m1taylor
Well-Known Member
If my only requirement is to run a fishfinder, what is the simplest/lightest/cheapest way of providing power? To install a full blown leisure battery system seems OTT. Is there a simpler way?
12 volt batteries
- Thread starter m1taylor
- Start date
tangofour
Well-Known Member
12v 7.5 A/h gel cell and a small solar cell. The fishfinder should run most of a day on the battery alone. If you run a 10 watt solar panel you will be able to run indefinately.
G
Guest
Guest
Many of the older LED rotator E/S's ran on either 6 AA's or 12V boat supply ... I have one out here in fact ...
Probably as another says ... a Gel Cel as used in Alarm systems on houses would work well ... if you set up with suitable size - easy enough to box up and take home for charging etc. BUT don't try and charge with car / engine charger ... they need purpose designed chargers as they cannot take the amps going in ...
I'm actually contemplating back-up systems with Gel Cel battery's as they are small, easily mounted and hold charge well when not used ...
Probably as another says ... a Gel Cel as used in Alarm systems on houses would work well ... if you set up with suitable size - easy enough to box up and take home for charging etc. BUT don't try and charge with car / engine charger ... they need purpose designed chargers as they cannot take the amps going in ...
I'm actually contemplating back-up systems with Gel Cel battery's as they are small, easily mounted and hold charge well when not used ...
Talbot
Well-Known Member
rather than using something that needs it own purpose designed charger, why not use a motorcycle battery? - small enough to be easily portable, yet powerful enough to run a fish finder for a fair old time. + it will use a car battery charger to charge (or a small solar panel.)
G
Guest
Guest
Re: 12 volt batteries .... M/Cycle batt ...
All the M/Cycle batts I had ........ ok some years ago with model airplanes etc. - we used 'em in our boxes for starters / fuel pumps etc. - I couldn't charge with a car charger unless it had a limiter switch .... ok nowadays I think many chargers have an internal auto limiter ?
But surely for similar price - the sealed Gel Cel is better ?
All the M/Cycle batts I had ........ ok some years ago with model airplanes etc. - we used 'em in our boxes for starters / fuel pumps etc. - I couldn't charge with a car charger unless it had a limiter switch .... ok nowadays I think many chargers have an internal auto limiter ?
But surely for similar price - the sealed Gel Cel is better ?
Talbot
Well-Known Member
Re: 12 volt batteries .... M/Cycle batt ...
Not if you have to purchase a separate charger for them.
Not if you have to purchase a separate charger for them.
G
Guest
Guest
Maplins .... less than a tenner .....
In fact I think you can get one for about a fiver .... so overall the convenience is worth it I reckon.
In fact I think you can get one for about a fiver .... so overall the convenience is worth it I reckon.
havandra
New Member
Most manufacturers make a portable basic Fishfinder which runs on ordinary AA batteries, These are the same as their standard 12 volt model but in a case with an AA battery pack. Therefore run your fishfinder on a suitable number of AA batteries. (8?)
tonyg
Active Member
I was given a small sealed 12 volt battery from a burglar alarm and used it for that very purpose,-running a fishfinder/depth thingy. Trickle-charged at the beginning of the season it has lasted until now with no probs and measures about 6ins by four by two.
andy_wilson
Well-Known Member
Porta-power pack
That's not a brand, I mean one of those plastic cased things that are supposed to be able to start your car when the battery is flat. They are nicely packaged in a case with a handle and lots of switches, led's and sockets.
Get one based on a gel battery so it can stand discharge with a smile and stand idle for months with little self discharge. They usually have a cigar socket both to charge and discharge so you can fill it up in the car on your way to the boat, and charge your mobile phone aboard if need be too.
Just fit a cigar plug on your fish finder lead and bang it straight in.
This looks like the usual type of e-bay crap, but at under a tenner (see completed sales - bid 9.99 and that's yer lot) plus the same again for postage, I bet it's worth a punt.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-POWER-PACK-POR...1QQcmdZViewItem
Or wait until Liddle/Aldi/Netto or whatever do one with a compressor (crap) light (could be handy), jump leads (almost certainly useless for anything except a small e/s outboard).
That's not a brand, I mean one of those plastic cased things that are supposed to be able to start your car when the battery is flat. They are nicely packaged in a case with a handle and lots of switches, led's and sockets.
Get one based on a gel battery so it can stand discharge with a smile and stand idle for months with little self discharge. They usually have a cigar socket both to charge and discharge so you can fill it up in the car on your way to the boat, and charge your mobile phone aboard if need be too.
Just fit a cigar plug on your fish finder lead and bang it straight in.
This looks like the usual type of e-bay crap, but at under a tenner (see completed sales - bid 9.99 and that's yer lot) plus the same again for postage, I bet it's worth a punt.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-POWER-PACK-POR...1QQcmdZViewItem
Or wait until Liddle/Aldi/Netto or whatever do one with a compressor (crap) light (could be handy), jump leads (almost certainly useless for anything except a small e/s outboard).
Talbot
Well-Known Member
Re: Maplins .... less than a tenner .....
if so - not a problem.
if so - not a problem.
VicS
Well-Known Member
I'd go along the sort of suggestions "havandra" is making.
You can get holders for AA cells etc from Maplin. But why not make up a battery pack fom larger ones say C or even D size cells.
You could use rechargeable NiMH cells. You could then get a solar recharger.
Alternatively a couple of 6volt lantern batteries in series.
To my way of thinking ordinary cells be they AA, C, D, lantern bateries (which are available with screw terminals) are the simplest solution and you have a choice between alkaline ones or ordinary zinc carbon ones.
I'd go for two of THESE or two of THESE connected in series and housed in a simple little box. I have not checked but there may be alkaline equivalents. They'd be enough to run a light or two as well if needed.
You can get holders for AA cells etc from Maplin. But why not make up a battery pack fom larger ones say C or even D size cells.
You could use rechargeable NiMH cells. You could then get a solar recharger.
Alternatively a couple of 6volt lantern batteries in series.
To my way of thinking ordinary cells be they AA, C, D, lantern bateries (which are available with screw terminals) are the simplest solution and you have a choice between alkaline ones or ordinary zinc carbon ones.
I'd go for two of THESE or two of THESE connected in series and housed in a simple little box. I have not checked but there may be alkaline equivalents. They'd be enough to run a light or two as well if needed.
Alrob
Well-Known Member
this is all you need - recharge for 10 mins using car charger
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=63554&ts=78684
they have high cap also
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=63554&ts=78684
they have high cap also
m1taylor
Well-Known Member
Many thanks everyone - some really good ideas here for me to look at - shows the real value of this forum and why I come back here time and again for advice and tips. Excellent!
andy_wilson
Well-Known Member
AA batteries
I would have thought a fish finder would use between 10 and 25 W dependent upon size, range colour or b/w display.
Can't imagine dry cells lasting too long drawing 0.5 amp.
I would have thought a fish finder would use between 10 and 25 W dependent upon size, range colour or b/w display.
Can't imagine dry cells lasting too long drawing 0.5 amp.
