Batteries for your FF/DF

During my recent search for a suitable power source for my fish finder, I came across CBY's write up on how to build your own 12V rechargeable battery.

This lead me to Batteries Plus (small store near REI Tacoma)  I wanted to see if there were AA rechargeable batteries available in Lithium, since they would last longer.  I didn't find any though.

What I did find made life a lot easier though.  They have an entire rack of 12V batteries ranging from 1Ah all the way up to car battery size.  I picked up a nice fist-sized 12V battery with 5Ah on it for $21.  The charger was another $20 and has little roach clips to clip onto the battery terminals. 

Prior to going on my shopping trip I asked CBY where he found the watertight container, and our conversation eventually led to discovering that he too was using this exact same type of battery.  (turns out all those AAs are a pain to deal with)

Anyhow, a decent AA battery charger is going to cost around $30, then you still have to buy the container, AA batteries, glue, etc. to build the thing, so the obvious choice for me was the 5Ah 12V battery. 

If you find yourself needing a power source, keep this option in mind   

I am using something slightly larger, 7AH, and it is running my Humminbird with a 0.65 amp draw for at least 8 hours.  That is as long as I have gone without charging.  Also it seems to take about as long to charge as to discharge. 

This is the battery setup I use.  

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/servlet/the-238/Battery-Box-Complete-Power/Detail

It was $79 when I bought but totally worth it imo.  Slap some velcro on the bottom of the box and in the yak and it's secure, plug and play portable, and 100% waterproof.  I always forget to charge it but it hasn't run dry in my last 3 outings easily has 15+ hours on it.  Been thinking about connecting a 500 gph bilge to it as well.  But that's a project for another day.

Pricey, but very sweet.  Maybe if I did surf launches, but I shouldn't need waterproof.  I don't like the idea of the battery setup costing more than the hardware using it though!

I'm cheap and this box has been one of the best I've found (and to give credit where credit is due, Insayn actually found it)




I also have the same box as sufanor (came with a boat I bought) and I find the HF box as good as that one. $8 at Harbor Fright and $2.50 for a two terminal trailer connector at Pep Boys. Lead the connector through the vent hole and (if your anal) make a gasket out of foam tile. HF also has a little trickle charger wall wart that has been working great for me for 9+ years for $8 too.

Here's a link to a previous discussion:

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,2350.0.html

I went with this, only mine is 8.0 Ah.  For $29 for battery and charger, it has more than satisfied my battery needs.  No special enclosure, just the battery bag that came with the T13.  Using ample amounts of dielectric grease on all connections.

This is the battery setup I use. 

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/servlet/the-238/Battery-Box-Complete-Power/Detail

It was $79 when I bought but totally worth it imo.  Slap some velcro on the bottom of the box and in the yak and it's secure, plug and play portable, and 100% waterproof.  I always forget to charge it but it hasn't run dry in my last 3 outings easily has 15+ hours on it.  Been thinking about connecting a 500 gph bilge to it as well.  But that's a project for another day.

Same setup I use. Absolutely love it!
The next best thing IMO is a dry bag. Just make sure you have plenty of chord length so the battery isn't hanging by the chord inside the bag after all the wraps to close the bag.

After doing some extensive research, I think I have found the ultimate battery solution-perfect for Kayaks. My objective was to find the lightest weight rechargeable 12V battery capable of 30Amp for running everything including a Minn Kota Endura 30 trolling motor.

The evolution of electric driven vehicles has brough fourth newer generation lithium based batteries. The latest of which is claimed to make lead acid batteries obsolete. I started by looking at what the Torqueedo uses- (lithium manganese) which is not very stable. The next generation is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4). At present, they aren't very cheap, but once they are mass produced, we should see the costs come down. Even still with the ability of 2000 recharge cycles that puts the life cycle cost a fraction of what a traditional SLA battery is. http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo4cellspacks.aspx

Here is the battery I'm going to order (when back in stock). Same size as an SLA but weighing in at 3.3 lbs:
http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo426650battery128v68ah8704wh25aratebuiltinpcbreplaceslawith10timeslongerlifeand597lighterweight-1.aspx

oh... and by the way... The links I listed is for a USA company. If you start your own research, there are many of these kind of battery solutions available to order through China, Hong Kong, etc...

Erik

That's a sweet battery!

I'm still rolling with the 10xAA set-up I built over 3 years ago.  No problems so far but I would love to be able to fish for multiple days without a recharg.

-Spot-   

Have to agree, sweet battery.  For my approach I went low tech, NiMH rechargeables; more specific the Rayovac Hybrid series.  Have ran the FF for 15+ hours and had no issues.  Already had the charger and batteries so why not.  I have been using them for years and have found that they work great up till the last few amps, they get squirly and poof dead, feel that is a good thing.  Should also mention that I carry a double sealed backup set for both the FF and GPS just in case...

I use the PowerSonic 12v 7amp powering my Garmin Gps/FF and has plenty of power for more than a full day fishing. It's housed in a Wally World small dry box that I fitted with a plug in. Close to the same as the Cabela's model. Try looking at the Hook1 site

Ditto on the 7aH 12v SLA for me too.  Mine's held in the rear hatch gear bucket of the Revo:

Ditto on the 7aH 12v SLA for me too.  Mine's held in the rear hatch gear bucket of the Revo:

That's a great idea for an otherwise fairly useless hatch! 

Ditto on the 7aH 12v SLA for me too.  Mine's held in the rear hatch gear bucket of the Revo:

OK--now why didn't I think of that. You're a brilliant man, Demonick!!
T2

Ditto on the 7aH 12v SLA for me too.  Mine's held in the rear hatch gear bucket of the Revo:

That is a great idea. Thx demon