Bad Battery?

[quijibo]

I just converted my Lowrance LCX-25c to ice duty using the ppp-16i kit and I'm having a couple of issues.

The first problem is a battery one. I'm using the included Lowrance 7 amp battery and using the sonar for the voltage readings. When fully charged the sonar reads 12.6 volts, isn't this a little low? Normally this wouldn't bother me, but this thing is a battery pig. It's current draw is listed at 1.5 amps and it doesn't read accurately when you get to 11.9 volts or lower. Are the voltage readings on Lowrance sonars pretty dependable? I'm at the cabin and don't have a voltmeter with me(you'd think I would've learned by now). Aren't fully charged 12v batteries supposed to read 14.4v? Shouldn't a 7amp battery last me 4-5 hours? I keep it on the lowest screen brightness that I can.

The other issue is where to mount the GPS module. They show a picture of one mounted on top in the instructions, but they don't mention it in the wording. Any ideas? The only structural parts of this kit are the plastic base and the canvas bag.

[Jeremy airjer W]

12.6 volts is right in the ball park! 14.4 volts would be the charging voltage from an alternator/generator. the extra voltage is needed to aid in the charging.

[Whoaru99]

12.6 is about right after the surface charge is gone.

Pulling 1.5A from a 7Ah battery will give you only about 2.5 hours at 5F and about 3.5 hours at 32F.