Hey all, I know I’ll have to buy a couple new trolling batteries. Probably within the next year. I have to store my boat outside. Do lithiums struggle below 32 degrees? Should I avoid lithiums if my boat will always be outside below freezing? Thanks

There's no issue with storing them outside in the cold. They don't like to be charged below freezing, some have internal protections to inhibit that...but it's not really a problem in Texas.

My batteries stay outside. Lots of related content on my channel below

They will not accept a charge if the core battery temp is below 32*... Some lithiums have a built in heater, some guys wrap them in heating pads, some battery companies sell a heating blanket for batteries... As far as using them at or below 32* they work fine... It's just recharging them that's the problem... Dan

TY!

As light as they are, you can take them inside to charge them in a pinch too.

That seems like a lot of work. but you're right, haha

Totally fine to use, I use them ice fishing well below freezing. As mentioned, the important thing is to let them warm up before charging.

Amped Outdoors has a great information area on their website regarding storing, charging, using, etc......relevant info regardless of the brand you own.

https://ampedoutdoors.com/pages/video-and-how-to-page

Good info here. What about charging regular lead batteries below 32 degrees?

Hooking up a charger to lead acid batteries will cause them to warm up inside. They will take a charge just fine. Lithiums are the only ones that are finicky about charging temps.

I can say that my boat has been plugged in for a week and a half. It is in my driveway. Well below freezing here yesterday and today. The battery internal temps, according to my Ionic app, show them all to be around 34 degrees internal. They will generate enough heat staying plugged to be safe, IMO.

Your ionics will have low temp charging cut-off that will ignore the charger when the battery is below ~32°F

Ionics low temp cut off is 24°F

I would suggest a heater of some type or just remove them in the cold. Realistically, if they are in a garage in Texas the inside of the boat where the batteries are stored are likely to remain above freezing for 360 days a year. 365 if they charge to 24F.

If you have a lazer temp guage you could experiment and look at their temperature on a very cold night where you store your boat. My boat is outside and the outside temp is 35. Inside my boat its 38.

I havent had any problems with my ionics. Typically its really cold in the morning, then it warms throughout the day. So even on cold days Ill fish til dark then when I get to the cabin immediately plug them in. At this point it is still above freezing. As the batteries start charging they produce heat, so even though the outside temp will drop below freezing my batteries and compartment are well above freezing and will charge through the night.

If I was gonna fish some brutal cold I might stop by walmart and buy me a hot pad and throw in there or something I guess. But so far my method has worked great.

If they have a low temp cutoff, it isn’t needed. Internal temps are consistently above freezing when the charger is plugged in….even when the batteries show to be in “standby”.