Help understanding Ice fishing batteries.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Okay, I was looking at my Ice fishing Batteries yesterday and realize that some are getting old and need replaced.

I've got a couple different ones.

I have 3 small squares for the small scout camera they are All 12v. Out of the three 2 are 5amp & one is 4.5amp. The 4.5 amp finnally ate it's pigs and won't run the camera.

I have 6 long rectangle batteries that run my Vex, show down, and Scout 2 bigger camera. All are 12v. Out of them two are 7amp, one 7.2amp, two 8amp, and one 9amp.

So my question is when a person goes to replace these batteries, what would be the best to get for ice fishing equipment to work properly & give the longest battery life.

[bASS_BLASTER]

Weld a bunch of blue lithium ion batteries to make a pack. I can run 5+ days worth on the vex and 3 days worth on the lx-5.

[Northlander]

I run 9amps in my flashers for the added battery life and I have a small square 5amp that I run my house lights and lurelightning with.

[DTro]

The bigger the AMP number the longer it will last (between charges). If possible I always try to buy the 9's. Either that or the highest amperage I can find.

Discharging batteries until they are dead is bad for them so if you are using a 9 AMP to 50% before recharging and a 7 AMP to 10% before recharging. The 9 AMP will have a much longer overall life.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Exactly what the guys above said.. the 9 will last longer, so if you go on longer trips its worth having.. unless you find a steal of a deal on the 7's and you can buy multiple to bring with you on trips.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

So if a guy can find a 12 volt battery for the units, you basicly want to buy the highest amp you can which would correlate to longer battery life?

Guessing shape and size will determine the highest level amp you could find, but in theory if you could buy a 12 volt 20amp it would work on the units and the battery life would last longer?

If this is the case, I wouldn't care how expensive the battery was if it lasted longer when using and lasted longer before replacing.

[suncruiser234]

Weld a bunch of blue lithium ion batteries to make a pack. I can run 5+ days worth on the vex and 3 days worth on the lx-5.

Care to elaborate on this one? How many are in a bunch? Does it matter what brand they are? LOL!!

I agree with everyone else, except for BB. Get the 9amp battery.

[DTro]

Size or shape only plays a role in that most higher amp batteries will be larger. Any 12V battery will work. Heck you can lug a Deep Cycle boat battery out there if you want.

I've hooked my flasher up with a jumper to the truck battery (parked right next to the portable) in a pinch a couple of times.

[DTro]

By the way, they DO make 12 AMP batteries that are the same standard flasher size. I think they run about $50 though.

and just for clarity the AMP is really amp hours. Usually it is stated Ah or mAh (the m is for milliamp and you multiply by 1000)

Here's how it works. Flashers draw a certain amount of amperage, they vary from brand to brand. For example let's say it's 500 milliamps. If you have a 7 Ah (or 7000 mAh) you would take 7000/500 and get 14 hours of runtime. Now if it was a 9 Ah batter you would get 18 hrs and a 12 Ah battery you would get 24 hours.

This will also vary a bit due to cold weather and condition of battery. I'm not sure what amperage most flashers draw, but I think it's in the 400-700 mAh range.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Size or shape only plays a role in that most higher amp batteries will be larger. Any 12V battery will work. Heck you can lug a Deep Cycle boat battery out there if you want.

I've hooked my flasher up with a jumper to the truck battery (parked right next to the portable) in a pinch a couple of times.

I understand that, I'm just saying that to fit it in the units compartments the size and shape plays a role. I've ran the cameras & sonars off of car/marine batteries but don't care to lug one around it I don't have to.

I just had a very informative converstation with a person from interstate batteries over the phone, and She's thinking that she has a 12volt 12amp batter that might be the correct size we are looking for which would last longer and was a seald deep cycle battery which was suppose to make it last more recharge cycles or something.

[LightningBG]

The amp hour (Ah) is basically your "tank size", bigger tank, longer the juice will run.

[DTro]

If you find a 12 Ah battery, make sure you check the dimensions. I think most of them are more of a square shape and might not fit where you need it to.

[Deitz Dittrich]

and for my 16,000 post..

Thats what she....... ohh nevermind.

[JP Z]

Was it worth it there Deitz?

[Agronomist_at_IA]

So where would be a good place to find a 12v 12amp battery that is the same diamentions has the 9,8, and 7amp batteries.

[DTro]

I'm not sure that they make the 12 in the same dimensions. Google is your friend when looking for this stuff.

It looks like most 12 Ah batteries are either about an inch wider, or an inch taller. This may or may not work depending on your application.

BatterySharks is a good place to find lots of these type batteries.

