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The short answer. The Ultrex QUEST runs on 24 V or 36 V and works out which one you wired at power-up. Minn Kota’s table puts max draw at 60 A either way, with a 60 A breaker and 6 AWG leads for the first 10 ft. Minn Kota says the QUEST line is “optimized for use with LiFePO4”, so lithium is the maker’s pick here. One 24 V or 36 V lithium battery rated for 60 A continuous does the job.
Which voltage are you running?
| 24 V | 36 V | |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust | 90 lb | 115 lb |
| Max amp draw (Minn Kota) | 60 A | 60 A |
| Breaker | 60 A, rated 24 VDC min | 60 A, rated 36 VDC min |
| Wire at 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 ft | 6 / 6 / 4 / 4 / 2 AWG | 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 4 AWG |
Length means batteries to the motor’s leads. The leads themselves are 8 AWG, about 5 to 7 ft, from the factory. Past 25 ft, Minn Kota says get a marine technician.
You get the full 115 lb only at 36 V. The motor won’t complain about 24 V, it just makes 90 lb.
Batteries that fit
Minn Kota lists lead-acid sizes (Group 24 to 31, 70 to 125 Ah) and no lithium amp-hour figure at all. So the lithium sizing below is ours: voltage must match, and the battery’s continuous discharge rating has to cover the 60 A peak.
24 V rig – Pro-Guide 24VM90 24V 90Ah lithium: 90 A continuous. Lighter, cheaper. – Pro-Guide 24VM115 24V 115Ah lithium: 100 A continuous. More hours.
36 V rig – Pro-Guide 36VM60 36V 60Ah lithium: 60 A continuous. That equals the motor’s 60 A max draw with nothing spare. – Pro-Guide 36VM75 36V 75Ah lithium: 75 A continuous, and a quarter more capacity.
Minn Kota’s US lithium rule: the battery must meet Coast Guard regulations and ABYC standards (it names E-13). Ask the battery maker for that paperwork; we don’t claim it for them.
How long will it run?
An example, not a promise. We used the same math as the Run time calculator in trolling mode: amp hours x 80% usable, divided by amps, at room temperature.
| Battery | At 60 A (full draw) | At 30 A (half) |
|---|---|---|
| 24VM90 | 1 h 12 min | 2 h 24 min |
| 24VM115 | 1 h 32 min | 3 h 04 min |
| 36VM60 | 48 min | 1 h 36 min |
| 36VM75 | 1 h 00 min | 2 h 00 min |
Pro-Guide’s own page says the 24VM90 gives about 3 hours at 30 A; they count the whole 90 Ah, we keep 20% back. Nobody trolls at full draw all day, so your real number sits above the left column.
Wiring
Keep it simple. One 24 V or 36 V battery: red lead through the 60 A breaker to positive, black to negative, done. Minn Kota wants the breaker on the positive, and the manual’s diagrams put it at the High Side battery.
Using 12 V batteries instead? Two in series for 24 V, three for 36 V. The series steps are in Trolling motor battery: 12V, 24V or 36V, wired right; we won’t repeat them.
Three warranty lines from the manual worth reading twice: – An alternator or DC charger that ties the trolling bank’s negative to the crank battery’s negative “can damage” the motor and void the warranty. – Radios and sonar don’t go on the trolling bank. – Any accessory negative goes on the Low Side battery only.
We don’t sell a 60 A breaker yet. Minn Kota recommends its MKR-27. We’ll add one when we have it.
Charging
Charge at the battery maker’s voltage: 28.8 V for the Pro-Guide 24 V packs, 43.2 V for the 36 V ones. Minn Kota says unplug the motor while you charge and use a multi-stage charger. For lithium it adds: charge right before you fish, and don’t leave the pack full for months.
We don’t have a 24 V or 36 V lithium charger in the store yet. Our only shore charger is 12 V. If you run 12 V batteries in series, that means one bank per battery.
Quick answers
Does the Ultrex QUEST need lithium? No. The manual allows flooded, AGM or gel 12 V deep-cycle batteries too. It says the motor is optimized for LiFePO4.
What size breaker for an Ultrex QUEST? 60 A, manual reset, rated for your system voltage (24 or 36 VDC). Minn Kota names its MKR-27.
Will a 36 V battery give more run time than 24 V? It gives more thrust, 115 lb against 90 lb. Run time depends on amp hours; see the table above.
Can I see the battery level on my fish finder? Yes, on compatible Minn Kota units, in 1% steps, once you set the battery chemistry and system type.
Sources
- Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST owner’s manual 2297164 (Rev A, 09/26), pages 45-50, 70, 94, 99, 102-103
- Minn Kota Ultrex product page: https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/freshwater-trolling-motors/ultrex
- Pro-Guide brochures and product pages (see our 24VM90, 24VM115, 36VM60 and 36VM75 pages)
- Trolling motor battery: 12V, 24V or 36V, wired right, Run time calculator, Wire gauge calculator
