Dave’s Off-Grid Camp & Trolling Motor Journey with Power Queen
I spend part of hunting season at our off-grid deer camp in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Even without grid power, we still need electricity for lights, a TV, a DVD player, and charging phones, cameras, and laptops.
I used to rely on heavy lead-acid batteries with an inverter and sometimes a noisy gas generator. I eventually switched to the Power Queen 12V 100Ah Low-Temp Deep Cycle Lithium Battery, which I now use both at deer camp and on my boat.
Why I Needed a Better Off-Grid Battery Setup
Our old lead-acid batteries were heavy and bulky. Moving them in and out of the truck and carrying them to camp took real effort. When we needed additional power, we sometimes used a gas generator, but the noise and smell were not ideal for camp.
I also used lead-acid batteries for the electric motors on my boat. From my experience, I was replacing those batteries about every two years, so I wanted something lighter and better suited to regular cycling.
Related Reading: Deep Cycle Redefined: Why Lithium is the Modern Alternative to Lead Acid
Why I Chose Power Queen for My Off-Grid Power Setup
I had considered lithium batteries about six years earlier, but at the time, a friend told me he had paid around $800 for a roughly 100Ah battery. That upfront cost was more than I wanted to spend.
The Power Queen 12V 100Ah Low-Temp Deep Cycle Lithium Battery made the switch more practical for me. The batteries weigh less than half as much as the comparable lead-acid batteries I was used to handling.
Power Queen also states that these batteries come with a five-year warranty and are rated for 4,000 full charge and discharge cycles. Compared with my experience replacing lead-acid batteries about every two years, that was another reason I decided to make the change.
My Power Queen Battery Setup and Real-World Results
At deer camp, the Power Queen batteries support our TV, DVD player, lights, phones, cameras, and laptops. The biggest improvement for me is simply how much easier the batteries are to move and manage compared with my old lead-acid setup.
I also run two Power Queen lithium batteries in the front battery compartment of my boat to power the electric trolling motor. With that setup, I can troll throughout the day.
Compared with my previous lead-acid setup, I estimate the boat is about 70 pounds lighter. I also like being able to use the same batteries for both off-grid camp power and boating.
My Power Queen Setup
- Battery: Power Queen 12V 100Ah Low-Temp Deep Cycle Lithium Battery
- Off-grid use: TV, DVD player, lights, phones, cameras, and laptops
- Boat setup: Two Power Queen batteries
- Application: Electric trolling motor
- Real-world result: Trolling throughout the day
- Weight change: Approximately 70 lb lighter than my previous boat battery setup
The Value of Power Queen Deep Cycle Lithium Batteries for Off-Grid Use
For me, switching from lead-acid to Power Queen lithium batteries mainly came down to weight, easier handling, and being able to use the batteries across different outdoor applications.
The Power Queen 12V 100Ah Low-Temp Deep Cycle Lithium Battery works for the way I use power at deer camp and on my boat. For people using lead-acid batteries in off-grid camps, cabins, fishing boats, or trolling motor setups, it may be worth considering a lithium upgrade based on the voltage, capacity, and power requirements of your own system.
