battery

[mkrupp]

going to be putting a fish finder on the boat this weekend, just wondering what battery i should use, the manual says 12 volt. So does that mean i get a marine 12 volt battery? Any suggestions appreciated

 

[Silvertip]

Re: battery

How about some additional details. What kind of boat are we talking about. Does the engine have electric start? If it does, you already have a battery and don't need another one. If all you are running is the fish finder and don't have a starting battery, you can use a garden tractor battery. If you have electric start, connect the locator to the starting battery. 12V is 12V -- it doesn't matter where it comes from. You can even use a small gel cell battery or eight "D" cell flashlight batteries if you wish.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: battery

Second to what Silvertip said, however, you might get some interference from the motor if you run the sonar off of the starting battery. If you do then go to a second power source.

 

[mkrupp]

Re: battery

sorry for not including enough info. No it is going on a 12 ft aluminum boat with a 8 hp evinrude. So no electric start there. So a lawn tractor battery may be the way to go, never thought of that, you just saved me some money thanks

 

[mkrupp]

Re: battery

also, about how long should i expect a charge to hold on a lawn tractor battery, and here is a dumb question, do they come charged?

 

[wbeaton]

Re: battery

I've never bought a battery that didn't come charged. I use a 7.5AH gell cell battery with my ice fishing fishfinder and it once ran over 60 hours straight without significantly draining the battery.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: battery

Regardless what battery you buy, coming charged or not is a rather moot point. At some point it will go dead from use so it will have to be recharged. That means you need a battery charger. Batteries can sit on the store shelf or warehouse for weeks, months, even a year or more. It makes sense to top them off before use, especially if it is not being recharged by the engine.

 

[mkrupp]

Re: battery

well i think i'll go with a lawn and garden battery, but if i remember correctly the post are kinda goofy on them. They are almost a raised rectangle, not the threaded nuts like on a marine battery. Any suggestions on how to make the connections?
Thanks

 

[mkrupp]

Re: battery

i can try to post pics of my posts and connectors if that helps

 

[wbeaton]

Re: battery

Don't the posts have a hole in them? If so, put a nut and bolt through it and connect the leads from the fishfinder to it using your choice of crimp-on electrical connectors.

And yes you will need a charger. Its always best to top up a battery before every use.

 

[mkrupp]

Re: battery

yes they have a hole in them, thank you for the advice