Looks like a great start to your electrification process. It looks like it would also take a lot less space in your boot too. You can also use that battery as an extended house battery too. I just bought a LiPO4 battery too. I am going to do some testing on land with solar before I get it on the boat. I got a battery box with "Anderson" style plugs on it so I can just plug items into it instead of having to attach it all the time with bolts. Keep up the great work I look forward to your videos all the time.
Had a good run out of my 54lb model and caught a lot of fish using it on a tinny in electric only places. I put an Anderson plug on the end of mine. Hasn't really been used with my new lithium battery tho as I got a Motorguide bow mounted one with more features. The Watersnake will still get used when I get a kayak.
Are you concerned at all that watersnake don't recommend running a lithium battery with these venom motors? I have just purchased the 34lb 26' shaft motor for my kayak, through Anaconda in Perth. Then going back to watersnake Australia's Web page, product support, trolling motor set-up guide, battery and charging requirements, much to my disappointment, as I too intend to used a 100amp lithium battery as I already have one. They state "LITHIUM BATTERIES: Lithium batteries can have a maximum output of up to 14.8v. This is over and above the voltage that 12v Watersnake motors are designed for. A simple Circuit Breaker or Fuse Kit will not protect your Watersnake motor's electronics from this excess power. Watersnake Advance Brushless and Geo-Spot Motors are the only Watersnake motors that can use lithium batteries (LiFePO4 suggested), but it is still recommended that you use a 12 volt deep-cycle battery. Use of a non-deep cycle battery may void your warranty I'm currently looking into a voltage regulator. Rob.
Hi Robert, To be honest I hadn't read the info about lithium batteries so thanks for sharing it. It doesn't concern me really for a couple of reasons: 1. I went with the Watersnake as a cheap 'proof of concept' so if it doesn't like lithium then I'll buy something that does. An AGM battery is NOT an option! 2. When the motor is plugged into the battery, the motor voltage display shows 13.6v. As you're aware, a well charged AGM can get close to that. I suppose 14.8 could be achievable from some batteries but even my expensive Victron batteries in my big boat top out around 14.1v. I wonder on what voltage Watersnake make their thrust claims? I bet it's not 12v! Using a voltage regulator seems like a good idea if you're concerned and I'd be interested to hear about it if you go that way. For me, lugging around a 100Ah AGM would kill the concept and I'd be better off going back to a petrol outboard. I can't even imagine what the extra weight would do to the balance of your kayak... If it's any comfort to you, I've now had many hours of trouble free use out of the Watersnake using my lithium battery. All the best, Tony.
@@sailingelleray good to know you're using a victron battery, as I also intend on using my victron, and you have not experienced any issues. I also have the victron smart shunt installed on my battery, so am keen to see the power draw across each power setting 1-5. I have ordered an ESC/PWM may or may not use this, but given the claims that the moter uses the same current draw regardless of what power setting was the reason I ordered a speed controller. I have emailed watersnake Aust regarding their claims with the lithium batteries, still waiting for a reply.
@@robertemms2608 Hi Rob, Just to clarify, I use my Victrons as house batteries on my big boat but a fairly cheap ($800) Powertech battery with the Watersnake. Please let me know if Watersnake gets back to you as I'm keen to hear their response. As an aside, I'll be publishing a short follow-up video soon with some power usage figures for the Watersnake. It won't be a scientific study but you may find it interesting all the same. All the best, Tony
I use a Victron Orion TR dc-dc converter device onboard because my TV is not keen on 14.6 volts from the 12 volt system when the charger cuts in. It was cheap and the TV likes it. Something like that in the battery box might be a thing I would consider.
Looks like a great start to your electrification process. It looks like it would also take a lot less space in your boot too. You can also use that battery as an extended house battery too.
I just bought a LiPO4 battery too. I am going to do some testing on land with solar before I get it on the boat. I got a battery box with "Anderson" style plugs on it so I can just plug items into it instead of having to attach it all the time with bolts.
