Advice For Connectin Bow Mounted Fish FInder

[TheChad]

Hey all,

Now that I have replaced my Humminbird 727 on the Helm with a Lowrance LCX-26C HD, I am going to mount my old Humminbird 727 up on the bow.

On my bow, I have my Trolling motor Outlet, which is wired for 24v, and I have a Bow Light. The Bow light has an accessory light which is turned on and off by a switch on the light it self, and the green/red light is operated by a switch at the helm.

So I assume there must be 3 wires going to the bow light, which supplied Constant power to the light to operate the accessory light, and a switched power back to the helm.

My Question is, Should I try to connect my Humminbird To the bow light for power, Run the power wire back to the helm, and connect it into the 12v accessory system, where my Lowrance is connected (Run from the Starting battery), Or should I tap into the 24v trolling motor harness and reduce the voltage via resistors or other methoid?

I am kind of not too fond with the idea everything 12v running off my Starting battery, for obvious reasons, I'd hate to not be able to start my boat in the middle of the lake.

Thanks in advance for the help.

-TheChad

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Advice For Connectin Bow Mounted Fish FInder

You have a couple of choices. Run a new pair of wires back to one of the trolling motor batteries or use the accessory light wires. Take the bulb out if you are concerned about battery power. The bulb probably uses more current than the DF. If you really need the light, replace it with one of the newer LED type. They use very little current. BTW, that 727 only draws 327 ma.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Advice For Connectin Bow Mounted Fish FInder

Using resistors to drop the 24V to 12V is a terrible waste of power and therefore the least desireable. Connect to one of the trolling motor batteries or to any other source of 12V. The locator won't care were power comes from.

 

[lowe160]

Re: Advice For Connectin Bow Mounted Fish FInder

I run mind off the power at the bow light . Everything runs off my starting battery,two finders plus the livewell. The trolling motor batteries just run the trolling motor(24v). You also might get interferance from the trolling motor if you run off one of those batteries. I have never had a problem yet of running out of power on the starting battery(1000cca) and fish 20+ tournaments a year.

Hope this helps; Wayne