Dakota Lithium Blog

This blog is for replacing your batteries, if you need assistance choosing the right battery, or if you have questions about lithium batteries, please refer to What Battery Do I need for My Golf  Golf Cart? Preparing to Remove Your Batteries: The only hardware tool you need to replace your batteries is a ratchet or a socket wrench set. If you are taking out lead acid batteries, make sure to wear goggles and gloves (to protect against the acid and corrosion), and you may need battery carrying straps due to their weight. If you are using a 12V converter, you may need a stripping and connection kit for the wires. Before you start, it is a good idea to take...

Linking 12 Volt batteries in series is an easy way to create higher voltage 24V, 36V and 48V battery systems. Before linking batteries in series however it is helpful to first charge each battery individually. This is called balancing batteries in series, also known as voltage matching. Balancing batteries in series has two big benefits: The total capacity of the system will be higher. This means more runtime for your golf cart, trolling motor, solar battery bank, or whatever you are powering. The lifespan of each battery will be longer since the stress of running to empty is evening shared by all batteries instead of a single battery. Dakota Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries have a very long lifespan (typically...

Editor's note: Jim S. is a retired engineer who spends his winters playing golf near his home in Arizona. As a customer he provided this review of upgrading his golf cart to Dakota Lithium batteries to help other customers understand how to use their battery and why they should join the #LithiumRevolution Hello everyone, So, here is how the Dakota Lithium battery works in my golf cart. 48V 96Ah Battery The nominal rating of the Dakota Lithium golf cart battery is 48 volts and 96 Amp Hours.  It weighs 100 pounds vs the 380 pounds for lead acid batteries, and because it is a LiFePO4 battery (LiFePO4 = Lithium Iron Phosphate) it has none of the fire/explosion/danger issues that we...

Less weight, no battery watering, and more consistent performance—upgrading your golf cart to lithium has clear benefits! Learn how to match your cart’s voltage and current requirements, compare capacity with your existing lead-acid batteries, and choose the right battery and charger for a reliable conversion.

Bassmaster Brock Mosely runs 3 x 12V 135Ah Dakota Lithium batteries for his trolling motor 3 minute reading time When you are fishing with a trolling motor your power setting is determined by the conditions, and your application. Trolling in high flow river current will require a higher power setting then trolling near a lake inlet. Here's what we have learned from our Team Dakota Lithium pro staff: in most applications a professional fisherman averages a 30% of max power setting. So if you buy a Dakota Lithium battery that meets you max amp draw needs (Ah capacity rating of battery is greater then the max amp draw of your motor) than you most likely have a battery that will...

An example of 500 watts of rooftop solar. Three larger 150 watt panels plus one smaller 50 watt solar panel on the roof of this RV generates more than enough power for the 4 Dakota Lithium house batteries they are charging. Are you looking to camp off-the-grid? To unshackle from shore power you will need a way to easily generate power. The cleanest, and easiest way to re-charge your Dakota Lithium batteries is via solar power. Here’s a size chart for what solar panels you need by size of RV/van/camper & how many Dakota Lithium batteries you have. To connect solar panels to a lithium battery you will need a lithium compatible solar charge controller (a deep dive on RV...

[Editor's note: Big shout out to Joe for sharing his experience installing two Dakota Lithium 23 Ah batteries on his Hobie Pro Angler 14 fishing kayak. There are many ways to install a Dakota Lithium battery, but we found Joe's instructions helpful and rich in detail and wanted to share. You can download the PDF instructions he created here.] Installing two 23 Ah Dakota lithium batteries in the aft compartment of a 2017 Hobie Pro Angler 14 By Joseph Brillhart, Dakota Lithium customer & community member Main Goal: Install adequate deep cycle, rechargeable battery(s) in my Hobie PA 14 to operate a Humminbird Solix 10 which draws 2.5 Ah. The battery(s) should be capable providing continuous power for at least...

A Dakota Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery has a typical self discharge rate of 5% per month. In other words, it takes six months for a Dakota Lithium battery to self discharge to the same level a conventional battery reaches in just thirty days. That means your battery will hold energy for longer until you are ready to use it. It also makes it an optimal battery for emergencies, or back up power for when the lights go out. As a battery ages the self discharge rate will increase, after 4-5 years of use you may find your battery has a self discharge rate of 10-30% a month. When a battery reaches a self discharge rate of greater then 50% in a 24...

Here at Dakota Lithium we have helped boat owners across the globe install custom energy storage solutions. Most boat owners that have chosen to install Dakota Lithium on their boat do so for four reasons: They would like to increase their storage capacity. Dakota Lithium batteries have a flat voltage curve, so they provide about twice the usable power as a lead acid battery with the same amp hour (Ah) rating. This means you get twice the usable power with the same number and size of batteries as before (Dakota Lithium batteries are drop in replacements for SLA, AGM or lead acid batteries). They would like to increase the efficiency of the solar energy panels on their boat. Dakota Lithium...

What is the most reliable backup power supply for ham radio operators? Check out Ham Radio Crash Course for instructions on how to use a Dakota Lithium battery and a solar panel to create an emergency power source. Dakota Lithium: simple, reliable power. Shop Dakota Lithium Ham Radio Batteries

What is a starter battery? A starter battery, also called a car battery, is designed to provide a large burst of current for a short period of time. This surge of current turns the engine over during the starting process then the alternator takes over. The burst of energy only discharges the battery 1- 3% then is topped off by the alternator. Under normal use your car battery may go through its entire life without ever being drained more than 20 percent of its total capacity. Starter battery = single bust of energy When should I use a starter battery? For starting your car, motorcycle, or other gasoline engine. Since this battery is used for starting the engine only we...

Choosing the right trolling motor battery can make a big difference in your time on the water. Learn how to match battery voltage and capacity to your trolling motor, estimate runtime, and compare lead-acid and lithium batteries. Discover why LiFePO4 batteries are becoming a popular choice for anglers looking for longer runtime, less weight, and reliable performance.