Keep up the great work I look forward to your videos all the time.
Hi Phil, Thanks a bunch. I'm now running a 60AH LiPO4 as my auxiliary house battery and it's fantastic. So light!
Had a good run out of my 54lb model and caught a lot of fish using it on a tinny in electric only places. I put an Anderson plug on the end of mine. Hasn't really been used with my new lithium battery tho as I got a Motorguide bow mounted one with more features. The Watersnake will still get used when I get a kayak.
I'm glad it's working for you. I put an Anderson plug on mine too and it's so much easier to hook up. Thanks for watching.
Can this motor use in freshwater also ?
Hi and thanks for watching. Yes it will work successfully in fresh water.
Just purchased the 34lb model. Not sure why they rate the thrust in pounds ? Anyway looking forward to testing it out on my sib.
Yes it's a mystery! Good luck with it. Mine has been faultless so far and I'm really happy with the purchase.
It's probably a theoretical pounds per square inch measurement but I wish they had just gone with KW or HP.
Are you concerned at all that watersnake don't recommend running a lithium battery with these venom motors?
I have just purchased the 34lb 26' shaft motor for my kayak, through Anaconda in Perth. Then going back to watersnake Australia's Web page, product support, trolling motor set-up guide, battery and charging requirements, much to my disappointment, as I too intend to used a 100amp lithium battery as I already have one. They state
"LITHIUM BATTERIES: Lithium batteries can have a maximum output of up to 14.8v. This is over and above the voltage that 12v Watersnake motors are designed for. A simple Circuit Breaker or Fuse Kit will not protect your Watersnake motor's electronics from this excess power.
Watersnake Advance Brushless and Geo-Spot Motors are the only Watersnake motors that can use lithium batteries (LiFePO4 suggested), but it is still recommended that you use a 12 volt deep-cycle battery.
Use of a non-deep cycle battery may void your warranty
I'm currently looking into a voltage regulator.
Rob.
Hi Robert, To be honest I hadn't read the info about lithium batteries so thanks for sharing it. It doesn't concern me really for a couple of reasons:
1. I went with the Watersnake as a cheap 'proof of concept' so if it doesn't like lithium then I'll buy something that does. An AGM battery is NOT an option!
2. When the motor is plugged into the battery, the motor voltage display shows 13.6v. As you're aware, a well charged AGM can get close to that. I suppose 14.8 could be achievable from some batteries but even my expensive Victron batteries in my big boat top out around 14.1v. I wonder on what voltage Watersnake make their thrust claims? I bet it's not 12v!
Using a voltage regulator seems like a good idea if you're concerned and I'd be interested to hear about it if you go that way.
For me, lugging around a 100Ah AGM would kill the concept and I'd be better off going back to a petrol outboard. I can't even imagine what the extra weight would do to the balance of your kayak... If it's any comfort to you, I've now had many hours of trouble free use out of the Watersnake using my lithium battery. All the best, Tony.
@@sailingelleray good to know you're using a victron battery, as I also intend on using my victron, and you have not experienced any issues. I also have the victron smart shunt installed on my battery, so am keen to see the power draw across each power setting 1-5.
I have ordered an ESC/PWM may or may not use this, but given the claims that the moter uses the same current draw regardless of what power setting was the reason I ordered a speed controller.
I have emailed watersnake Aust regarding their claims with the lithium batteries, still waiting for a reply.
@@robertemms2608 Hi Rob, Just to clarify, I use my Victrons as house batteries on my big boat but a fairly cheap ($800) Powertech battery with the Watersnake. Please let me know if Watersnake gets back to you as I'm keen to hear their response. As an aside, I'll be publishing a short follow-up video soon with some power usage figures for the Watersnake. It won't be a scientific study but you may find it interesting all the same. All the best, Tony
I use a Victron Orion TR dc-dc converter device onboard because my TV is not keen on 14.6 volts from the 12 volt system when the charger cuts in. It was cheap and the TV likes it. Something like that in the battery box might be a thing I would consider.