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IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: cerhardt161 on Sep 22, 2021, 10:59 AM

Title: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: cerhardt161 on Sep 22, 2021, 10:59 AM
Ive been looking for a lithium battery for my new helix setup and have seen pricing for 12ah batteries from 120$ down to 60$ And all claiming lifepo4. Is there any real difference from a vexilar battery to a Dakota lithium to the Chinese brands?
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: vinella on Sep 22, 2021, 11:12 AM
My advice is to go with someone that has a good warranty and customer service like Amped or Norsk. If/when something goes wrong with the battery, which can and does happen, you'll want someone that will send you a replacement without jerking you around. Amped and Norsk have both been great to me in that regard. Had 1 from each place go bad and they both sent me a replacement right away no questions asked.
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: aquarium234 on Sep 22, 2021, 11:46 AM
amped batteries are going on 3 years for me and working great. :-)
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: HWeber on Sep 22, 2021, 01:01 PM
Stick with lifepo4, Norsk is lipo. After that it's pick your poison be sure to completely read any warranties. Personally my next one I'll probably gamble with whoever is cheapest.
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: 800stealth on Sep 22, 2021, 01:12 PM
I like Amped as well, Matt offers great customer service and no troubles with the two batteries I got a couple years ago. He usually has a good deal going on tungstens too...
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: Junkie4Ice on Sep 22, 2021, 01:19 PM
Ive been looking for a lithium battery for my new helix setup and have seen pricing for 12ah batteries from 120$ down to 60$ And all claiming lifepo4. Is there any real difference from a vexilar battery to a Dakota lithium to the Chinese brands?

Nope no real difference, as long as you go through a reputable company so they stand behind their warranty. The chinese companies tend to re-brand their company names every so often and you'll never get a true warranty through them. Amped was a sponsor of this site or offered big discounts to a lot of people on here so you'll get a lot of people suggesting them. My only purchase through Amped was a bust, but their customer service was great. Personally, I'd be buying my batteries through Marcum or Vexilar, you know they will never be going anywhere and their price point is similar to the smaller companies. Your warranty is only as good as the company it comes from.
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: skifisher on Sep 22, 2021, 05:23 PM
“My only purchase through Amped was a bust, but their customer service was great.”

^^^what did you purchase, and what was the problem? (Just curious!)
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: Agronomist_at_IA on Sep 22, 2021, 09:21 PM
I bought a dakota lithium battery when they first came out. 12volt 10ah. It’s been a great battery.

Last year replaced my double vision vexilar with the Vexilar lithium because the price/availability.

Both have treated me well.
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: Iceassin on Sep 23, 2021, 04:48 AM
I used an Amped 12 amp for my locator for the first time last season and had zero issues. Impressive. And I just ordered a 30 amp to power my minnow "livewell". Hopefully with the same results. Review forthcoming.
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: filetandrelease on Sep 23, 2021, 06:29 AM

 I purchased 2,12v10amp marcum brutes
 On sale for $100 with chargers, easily  runs my old helix 5 for 30hrs
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: Junkie4Ice on Sep 23, 2021, 06:46 AM
“My only purchase through Amped was a bust, but their customer service was great.”

^^^what did you purchase, and what was the problem? (Just curious!)

Their knockoff lithium-ion Milwuakee drill batteries they sold last year. They purchased them from china, tried to claim that they were built in the same factories as the OEM batteries, and rebranded them as their own for double the price. I got the dreaded red blinking light on the first charge and as you can see, they no longer sell them. So by 'great customer service' I mean that they gave me a refund AND took the battery back, the chinese companies give you a refund but your stuck with a garbage battery  ;)
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: hardwater diehard on Sep 23, 2021, 08:05 AM
The major company/brands of marine electronics are getting/providing  lithium batteries for their upper end units as well a selling the battery out right. So I expect the the other lithium battery companies to be completive with each other with prices and new offerings . My only suggestion is get a lithium charger for your battery ..Vexilar kinda stubbed their toe by having a competitive priced lithium battery last season ..but no dedicated charger ..they stated you could use their standard SLA charger ...kind of mixed messaging..as thats not the industry norm recommendation  . I see this season Vexilar offers some new options for battery as well as a lithium charger.
Title: Re: Lithium battery pricing and options
Post by: badger132 on Sep 23, 2021, 09:54 AM
One option you might consider is using Ridgid 18V tool batteries. (or another brand if you already own them) My Garmin, and most other brands use a DC/DC converter at the input to insure that you have the proper, constant voltage for your electronics, and that input has a wide range. I suggest Ridgid, because if you register, you get a lifetime warranty. I would have said there was little likelihood of a failure, but just this year I have had 2 failures of the smaller ones, and both were replaced with just a phone call. Even if you don't use the same battery for your drill auger, a lifetime replacement is worth something. You also generally get a charger with them that checks the temperature and prevents charging when the battery is too hot or too cold.
Since you are using the same DC/DC converter, you get more watts from each amp the battery provides- nominally 1.5 times more than a 12V nominal cell. My 9 AH battery has as much energy as a 13.5 AH 12V cell.
Before trying this, search online forums and find someone that has done it with the model you use, to make sure your model will not be damaged. You will also find where to buy the battery adapter and hook it up. This may not be cheaper unless you have the battery already, but it is the only way I know to get a lifetime warranty.

 :tipup: