Minn Kota
minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com
About this brand
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Parent company
- Johnson Outdoors
Last updated: 11 September 2026
Battery and charging
- Whether batteries in one system must match
- Every battery in a string should match in type, size and age
- Which of their chargers take lithium
- All their Digital and Precision on-board chargers take LiFePO4
- Voltage at which a charger restarts
- It restarts on its own once a battery falls below 12.6 V
- Battery types their chargers support
- AGM, lithium or flooded lead-acid, chosen per bank
The 2019 article's list — no lithium, and gel instead
“Minn Kota Precision Chargers add premium features, including: Battery type selection (flooded, AGM, or gel) for each bank”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/how-charge-deep-cycle-battery
- Cable between the batteries
- Jumpers between batteries go one gauge heavier than the leads
- Charging lithium with their own chargers
- 2021-or-later motors and chargers have a lithium profile
- Waking a lithium pack from standby
- 2021-or-later Precision chargers can wake a sleeping pack
- Smallest battery they will accept
- At least 110 Ah, usually Group 27 or larger
The manual asks for 105 Ah; the website asks for 110
“For best results, use a deep cycle, marine battery with at least a 105 amp-hour rating.”
Source: johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/zp8zgjh29h/pdf/Terrova-BT-Installation-2327132rj.pdf
- Charger they recommend
- They recommend their own chargers, and say why
- Reserve capacity, where no amp-hour is given
- 180 minutes reserve capacity, where no Ah is given
- Wiring a higher-voltage string
- Wire a higher-voltage string only for a motor rated for it
“Before wiring your trolling motor batteries in series it’s important to note that it is recommended that all batteries included in a series should be the same type (all lead-acid, all AGM or all Lithium), size (volts/amps), and age.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/wiring-trolling-motor-batteries-in-series-parallel
“If this sounds like you, you will be happy to hear that all Minn Kota Digital and Precision On-Board Chargers are capable of charging 12-volt LiFePO4 batteries.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/lithium-trolling-motor-batteries-advantages-and-compatibility
“After 12 hours, the charger automatically turns off and a steady 100% GREEN LED is lit for each bank to indicate the battery is in long term Maintenance Mode and ready to use. The charger will automatically resume charging when the battery voltage drops below 12.6V.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/importance-marine-battery-maintenance
Disputed
“On each bank of a Minn Kota Precision Charger, you can select a unique battery type to guarantee a safe, protected charge. Supported battery types: -AGM -Lithium -Flooded Lead Acid”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/learn/technology/battery-chargers
Other sources state
“It’s best to use a wire gauge at least one size larger than your trolling motor power leads. For example, if your trolling motor leads are 10AWG, it would be best to use 8AWG or 9AWG wire for your jumper wires.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/wiring-trolling-motor-batteries-in-series-parallel
“Minn Kota Trolling motors and Minn Kota Precision (PCL) chargers manufactured in 2021 or later offer a designated lithium charge profile and all previous Precision models have the ability to charge lithium batteries when set to the AGM battery type selection.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/selecting-best-trolling-motor-battery
“Minn Kota Precision (PCL) chargers manufactured in 2021 or later offer a few added benefits as well as a designated lithium charge profile and the ability to wake these battery types from standby in certain conditions.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/lithium-trolling-motor-batteries-advantages-and-compatibility
Disputed
“For best results, use a deep cycle, marine battery with at least a 110-ampere hour rating, usually a Group 27 or higher.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/selecting-best-trolling-motor-battery
Other sources state
“Minn Kota recommends using Minn Kota brand chargers to recharge the batteries connected to your Minn Kota trolling motor, as they have been engineered to work with motors that include a bonding wire.”
Source: johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/zp8zgjh29h/pdf/Terrova-BT-Installation-2327132rj.pdf
“If amp hour rating is not available, select a deep cycle battery with a minimum of 180 minutes of reserve capacity.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/selecting-best-trolling-motor-battery
“Important: Only create a 24 or 36 volt system (series) for trolling motors that are rated for that voltage”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/wiring-trolling-motor-batteries-in-series-parallel
Battery care and safety
- Where an accessory may be connected
- An accessory earths to the battery the motor's black lead uses
- The bonding wire's fuse
- 3 A fuse inside; an intact one does not mean it is wired right
- Alternator and DC chargers
- An alternator charger can damage the motor and void cover
- Which batteries may be equalized
- Equalization is for flooded lead-acid and nothing else
- Sharing the bank with anything else
- They ask for a battery bank used by nothing but the motor
- Leaving a full battery on charge
- Charging a full battery can damage it for good
- Using a cranking battery
- A cranking battery must not run a trolling motor
- Mixing chemistries in one string
- Never mix lead-acid and lithium in one series string
- Starting the engine off the motor's bank
- Do not also crank the engine off one battery in the string
“The negative (-) connection must be connected to the negative terminal of the same battery that the trolling motor negative lead connects to. In the diagrams below this battery is labeled “Low Side” Battery. Connecting to any other trolling motor battery will input positive voltage into the “ground” of that accessory, which can cause excess corrosion.”
Source: johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/zp8zgjh29h/pdf/Terrova-BT-Installation-2327132rj.pdf
“The internal bonding wire is equipped with a 3 amp fuse. Improper connections described above carrying in excess of 3 amps will blow this fuse and no further damage will be exhibited.”
Source: johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/zp8zgjh29h/pdf/Terrova-BT-Installation-2327132rj.pdf
“Most alternator charging systems do not account for this bonding wire, and connect the negative posts of the trolling motor batteries to the negative posts of the crank/starting battery. These external connections can damage connected electronics and the electrical system of your trolling motor, voiding your warranty.”
Source: johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/zp8zgjh29h/pdf/Terrova-BT-Installation-2327132rj.pdf
“Precision chargers clean and protect your battery every time you plug in, extending run time and battery life. Plus, activate a more rigorous, complete cleaning at the push of a button. For Flooded Lead Acid batteries only”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/learn/technology/battery-chargers
“Minn Kota recommends using an exclusive battery system for your trolling motor. Where possible, accessories should be connected to a separate battery system. Radios and sonar units should not be connected to any trolling motor battery systems as interference from the trolling motor is unavoidable.”
Source: johnsonoutdoors.widen.net/content/zp8zgjh29h/pdf/Terrova-BT-Installation-2327132rj.pdf
“If a charge is being added to a battery that's fully charged, irreversible damage can occur. And there are many chargers on the market that keep the power on until you unplug it.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/importance-marine-battery-maintenance
“A cranking battery is not suitable for use with an electric trolling motor because they focus on quick, strong burst of power to start your outboard engine vs long-lasting power for trolling motor use.”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/selecting-best-trolling-motor-battery
“Do not mix battery types in 24 or 36-volt systems (i.e. Do not connect a Lead-Acid and Lithium in a series to create a 24-volt system)”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/selecting-best-trolling-motor-battery
“when powering a 24 or 36-volt trolling motor system, it is not recommended to use a single battery in the 24 or 36-volt series as a starting battery as it can draw current unevenly from the system and over time lead to battery damage”
Source: minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/blog/selecting-best-trolling-motor-battery