened to a gel-like state. The most durable: three times more discharge cycles compared to WET. Withstand deep discharge up to 20 percent. Operating temperature range from -30 to +60 degrees. Can be installed in any position and tilt. The service life of gel batteries reaches 10 years. Charged with a 13.8-14.1 volt pulse charger. Disadvantages: heavy weight compared to batteries of similar capacity. The price may shock some.
AGM technology. No liquid electrolyte. The optimal combination of price and quality. Service life up to 7 years, number of discharge cycles up to 700. Can be installed in a side position and are not afraid of rocking and vibration. The downside is that the discharge depth is limited to 30 percent. In cold weather there is a slight voltage drop. Requires charging with a pulse charger with a voltage of 14.2-14.8 volts.
Operation of car batteries
Among novice fishing enthusiasts, there is an unhealthy tendency to install a car battery as a traction battery. This should not be done for the following reasons:
- The design of a car battery provides for the delivery of a high charge only at the time the engine starts and further operation in conjunction with the generator (recharging). This will not be enough for a boat motor,
- After 2-3 full charge-discharge cycles, car batteries can lose up to 70% of their original volume, so using them as a traction battery is unprofitable.
It is not recommended to install a car battery as a starter battery on a gasoline outboard motor.
Despite similar functions, a boat is not used as often as a car (with rare exceptions). Therefore, next summer the battery will have to be changed due to the fact that it will run out. Not all boat engines have a generator, which also imposes restrictions on the use of a car battery.
Installing a generator for a boat motor
There is no need to skimp on a traction battery for a boat engine. If you are interested in a specific model, look for information about it on thematic sites, watch training videos on hosting sites. An affordable price is not always a sign of a good product.
With liquid
Liquid electrolyte is mostly used in modern traction batteries. The main advantage of such batteries is that they are quite easy to repair and maintain. If during operation the integrity of the case of such a device is not compromised, but the steel plates are damaged, then with a simple replacement of the electrolyte, the traction battery for a boat motor or other devices eventually acquires its starting characteristics. Compared to gel analogues, they have a low price, which is also quite important.
What should you consider when choosing a battery?
When purchasing a battery for your outboard motor, consider your budget. Traction batteries can be divided into three conditional categories according to the “cost” criterion:
- Budget models - price range from 4 to 12 thousand rubles.
Not bad batteries, have a relatively average capacity (80-100 A/h). The vast majority are AGM batteries. Some caution should be exercised here, since among them there are so-called. calcium batteries. Important: These are the same acid batteries, but with the addition of calcium to lead to reduce the cost of production. At a low price, they are sensitive to deep discharge, after which they can no longer be revived. Gel traction batteries for a boat electric motor in this category are estimated at 10-12 thousand and have a rather poor assortment. - The average price segment is from 12 to 25 thousand rubles. Mainly represented by goal accumulators. Capacity from 100 to 150 A/h. Enough for long fishing.
- Top models - from 25 to 50 thousand. The main feature is a high starting charge and a capacity of up to 300 A/h.
Charging the battery in the boat
Important: Since GEL and AGM batteries do not like overloading during the charging process, it is worth purchasing a special charger with an accelerated charge recovery function.
The main convenience is that the charger is universal for batteries of different capacities (10-150 A/h), which means it will work as a compensator when overcharging.
When choosing a suitable traction battery for a boat electric motor (12V), the following factors must be taken into account:
- Type of installed motor: there are 12 and 24 volt motors, so the latter requires either a battery of appropriate power or 2 x 12 volts connected in series.
- When purchasing a battery, you should focus on AGM and GEL models, as they can produce a powerful starting impulse and operate for a long time with a high charge. Of course, the cost of such batteries will be high, but the service life significantly compensates for the high price.
- Capacity - selected in accordance with the characteristics of the motor - the more powerful, the more. On average, the traction battery should provide 2-2.5 hours of continuous operation at maximum power.
- Weight – it is advisable to select models weighing up to 20 kilograms.
- Maintenance – it is best to purchase maintenance-free batteries, since batteries for electric boat motors are often serviced only in special certified centers.
- The degree of self-discharge is a criterion that determines the long-term storage time of a battery without recharging.
RT-L75 battery weighing 7.5 kg
Main types of batteries
A traction battery for an electric motor can be manufactured using a variety of technologies. The most common types of batteries are:
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Lead-acid WET with liquid electrolyte
This type of battery is the most widely used, due to its low cost. It is recommended to choose a similar design option to power the internal combustion engine at the time of its start-up. Modern models are manufactured using Ca-Ca technology, which involves the use of lead alloy plates with the addition of calcium.
