Trolling motor batteries

[ErieEye]

I bought 2 Dakota lithium 12 volt 100 amp hour batteries a couple years ago. Love em so far. This spring I had an issue with one of my batteries not taking a charge. Basically I ran the batteries until they shut down. I got back to the camper and charged one battery with no problem. However the second battery wouldn't charge. It was as if the charger didn't even know it was hooked up. I called Dakota lithium customer support and talked to the guy. Described to him what was going on. After a short conversation he asked for my name and address and sent me a new battery at no charge. However the next day I decided to try charging that battery again and this time it charged right up. Haven't had a problem since. Haven't even installed my new battery yet. I was pleasantly surprised by Dakotas customer service.

[gb1234]

That's my chart - based on info I could find over the last few days on each company's web site. I wish I could have another column for whether the BMS includes active balancing, and another showing whether the internal connections are welded or bolted, and another for how much hassle it is to get warranty service. But I couldn't find that data on the company web sites. If my battery includes active balancing circuitry while no one else does, why wouldn't I advertise that? But no one is making such claims that I could find.

I agree that a higher price enables companies to make a higher quality product. However. companies commonly have to elevate their prices well beyond ethical profit margins - because when they try lower prices, consumers won't buy, concluding it must be junk. It's a game of psychology. It is also true that two batteries with different branding and different pricing can actually be the exact same thing, made at the exact same plant.

So... the personal experience of folks posting here means everything to me. You guys love expensive Dakotas and MillerTechs, but you also love cheap Timeusbs.

[topwater]

I have a 36V saltwater MK Terrova and went with Miller Tech. I am charging them with a 3 bank MK precision onboard. I had an issue where one of the batteries would drain to zero before the other two. I switched their position up on the charging banks and the problem followed the battery. I contacted MillerTech and they were fantastic. They sent a replacement to me next day. Since then everything has been great and I can troll all day with the waves or around 9 hours if I'm heading into or a combo of in and out of the waves. Boat is a Robalo R247 and is quite a heavy boat. I am just hoping the batteries last long enough to justify the expense, but as of now I am extremely happy and its been 3 years.