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How many electronics can 1 lithium battery run?
Posted on 6/23/26 at 6:09 am
Posted on 6/23/26 at 6:09 am
I’m needing to change my lead “house” battery in my boat and once I get an answer on if my onboard charger can simultaneously charge lead (troll motor) batteries and lithium will determine if I go with a lithium.
As of now my house battery runs my livewells, lights, cell charger, helix 9 on dash and helix 7 at bow. There is a chance my boys will be adding a garmin livescope (which I’m against but it’s “their” boat). What size lithium would I need?
Have added a seperate lead cranking battery back in January just for cranking so new battery would just be electronics.
As of now my house battery runs my livewells, lights, cell charger, helix 9 on dash and helix 7 at bow. There is a chance my boys will be adding a garmin livescope (which I’m against but it’s “their” boat). What size lithium would I need?
Have added a seperate lead cranking battery back in January just for cranking so new battery would just be electronics.
4
Posted on 6/23/26 at 7:27 am to WillFerrellisking
I run 2 hds live 9’s and the black box on 50ah battery. It will last all day. But I don’t turn on the black box very often around the house.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 9:08 am to WillFerrellisking
Mine runs three units plus black box, but it's getting charge as it's my crank battery as well.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 9:51 am to AlxTgr
What size lithium you have
Posted on 6/23/26 at 9:52 am to WillFerrellisking
125AH
Posted on 6/23/26 at 10:37 am to WillFerrellisking
Does your existing house battery charge off your motor/crank battery while running? If so (depending on outboard) you will need an isolated DC-DC charger in between. Sounds like it is completely separate though, which would be a drop in replacement.
Assuming you had a group 24 battery before, a 100Ah Lithium would give you plenty of capacity (more than you had with lead acid).
If your onboard charger can’t charge lithium, you can always get a Noco single bank charger for it. Or replace existing with a Noco that can supply the amount of batteries you need. The Noco can select battery type for each individual bank. That being said, depending on which lithium you go with some come with a charger you could mount in boat.
Assuming you had a group 24 battery before, a 100Ah Lithium would give you plenty of capacity (more than you had with lead acid).
If your onboard charger can’t charge lithium, you can always get a Noco single bank charger for it. Or replace existing with a Noco that can supply the amount of batteries you need. The Noco can select battery type for each individual bank. That being said, depending on which lithium you go with some come with a charger you could mount in boat.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 11:01 am to CP3
It does have a Blue Sea charging relay system that I have no idea how it works or what it’s for honestly.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 11:40 am to WillFerrellisking
That is an ACR. It’s essentially a relay that parallels your crank and house battery when your engine is running and crank battery is charged.
You will need to replace that with a 12V DC-DC charger if you want to keep it set up to charge your house battery off the motor while running. Or remove the ACR and lose the ability for your house bank to charge while running.
You do not want Lithium and lead acid banks paralleled with each other.
Victron makes DC-DC converters for this. I’m sure there are cheaper versions/other methods of accomplishing the same thing, but Victron is what I would use. The Orion XS 1400 is their newer model for this (and is probably what I would use), but the older Orion XS 12/12-50A should do the same thing.
Just FYI there is also some configuration required with the Victron units, but it’s not difficult at all.
Just my thoughts if you want to do it the right way.
Edit - side note… with the Victron unit, you only need to hook whatever onboard charger you have to your starting battery. The Victron unit will allow the charge to flow to the house bank once the crank battery is full (you won’t need a separate onboard charger for the lithium). The Victron is basically a “smarter” version of the ACR, and instead of simply paralleling the batteries it’s a controlled “charge” to the lithium bank since they are different chemistries and have different charge profiles, resting voltage, etc.
You will need to replace that with a 12V DC-DC charger if you want to keep it set up to charge your house battery off the motor while running. Or remove the ACR and lose the ability for your house bank to charge while running.
You do not want Lithium and lead acid banks paralleled with each other.
Victron makes DC-DC converters for this. I’m sure there are cheaper versions/other methods of accomplishing the same thing, but Victron is what I would use. The Orion XS 1400 is their newer model for this (and is probably what I would use), but the older Orion XS 12/12-50A should do the same thing.
Just FYI there is also some configuration required with the Victron units, but it’s not difficult at all.
Just my thoughts if you want to do it the right way.
Edit - side note… with the Victron unit, you only need to hook whatever onboard charger you have to your starting battery. The Victron unit will allow the charge to flow to the house bank once the crank battery is full (you won’t need a separate onboard charger for the lithium). The Victron is basically a “smarter” version of the ACR, and instead of simply paralleling the batteries it’s a controlled “charge” to the lithium bank since they are different chemistries and have different charge profiles, resting voltage, etc.
This post was edited on 6/23/26 at 11:46 am
Posted on 6/23/26 at 12:14 pm to CP3
So if I stay lead I can use what I have but if I switch to lithium for house battery I will either need a new charger (if current one does not charge lithium and lead simultaneously) or take out that blue sea relay and get a victory Orion
Just curious how the heck you know so much about this? haha I really appreciate the help bud!! Thanks
Just curious how the heck you know so much about this? haha I really appreciate the help bud!! Thanks
Posted on 6/23/26 at 12:21 pm to WillFerrellisking
The ACR will have to come out regardless if you are mixing lead acid and lithium.