[harvey lee]

I tried a few years ago to find a 12A that would fit in my flashers but at that time I could not find the correct size. I found one that I could have made work with some mods but I did not want to cut my case a small amount.

if the battery is good and charged regulary, with not draining it too less than say 40%, these batteries will go for years.

I know I have batteries in my LX5 and Humminbird 55 that are at least 4-5 years old. With that said, my units are always in the warm house and never sit in the cold outside unless I am fishing. The 9amp has served me very well over the years.

A larger one would give one more run time and if I was to go to a larger one it would be for my underwater cameras as they do seem to use a bit more power.

If you find a shop that offers the larger size in amps, if you could pm me with that company name that would be great.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I tried a few years ago to find a 12A that would fit in my flashers but at that time I could not find the correct size. I found one that I could have made work with some mods but I did not want to cut my case a small amount.

if the battery is good and charged regulary, with not draining it too less than say 40%, these batteries will go for years.

I know I have batteries in my LX5 and Humminbird 55 that are at least 4-5 years old. With that said, my units are always in the warm house and never sit in the cold outside unless I am fishing. The 9amp has served me very well over the years.

A larger one would give one more run time and if I was to go to a larger one it would be for my underwater cameras as they do seem to use a bit more power.

If you find a shop that offers the larger size in amps, if you could pm me with that company name that would be great.

If I find one that is larger then a 9 amp I'll send it to ya.

I've taken care of my batteries and they are going on about 5 years now. Just wanting to upgrade when I get new ones to a battery that will last the longest.

I was wondering if a battery would last longer on the Vex camera vs the aquavu. I hate how they did the setup with the scout 2 camera. Whoever designed the battery being in a compartment in the back of the TV should be fired. Take about a pain to switch batteries. I actually prefer the older aquavu cameras where the battery is under the camera at least when that battery dies you can set one next to the camera and put the clips on to run it.

[bASS_BLASTER]

Suncruiser,

Actually, I never disagreed with anything. Argonomist asked for the longest running battery pack and i'm sharing what I use. I'm running 12v, 9Ah by welding 27, 2600mah 3.7v, blue lithium ion batteries into a pack. It is 1/2 the weight of the factory battery pack. I also weld my own led lights and 1 led bulb is more then enough to light my shanty compared to the ones you find at any store.

I had pictures and instructions on how to do it but last time I posted these free info, I got banned from here.

[DTro]

27?

Aren't they like $5 a piece?

[DTro]

Huh, I'll be darned. There is a LION option out there right now, but it sure is not cheap. But it sure sounds pretty cool.

K2 Energy K2B12V10E 12V 10Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery $149

This is a drop in replacement for your Lead-acid battery, and will require no change to your stock charging system. It can be placed in scooters, wheelchairs, anything that uses a sealed lead acid battery. LifePO4 contains no poisonous lead, no acid, and do not create gasses during charge, as traditional Lead-Acid batteries do. Compared to lead-acid, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are also extremely light, have much lower self-discharge, do not sulfate, and are environmentally friendly. Because of its light weight, safety, excellent thermal stability, good electrochemical properties and high specific capacity is this application of the material very well received. - Ultra light. One fifth the weight of lead-acid batteries on average - Twice to four times the service life of lead-acid batteries - Drop-in replacement for your OEM battery - Super-fast recharge rate - No explosive gasses during charge, no lead, no acid - Environmentally friendly Safety: - No risks by charging built-in security. - Short circuit protection. - No presence of toxic substances. - Expected number of charge cycles 2000, 2000 flight day is almost endless. Dimensions equal to the standard battery

[bASS_BLASTER]

Well, I'll be darn! Hefty price but if ur looking for life, she'll be it.

[bASS_BLASTER]

27?

Aren't they like $5 a piece?

You can use 14 but I choose 27 for days of fishing and running lights. The red ones are $5 a piece but the blue holds more power and last longer but $8 ea. Luckly, I get them from work from burnt out laptop circuits. It's discarded, I take it home, part it and take the batteries

[Agronomist_at_IA]

[bASS_BLASTER]

Quote:

Sounds like a heck of a deal, but wouldn't know how to do it.

I believe this site forbids me from posting instructions b/c there's a lot of sponsors that will be very upset. They want you to buy their products. Its very easy and when you make your own things, you can suit your own needs. You can make it lightweight, long lasting, etc....However, that L-ION Dtro posted above will run double time but there's a price, $149.

I'm saving enough batteries to make a pack for the bassboat. I will need about 400 batteries, estimated weight: 15-20lbs. Should run trolling motor and electronics all day long at less than 1/3 the weight of two AGM batteries I have now.

Anyway, good luck!!!