vexilar battery life

[limited out]

I have 3 yr old FL 18 and left red/black battery connectors accidently connected over summer (oops!). I have recharged and recharged this winter get very little charge and 1st time out this year thing stated bugging out on me and I got circles going everywhere on unit.

How long do Vex batteries usually last? Has anyone else experienced this?

[WhiskeyPete]

I left my MarCum hooked up this year too. It was on it's 3rd season, so I had no problem spending $20 for a new one.

[DanS.]

You should get about five years out of the battery if properly charged. Don't charge more than 24 hours and it should last. I bought a new battery after having the old one for five seasons even though it's still good. It's now used as a backup and led light source for night fishing.

[shnelson]

What you are experiencing with the Vex is normal when the battery can't give it enough juice.

I'd recommend picking up a new battery, vexilar also has a nice wall charger that wont overcharge your battery if you don't have one already (prolonging the overall life of the battery itself).

[leech~~]

I have 3 yr old FL 18 and left red/black battery connectors accidently connected over summer (oops!). I have recharged and recharged this winter get very little charge and 1st time out this year thing stated bugging out on me and I got circles going everywhere on unit.

How long do Vex batteries usually last? Has anyone else experienced this?

Were you fishing with someone with another unit close by? Maybe you had some interference, from the other unit? But, leaving the wires hooked up to a shut off unit should not hurt it, unless you had the little charge indicator hooked up for 7 months!

[BobT]

Don't be surprised that your battery may be toast. I don't know for sure about the Vex but many electronic components are not fully turned off when the switch is turned off. If this is true with the Vex then you completely discharged your battery and this is usually not a good thing for a battery. Even a deep cycle wet cell will not like this too much and they are designed to be deep cycled.

[KyleM.]

I've had mine since winter of 01-or 02 and I didn't know until recently that you should disconnect the battery, even had in a storage shed because of a move for 2 years, once it got to room temp this year, and only up to room temp I thought it was dead as it wouldn't take a charge. it charged up and I've ran it for 14 hours straight with no hickups. it's an fl-18

[EBass]

Yes I've experienced it. Crazy looking display huh? A new battery will take care of that.

[FISHINGURU]

new battery forsure same thing happened to mine last year or the year before

[limited out]

Thanks all. Sounds like it is more of a battery issue that leaving it connected. Maybe i overcharged. I will try new one. Any idea how much new ones are $20-$30?

[brian6715]

I just bought one at a certain "mountain" store, it was $24.99. The good thing is that it is a 9a/h as compared to your old one that was probably a 7a/h. Should make it last quite a bit longer per charge

[WhiskeyPete]

Thanks all. Sounds like it is more of a battery issue that leaving it connected. Maybe i overcharged. I will try new one. Any idea how much new ones are $20-$30?

I just bought mine in East Grand Forks for $20. It's an 8amp

[KyleM.]

I thought I needed a new one too so priced some, fleet & farm at lakeville has the gel 9ah for 24 Gander Mountain had the same price I believe, the standard it comes with should be a lead acid battery from vexilar that will run you about 35 for a 9ah, I'd go w/ the Gel battery heard good things about em, and only 2/3 the cost.