scott harris
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2020
- Messages
- 92
My son just bought a trolling motor for his fishing raft. So I built him a 60Ah LiFePO4 battery which all fit neatly in a fat 50 ammo can. The can is tough, has a nice handle, is waterproof (if you get a used one with a good rubber seal, or buy new), and it floats.
Here are the steps:
1. Buy a fat 50 ammo can. The regular 50mm cans are not big enough. If buying a used one at the surplus store, make sure it has a good rubber seal.
2. Line the bottom and sides with neoprene foam for electrical insulation and floatation.
3. Add 4 Fortune 60Ah cells connected 4s
4. Add 50amp waterproof circuit breaker (left side), BMS and shunt (right side), capacity monitor and illuminated cutoff switch (lid). I used the Overkill BMS which has a discharge switch and bluetooth. I connected the discharge switch to the illuminated power button and routed the negative lead of the button light back to the bms so that the light turns on only when it can discharge. The bluetooth can be read thru the can if you are close (like on a raft.) Finally I added a piece of white closed cell foam between the BMS side and the circuit breaker side for extra flotation.
5. Finally, I ran 8 guage marine wire through the can using cheap Chinese glands (which will be replaced as soon as the marine grade ones arrive) and connected them to a 50 amp Anderson connector.
Hope to get it on the water this weekend.