Last Updated on May 30, 2025
This article explores using a more affordable LiFePo4 48-volt battery as an alternative to the standard ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus electric outboard motor battery. It details the features of the Power House 48V 32Ah LiFePo4 battery, which offers more amp hours and a lower cost than a second ePropulsion battery, making it a practical option for many users. It also includes a funny story about a lost boat trailer bunk.
Trying a Cheaper Battery for Your ePropulsion Electric Outboard Motor
When you're out on the water, having enough power for your electric outboard motor is a big deal. The standard ePropulsion battery works well, but sometimes you want more options. This article looks at a different battery that might save you some money and give you more run time.
The Power House 48V 32Ah Battery
You've probably been using the standard ePropulsion battery, and it's been fine. But you might also have tried a bigger 100 amp-hour battery in another video. Now, you're checking out the Power House 48V 32Ah battery. This one is much easier to handle than the 100 amp-hour version. It's light enough for you to pick up easily, and you can connect it to the motor with a cable.
You might think 32 amp-hours isn't much, but the battery that comes with your motor is only 28 amp-hours. So, 32 is actually more! You've been running your motor at different speeds, mostly full throttle, for about an hour, and there's still plenty of power left. It was a calm day, which helps, but it shows this battery can keep up.
When you first got the Power House battery, you were impressed with how it was packed. It was really secure, and it came with a good instruction manual. The manual had lots of helpful details about storing and waking up the battery. It even told you to charge it before using it for the first time. This battery is also smaller and lighter than the 100 amp-hour battery, which makes sense.
It came with all the bolts and washers needed to connect the cables. You also got the right charger for it from Tiny Boat Nation. The charger is simple to use, and it even has quick-disconnect cables. You're not sure yet if you can just leave those cables connected for future charging, or if you need to swap them out each time.
Connecting and Charging the Power House Battery
Connecting the Power House battery to your ePropulsion motor is pretty straightforward. You just plug the cable into the battery. It took you about 11 minutes to get everything connected and make sure the charging light was on. Once it's all hooked up, you just turn on the motor, and you're good to go.
Bluetooth Features and Performance
One cool thing about the Power House battery is that it has Bluetooth. There's an app you can use to check the battery's status. It tells you the state of charge and how much time you have left based on your current power use. For example, at one point, it showed 91% charge and almost 5 hours of run time. When you throttled up, the time remaining dropped, which means the app gives you real-time updates. This is really helpful for managing your power on the water.
With a fully charged battery and your 17-foot Boston Whaler, you can get about 4.5 to 4.8 miles per hour. Your boat is pretty heavy, especially with all the gear you had on board that day, including another battery, camera gear, life jackets, and even some folding chairs.
A Strange Discovery
While you were out testing the battery, you found something odd in the river: an 8-foot boat trailer bunk. You picked it up, thinking you were doing a good deed by removing debris. Later, when you went to load your boat back onto your trailer, you realized your trailer was missing a bunk. It turns out the bunk you found was yours! What are the chances of finding your own lost trailer part a mile from home?
Cost Comparison
Let's talk about the money. Here's a breakdown of prices from Tiny Boat Nation:
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ePropulsion Motor: $1,549
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ePropulsion Battery: $1,149
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Power House Battery: $799
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Adapter Cable: $175
So, the total for the Power House battery setup is $974. This makes it $175 cheaper than buying a second ePropulsion battery. It's a good way to save some cash if you need more battery life.
Key Takeaways
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The Power House 48V 32Ah battery is a cheaper alternative to the standard ePropulsion battery.
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It offers more amp-hours (32Ah vs. 28Ah) than the original battery.
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The battery has Bluetooth connectivity and an app for real-time monitoring.
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It's lighter and more manageable than larger aftermarket batteries.
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You can get a discount on these products from Tiny Boat Nation using a special code.
You didn't get to fully document the run time and range with this new battery because of the trailer bunk incident. But since it has more amp-hours, it should last a bit longer than the original battery. How long it lasts will depend on how you use it, especially if you're running at full speed. If you want to see more about the ePropulsion motor or other battery options, there are playlists available with more videos.
Stay safe out there on the water!
