Lowrance 522 battery life

[kudu63]

A friend of mine has a Lowrance 522 and he likes it but can only get roughly 5+ hours out of a battery -vex type probably the 7ah ones. (I guess going to a 9ah or bigger would help) Is this normal for that flasher? Is there a way to turn off the GPS when using the flasher to preserve battery life? Thanks.

[JimBuck]

Click menu button twice, then scroll down to GPS Features and press Enter. Once in this menu scroll down to Use Indoors and make sure that is checked. This will turn off the GPS when you don't need it. You should be able to get an additional amount of time from keeping the GPS off. Good luck.

[Wanderer]

Sorry Jimbuck but hiding the GPS features does not turn off the GPS - it just hides them for whatever reason.

I went through this whole business last year when I found out that 5 hours is about what you'll get out of a 7 ah battery and a 522.

It got the point that I called Lowrance and asked a tech there. You cannot turn off the GPS. It keeps seaching and that's what drains the battery so quick.

Options:

1) Upgrade to a 9 ah and see if that's enough.

2) Carry a 2nd battery to switch to.

3) Don't use it. Get a good flasher.

I started with #2 then just moved to #3 and called it good.

What I do take my 522 out for during ice fishing is so I have a dash mount large screen GPS on my snowmobile for travelling to my waypoints. When I turn it off I pull the battery leads.

[MuskieJunkie]

I have the 322c and I get about 7 or 8 hours out of a 3 year old 7ah battery. Mine has the ext antenna and it will say "GPS module not responding" after a minute or so. Does anyone know if it keeps searching after that?

I plan on getting a new 9ah battery and sticking with it.

[catchphoto_filet]

if your in a house just hook it up to a deep cycle! it will last plenty that way

[JIM C]

How old is his battery? And how well has he taken care of it?

It sounds like his battery is starting to fade a little, I would get at least 10 hours out of a 7 amp hour battery with an LMS-522. But I would recomend a larger battery if he buys a replacement.

Also, try to use a lower backlight level if possible- the Lowrance 5" screen size units will use more power than a typical flasher.

I use a 10 amp hour battery for my Lowrance HDS-5. Same foot print as the 7-9 AH batteries, but about 1" taller and a bit heavier.

I'm not sure on the AH spec for a LMS-522, but an HDS-5 is listed at .7 AH usage with the backlight level on 10 (high).

Jim Carroll NPAA #13

[kudu63]

Thanks Wanderer, that is what I was suspecting it would be. He goes thru like 3-4 batteries for the weekend. Of course I sit next to him with my FL-18 and LX-5 and ask him if he would like to rent either one of them for the rest of the weekend.

[Chode2235]

Yeah, get the 9 amp battery. Then, turn the GPS on simulator. This in essence shuts off the GPS. I can get a full weekend out of my 334 (~20 + hrs) by putting the GPS simulator on when I dont need it.

[jigginjim]

Crazy idea, if your fish in a portable with your truck out there, hook up cables to your trucks battery for extra life, after your small battery dies.