On this page we explain how to best use your Rebelcell battery. The right use of the battery is important for safety and battery service life. Always thorougly review the operating manual of your battery and also of your trolling engine, depth sounder and other electrical equipment that you power with your battery. This prevents unnecessary damage. In this article, we will cover the following topics:
All Rebelcell batteries (except the 12v07 AV and 12v18 AV) have screw battery terminals (size M8). This means that these batteries have two bolts that can be screwed into the battery terimanl. This allows cables with ‘tongue connectors’ to be attached to the battery. Always pay attention to the + wire (red) on the + terminal and the – wire (black or blue) on the – terminal. Always remove the protective caps from the battery during use. Important: Always tighten the screw terminals firmly! Use a socket spanner, for example. Never connect crocodile jaws or quick clamps directly to the battery as these are poor connections. This can lead to tremendous heat development and unsafe situations. For the same reason, it is also important to always use cables of sufficient thickness. Always place a fuse between the battery and the motor. The operating instructions for your electric motor will tell you which fuse to use. This protects the motor and the battery. Take care that you (or your socket spanner) do not make contact with both battery terminals at the same time! In that case you may get a shock yourself and a short circuit may occur. Always use insulated tools and take off jewellery.
On our accessories page you will find several Quick Connect cables with fuse holders of 60A or 100A for your trolling engine and also cables for easy connection of your depth sounder.
Once you have connected the battery to your trolling engine you are all set to go fishing or boating. If you use a Rebelcell Angling line battery (black battery) we do not recommend using your engine at full throttle for extended periods of time. With a battery from the Rebelcell AV-line (blue battery) there are no restrictions on use (unless the supplier of your electric motor indicates otherwise). We recommend to protect the batteries (for instance with a battery box or Rebelcell battery bag) from water and rain and to put the battery in a dry place. Always ensure that the battery is firmly fixed in place with as little vibration as possible. The battery should not be able to slide (or fall) and therefore it is often advisable to secure the battery with lashing straps. Every Rebelcell battery has a Battery Management System (BMS) that protects the battery from being deeply discharged. Unlike a lead-acid battery, the battery can be completely discharged. The BMS will also “switch off” the battery when it the power draw is too high (when too much current is required) or when the temperature is too high (> 55ºC). It is also advisable to place the battery in a cool environment and certainly not near a heat source. While boating or fishing, check the charge status indicator (if present) on the battery regularly to monitor battery capacity. The battery indicator on your electric motor is set for lead-acid batteries and is not accurate in combination with a lithium battery. We recommend that you turn the charge status indicator ‘off’ by default when the battery is not in use, to prevent the battery from being unintentionally discharged. The battery can be used normally when the charge status indicator is off . ls u de accu heeft aangesloten kunt u gaan varen.
We strongly recommend to charge Rebelcell batteries with a Rebelcell charger. The warranty is void if the battery is charged with another charger and problems occur in use. The battery may be ‘topped’ up or partly charged as you so desire and the charge cycle can be interrupted without any problems. If the battery is not in use for a long period of time (e.g. during the winter) we recommend to fully charge directly before use. The batteries cannot be charged at temperatures below 0°C.
Always read the operating instructions (on the charger sticker) carefully before charging. Always follow the following steps before charging:
When disconnecting, follow these steps:
The table below gives an overview of which battery chargers are suitable for which battery and how long the charging process takes.
| Charger 12.6V4A | Charger 12.6V6A | Charger 12.6V10A | Charger 12.6V20A (Normal or waterproof) | Charger 12.6V35A (Normal or waterproof) | Charger 29.4V12A | Charger 29.4V20A (Waterproof) | Charger 42V20A (Waterproof) | Charger 14.6V3A | 14.6V20A LIFEPO4 Charger (Normal or waterproof) | 12.6V10A Charger for Outdoorbox | 12.6V20A Charger for Outdoorbox (Normal or Waterproof) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12V07 AV battery | 2-3 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V18 AV battery | 5-6 h. | 3,5-4,5 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V30 AV battery | 8-9 h. | 5-6 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V35 AV battery | x | x | 4,5-5,5 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V50 AV battery | x | x | 6-7 h. | 3-4 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V70 AV battery | x | x | 9-10 h. | 4-5 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V100 AV battery | x | x | x | 6-7 h. | 3-4 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V140 AV battery | x | x | x | 9-10 h. | 5-6 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12V190 AV battery | x | x | x | x | 7-8 h. | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 24V50 battery | x | x | x | x | x | 5-6 h. | 3-4 h. | x | x | x | x | x |
| 24V70 battery | x | x | x | x | x | 7-8 h. | 4-5 h. | x | x | x | x | x |
| 24V100 battery | x | x | x | x | x | 10-11 h. | 6-7 h. | x | x | x | x | x |
| 36V70 battery | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 5-6 h. | x | x | x | x |
| Rebelcell Start | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 4-5 h. | x | x | x |
| 12V80 PRO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 4-5 h. | x | x |
| Outdoorbox 12.35 AV | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 4,5 - 5,5 h. | x |
| Outdoorbox 12.50 AV | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 6-7 h. | 3-4 h. |
| Outdoorbox 12.70 AV | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 9-10 h. | 4-5 h. |
Rebelcell batteries can be charged with a solar panel. A specific Solar charge controller is required, please check our webshop for the suitable model for your battery.
The battery does not require any periodic maintenance (with exception of keeping your battery clean and dry and removing any accumulated dirt from the battery terminals). Lithium batteries have much lower self discharge than lead-acid batteries (~ 2-3% per month). A trickle charger is therefore NOT required. If you do not use the battery for an extended period of time (such as in winter), we recommend the following:
Rebelcell batteries are excellent for use in cold weather (down to -15 ° C). In contrast to lead batteries, the capacity loss is not great. Lead batteries lose up to 50% of their capacity at freezing temperatures. This is much less with lithium batteries. When using the battery in cold weather, check the battery status indicator more often to be sure, because the capacity will be slightly lower than you are used to.
The battery should never be charged when it is colder than 0 degrees. This applies to all lithium batteries. If you nevertheless want to charge the battery in the freezing cold, it is best to do this immediately after using the battery. By using (and charging) the battery, it heats up a little bit. Immediately after use, the battery will therefore still be warm enough to use the charger. Are you storing the battery for the winter? Check “Battery storage and Maintenance” here above again.
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