If you want house to charge off the motor running you need to add the Victron in place of the ACR. Added bonus is with the Victron you can only hook onboard charger to start battery and it will also handle charging the lithium house.
If you are fine not having house charge while running, then you don’t need the Victron. The only thing that will ever charge lithium house batteries in this case would be onboard charger, which you would need one that can charge lithium.
I’m an EE that mainly deals with DC voltage. And have also rebuilt several boats and rewire larger center consoles every now and then on the side to fund my fishing habit
If you want house to charge off the motor running you need to add the Victron in place of the ACR. Added bonus is with the Victron you can only hook onboard charger to start battery and it will also handle charging the lithium house.
If you are fine not having house charge while running, then you don’t need the Victron. The only thing that will ever charge lithium house batteries in this case would be onboard charger, which you would need one that can charge lithium.
quote:
Just curious how the heck you know so much about this? haha I really appreciate the help bud!! Thanks
I’m an EE that mainly deals with DC voltage. And have also rebuilt several boats and rewire larger center consoles every now and then on the side to fund my fishing habit
Posted on 6/23/26 at 12:48 pm to CP3
With all of that being said, do you think a lead acid battery can last all day running electronics if I don’t switch house battery to lithium and keep the acr or am I just kicking the can down the road and will need to upgrade house battery to lithium to run everything durning all day bass tournaments running livewells and all electronics?
Posted on 6/23/26 at 1:33 pm to WillFerrellisking
I mean, it really just comes down to what your actual loads are, and how often you’re cranking motor to move to different spots, etc. Have you had issues draining battery in the past?
People have been getting by with lead acid/AGM batteries just fine prior to LiFePO4 becoming more widely available/affordable. Nothing wrong with staying with lead acid/AGM other than they are heavier/bigger than an equivalent lithium. If you stay with LA or AGM and are worried about capacity (and have enough room), you can always jump up to the next group size for the house battery (Group 27 or even 31). Or add second one paralleled, but that seems excessive for a small boat.
I (personally) like to stick with AGM for starting and house banks, and only use lithium for trolling motor.
I have several reasons for this, some are “controversial” and have been argued several times on here, so I won’t dive too deep into it. But long story short… I don’t trust lithium as cranking battery (yet).
Since I don’t use them for cranking, I stick with LA/AGM for house just to avoid having to mix battery types, install Victron, etc. I have no issue using lithium for house batteries other than that though, and there is nothing wrong with doing it that way.
Not sure any of that actually answered your question
People have been getting by with lead acid/AGM batteries just fine prior to LiFePO4 becoming more widely available/affordable. Nothing wrong with staying with lead acid/AGM other than they are heavier/bigger than an equivalent lithium. If you stay with LA or AGM and are worried about capacity (and have enough room), you can always jump up to the next group size for the house battery (Group 27 or even 31). Or add second one paralleled, but that seems excessive for a small boat.
I (personally) like to stick with AGM for starting and house banks, and only use lithium for trolling motor.
I have several reasons for this, some are “controversial” and have been argued several times on here, so I won’t dive too deep into it. But long story short… I don’t trust lithium as cranking battery (yet).
Since I don’t use them for cranking, I stick with LA/AGM for house just to avoid having to mix battery types, install Victron, etc. I have no issue using lithium for house batteries other than that though, and there is nothing wrong with doing it that way.
Not sure any of that actually answered your question
Posted on 6/23/26 at 2:04 pm to CP3
Yes you answered and again I thank you for the info and your time!
My house battery is a 27 right now and I’ve had zero issues. I was just wondering if adding livescope in the future would pull too much and drain house too fast or not make an 8hr day.
My house battery is a 27 right now and I’ve had zero issues. I was just wondering if adding livescope in the future would pull too much and drain house too fast or not make an 8hr day.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 2:09 pm to CP3
quote:
some are “controversial”
Posted on 6/23/26 at 2:37 pm to WillFerrellisking
If I remember right, livescope doesn’t really draw a ton of power. I want to say like 2-3 amps.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 8:36 pm to CP3
CP3
Great job. You have such a wealth of knowledge on this subject and are an asset to the board. Although it was not my question I certainly appreciate someone knowledgeable about these things that really helps out guys on this board.
Great job. You have such a wealth of knowledge on this subject and are an asset to the board. Although it was not my question I certainly appreciate someone knowledgeable about these things that really helps out guys on this board.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 8:50 pm to Mister Bigfish
Run livescope 34 off cranking battery, which is a deep cycle marine cranking battery. Haven’t had any issues.
Posted on 6/24/26 at 3:13 pm to CP3
People like you are why I frequent this site. Thank you!
Posted on 6/24/26 at 9:58 pm to WillFerrellisking
Just add a 12v 100AH Lithium to your boat and hook all electronics to it. Charge it accordingly w it’s own charger They are super small and shouldn’t be hard to find a spot…
Posted on 6/25/26 at 6:48 am to redfish99
Probably what I’ll do if/when they get livescope.
I currently have a 3 bank charger with 4 lead acid batteries and that acr relay. I can take the acr relay out and hook my cranking (lead) to battery charger along with my 2 troll motor batteries (lead). Then the new lithium (house) with its own designated charger.
I currently have a 3 bank charger with 4 lead acid batteries and that acr relay. I can take the acr relay out and hook my cranking (lead) to battery charger along with my 2 troll motor batteries (lead). Then the new lithium (house) with its own designated charger.
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