It is worth considering that lead-acid versions are not serviceable. Therefore, if the capacity is partially or completely worn out, it will not be possible to restore it. During operation, WET does not require the addition of water. There is a wide range of lead-acid batteries on the market; their cost varies from 5 to 7 thousand rubles. Some versions can also be used on vehicles whose engine operates in conjunction with a start/stop system.
GEL and AGM batteries
Such power sources appeared relatively recently, which determines their high cost.
Both batteries are lead-acid, but the electrolyte is of the bound type. The AGM model is characterized by the presence of glass fiber plates, the GEL model has different plates in gelled sulfuric acid. Such batteries can be used to power electric motors for a long time. Design features determine that AGM and GEL carry a deep charge and high inrush current. Charging is carried out in the shortest possible time, a battery of this type does not require maintenance, and no gases are released during operation. The disadvantage is that such batteries cannot be stored for a long time without being fully charged. In addition, the cost of 12 V models varies from 12 to 30 thousand rubles.
Lithium-ion boat batteries
They are considered the most innovative solution. They appeared relatively recently and are constantly being improved. Most models are characterized by the presence of a special controller, which eliminates the possibility of overcharging.
The new type of battery has many positive qualities: no maintenance required, high energy capacity, quickly gains charge during the charging process, low weight and dimensions. Low self-discharge allows the battery to be stored for a long period. The only but significant drawback is the high cost. The most affordable offer costs 20,000 rubles.
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If the budget allocated for the purchase of a battery is quite large, it is recommended to pay attention to lithium-ion options. They have exceptional performance characteristics and can last for a long period. If you are selecting a battery only for short-term power supply of the internal combustion engine, then you can purchase lead-acid ones, since they are characterized by low cost.
Expert advice on choosing
To power the electric motor of the outboard motor, traction batteries are used using liquid electrolyte technology (maintained) or GEL (maintenance-free and sealed) with a voltage of 6.12 volts. Capacity from 100 to 200 ampere hour. Before buying a battery for an electric motor!
Please calculate the average operating time of the motor based on approximate data: motor power (for example, the passport says 30 amperes, this means that with a 100% charged battery with a capacity of 100 Ah, the boat will sail for 100/30 = 3.3 hours. But this is in theory !in practice, up to three hours maximum while it is new.
Please note: there are starter and industrial batteries, which, in turn, are divided into traction and “buffer” (for use in UPSs or low-power electric motors).
What is the lifespan of boat batteries? The first and main factor that “kills” a battery ahead of time is the quality of the charge. If the incoming current and power do not match, the battery will either charge slowly or be overloaded with a high charge.
Fastening the battery in the boat
The second is seasonal storage in an undercharged state at subzero temperatures. The third is the depth of discharge!
In theory, when using traction batteries on boats, the number of charge-discharge cycles is from 400-800.
Popular manufacturers and their features
The most famous brands of boat motors and batteries are Deka and Minn Kota. Let's consider several models:
- Deka DP24 is a popular inexpensive traction battery model. Average price 8500 rub. It is positioned as a deep-discharge battery, but is made using AGM technology, which imposes limitations - it is sensitive to low temperatures and has a limited number of cycles. At a voltage of 12 volts, the volume is about 85 Ampere/hour. Does not require additional repairs. A good choice for beginners. Suitable for inflatable boats
- Minn Kota MK-31-GEL is a sealed gel battery for a medium boat or small yacht. Capacity 105 amp/hour. Has full deep discharge function. Most often installed on powerful boat electric motors.
- Deka GEL 8G8D is a premium battery. The average price is about 43 thousand rubles. The power is quite enough to electrify medium-sized yachts. It is rarely installed on boats due to its size and weight (in running order, more than 70 kg). With a current of 1000 amperes, it has a capacity of 225 A/h.
Traction batteries vary in technical characteristics. Therefore, we recommend not to rush into making a choice. You can glean a lot of useful information by watching reviews and educational videos on this topic. Here are some examples:
Summarizing
The choice of a 12-volt traction battery for a boat motor depends on the characteristics of your engine and your budget.
For beginners, it is advisable to purchase an inexpensive battery to understand the system.
And if you are already an experienced boater, don’t skimp and buy a good gel battery. It only makes sense to buy a 150-200 A/h battery if you don’t have a boat, but a small yacht.
However, there is a separate category of batteries for them. The main thing is that the battery fits your electric motor and does not fail at an unexpected or inopportune moment. After all, it’s unpleasant to get stuck in the middle of a pond and then have to row out with oars.
