Vexilar Batteries?

[HideHunter]

After about 3 hours my flasher's getting pretty dim. I assume my battery's rolling craps. Still works good for hours more - just gets hard to see.

What kind of life you guys usually get out of a battery? Think this is the third season for this one. I've been pretty faithful about keeping it charged up.

I suppose Scheels or anyplace that handles flashers has replacements? What do they run? I don't plan to run out of shotgun shells, whisky or flasher batteries.

thanx for any info..g

[Guest]

I have had mine for 3 years. It seems like I hardly ever have to charge it. I can make several trips where I leave it on all day and it never seems to go dim. I have never had it completely quit on me.

[icedog]

Here's some personal opinions (for what they are worth) after using these batteries for the past 10 years in ice fishing electronic applications.
I think you have to look at "average battery life"...which for me has been anywhere from 2 yrs to 5 yrs. This different "life" span is due to several factors: shelf life (how long the battery was sitting on a shelf before you bought it), how good the manufacturer was in making the battery (not all things are made equally well), how you treated the battery (did you re-charge it right away? did you drop it 10' to a concrete floor? did you run it completely dead and not charge it for a month? etc). There are more factors, but I think you get the idea. I invested a long time ago in a battery monitor that tells me the charge condition of my batteries. When they won't hold a 100% charge any longer after I re-charge them I consider them to be marginal and start thinking about my next battery purchase. I recently invested in the "Smart Charge" units made by Marcum. These devices continually monitor the battery and re-charge it as needed-slick for us guys with Oldtimers!
If you are in the market to buy a new battery you may want to consider a smaller one. I presently have 3 of the 7 amp (gel cells) and one 3 amp version. I have found that the 3 amp battery is about half the weight of the 7 amp which for me makes a difference. When you are carrying ice stuff long distances over ground-like I have this winter-weight becomes a significant factor. After 3 yrs use, the smaller battery has held up very well on my usual ice fishing outings. My normal trips are no more than 1/2 day long and so far, after running the Vex FL-18 for 4 hours at a time I return home and check it with my battery status indicator and it still reads 100% charge. The 3 amp unit I use was purchaed from "Iowa Radio" Electronics store here in Cedar Rapids. Approx cost was $20.00
Hope these opinions have helped a little.
Crazy 'bout that ice fishin'
icedog

[herb]

Hey icedogoneit, Do you know of any "national" or name brand electronics stores that carry those 3amp batteries besides in CR? Like maybe Radio Shack or some others?
Actually, I was told you're just crazy!

[This message has been edited by herb (edited 01-17-2003).]

[HideHunter]

Boy, was my face red.

Thanks for the info guys, I'll store it for future use. Dug out the owner's manual - Trouble shooting 101.

Takes Charge - Goes dim - bad battery or *check connections*. I've got the soft case so I seldom do anything but hook up the charger and go. My power cord 'ring' had completely undone and the connector was just kind of hanging there. I'm surprised it worked at all. Used it 5 hrs yesterday and 2 hrs today. Bright as new.

Oh well, thanks again. Now, do something about the wind, please..g

[herb]

Wish I could.

[graybeard2]

My battery on my vex was shot,wouldn't hold a charge. I checked on the vexilar web site, a new battery was 38.00. Called Scheels in Cedar Falls, they have the battery w/ charger for 29.99. Same specs, just doesn't have vexilar wrote on it.

[icedog]

Herb-the 12Volt 3Amp battery that I bought at Iowa Radio is a, "Power Sonic" brand.
Here is what I consider to be some interesting info on the battery:
*12V/3A weighs 2.6 lbs @ 300mA drain (typical FL-8SLT) would last approx 10 hours-or about 8 hrs for a FL-18.
*12V/7A weighs 5.75 lbs. @ 300mA drain would last approx 23 hours or 18.5 for the FL-18 (we are lugging around almost 6 lbs of battery with our electronics! Oh my aching back!)
As I said above, I have used the 3 Amp battery for 3 years now and cannot say I have had any problems with it running out of charge before I am ready to quit fishing. Maybe if you couldn't re-charge it overnight for a 2-3 day trip that would be a problem...but not for a 1/2 or 1 day outing which is typical for me....just something to chew on.
doggiestyle