Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries are gaining ground as consumer batteries. Thanks to their low weight and good charge absorption, they offer major advantages over lead batteries. However, when it comes to operating very powerful consumers such as electric winches or bow thrusters, lithium technology has not been the first choice until now, as most batteries can only handle a current output that corresponds to their capacity. A 100 ampere-hour battery can therefore only supply 100 amperes of continuous current. This is clearly not enough for a bow thruster with three to four kilowatts of power.
The new high-current battery from Liontron is designed for precisely these applications. The Li-battery has a capacity of 85 ampere hours and is designed to deliver a continuous current of 400 amperes without the voltage dropping significantly below 12 volts. As a so-called cold start current, the battery can even handle 1,200 amps for 20 seconds. According to the manufacturer, the maximum power of the bow thruster is maintained even during longer thrusts and until the end of the battery capacity. However, this could also be a problem, as the motors of the bow thrusters are only intended for short-term operation and are designed for the significantly lower voltage level of lead batteries. If you want to convert the manoeuvring aid to lithium technology, you should definitely obtain approval from the manufacturer. It should also be noted that, according to Liontron, the high-current battery must not be connected in series. This means that it is not possible to set up 24-volt systems.
The battery weighs 12.5 kilograms and has an integrated battery management system that protects the cells from overcharging and short circuits. Unlike many other models from the manufacturer, however, the high-current battery does not offer a Bluetooth interface. The service life is specified as more than 3,000 cycles, and the battery should also be able to withstand deep discharges. The price is 1,350 euros, in the Online shop of the manufacturer the battery is currently available for as little as 1,080 euros.
