Small rechargeable 12v batteries

[Slyster]

Hey.. does anyone know if Fleet Farm sells those small black gel cell 12V rechargeable batteries for depth finders etc? I know the Maplewood Gander HAD them.. but they sold out.. and the Forest Lake store is so far away. I tried Menards they didn't even know what I was talking about.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I have bought them at Fleet Farm, but I don't know if they carry them in the summer or not.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Sportsmans wharehouse should have them on the same rack as there marine batteries. Forget about batteries plus, way to expensive!!

[pfluemis]

FF does sell them, but the way they do their inventory, they may not have them right now. It's best to call the local store and see if they have them in stock. Each FF is different too. So some of the larger stores could carry them all year round too. I know our local FF has about 2/3 the selection and quantities of the St. Cloud store.

[kslipsinker]

we just received a bunch at the Lakeville Gander. We sell a lot of them for poratble depth finders during the summer. We had sold four cases of them already this summer.

[Slyster]

I should probably just go to Gander in Forest Lake.. Probably a sure bet.

[sparcebag]

Sly while your at Menards look at their cheap $9.99 North Tech 1,000,000 candle power lights,those 12V batteries work GREAT!!There not gel but they are sealed.

[Slyster]

Ohhh.. good idea! But the spot and remove the battery?

[sparcebag]

Ya throw the spot away,I've a spot I like the beam so when the batt goes out I just replace it with one of those. You can take the plugin charger put clips on the ends and walla a charger,Its 10-12 hour charge with their plugin millamps,or if I want quick charge I use a 1 amp charge.

[IndyEFI500]

Sly:

Check the store sale forum. I posted a place in St. Paul with batteries cheap a while back. A little unusual for fishing use compared to that they were intended for. Besides, the owner is starting to get into fishing.

[Slyster]

I bought the last one at Fleet Farm! (More coming in soon as ice approaches they told me).. $12... this is to run my lights for night fishing.. works great! Thanks for the tips!

[Finns]

Sparcbag; How do you know which wire goes to which post on the batt.?

[sparcebag]

I dont remember right now?? but I think there not marked + & - now that i'm tring to recall.The wire to the switch would be +.I have one here I'm going to switch over,and I'll let ya know.Do you have a batt. that is removed right now??

[Finns]

Yes and one terminal base is painted red.

Finns.

[Slyster]

and if your running lights with it.. it doesn't matter!

[sparcebag]

Well red is + black is -

[Whoaru99]

Quote:

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and if your running lights with it.. it doesn't matter!

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If one is using LED lights it matters. They won't work connected backwards.

[Whoaru99]

It's always a good idea to observe polarity and establish color code, etc.

No telling when one might decide to expand the system with other gear. Don't want to accidentally connect something bacwards that could be damaged.

[Finns]

Okay things are getting a little confusing.

What I wanted to know is on the plug in charger you say to cut the end off and put on clips and walla charger. After you put the clips on which is positive and negetive.

Finns.

[sparcebag]

Quote:

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Sparcbag; How do you know which wire goes to which post on the batt.?

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OK the batt wire?? No the charger.WHOS ON FIRST?? The charger wire with the colored tracer is POS +. My POS + wire on my plugin charger has a white tracer.

[Finns]

Thanks!!!

Finns.

[Slyster]

I use regular 12v bulbs (true though about LED lights!... but I've never seen those on a boat) and I just charge it with my big regular charger set to 2 amp. It has a 2 amp, 15 amp, and 50 amp settings. Forget the little wall charger! The battery itself has color codes (+ and -) so its easy to charge. I've done this in the bast with fast and good luck.

[soldoncass]

I fiddled around with a little battery from one of those spotlights, to see if it would run my old eagle finder set up as portable. It wouldn't turn on, and I noticed the battery is marked as 6volt, 5ah. How do they run a 12v spotlight off a 6volt battery???? Looks to me like I'd have to run 2 of those batteries in series to use them on my finders. They sure are cute batteries, but it would be easier to get a regular vex 12volt one than mess around with 2 of the light ones.

[Whoaru99]

Did it claim to be a 12 spotlight?

[soldoncass]

It is a 1 million candlepower rechargeable/cordless spotlight that uses 12 volt power(cigarette lighter) cord. Not being an electrician I would assume it has a 12 volt battery....but it has a 6 volt. They must reduce the cords down to 6 volts somehow. I think the average guy should get a vex battery.

[DTro]

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Sly while your at Menards look at their cheap $9.99 North Tech 1,000,000 candle power lights,those 12V batteries work GREAT!!There not gel but they are sealed.

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Sparce, thanks for the great tip.

I had a Coleman spot sitting around because, 1. it was too heavy to use in the boat. 2. It didn't throw a light long enough on a charge.

I took it apart tonight, removed battery, rewired direct. Now I have a bright light spot, and a 12V battery to use for my bait cooler bubbler, and or something else.

Win Win!