This is a common question we get due to the increased popularity of Lithium batteries today. You can use a lithium battery but your LED meter will not work on your trolling motor. Please keep reading for specifications you should look for when purchasing a lithium battery.
Similar to all other trolling motor brands, we also advise against using lithium batteries with our products. Lithium batteries tend to run at a higher voltage for longer durations (14-16V) than Lead-Acid batteries (13V). Trolling motors are designed to be used with batteries that output around 13V at most and then primarily 12V. Using a higher voltage can put wear and tear on the motor and potentially damage some of the internal components and ruin your motor.
If you can find a "12V" Lithium battery with an output rated less than 13.8V, this could safely be used with the 12v trolling motors we sell. Our 24-volt trolling motors can be used with "24v" lithium batteries with an output voltage below 25.6v.
The output voltage of a lithium battery can be difficult to determine, so you will have to find the battery's specifications or reach out to the manufacturer of the battery to inquire about the "Output Voltage." You will have to make sure it's specifically labeled as "Output Voltage" and not the "Nominal Voltage" of the battery. Many Lithium battery manufacturers will label their batteries as "12V" when they output a much higher voltage in reality.
For lithium batteries, we recommend Lithium Battery Options, which we sell on our website! The 12v lithium batteries are safe to use with our trolling motors. The 24v lithium battery is compatible with our 86lb thrust trolling motors or our NK180.
NOTE: The LED battery meters on our motors and our Smart Battery Box will no longer be accurate for estimating the remaining charge if used with a Lithium battery. For more information on using lithium batteries with our trolling motors, see this article here. If you have any additional questions about our motors, please see our Motors FAQ Page. For more in-depth articles, please see our Motor Support Page.
If you can’t find the information, you need to give us a call (866) 721-0002 Monday to Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm or reach out to us via email SUPPORT@NEWPORTVESSELS.COM.
