Sonar Power

[lindy rig]

Is it okay to wire my depth finder to my marine starting battery? Or should I have it run off a deep cycle?

I know it should draw pretty low amps so does it really matter?

Thanks

[solbes]

With smaller boats, most of the electronics are usually tied to the starting battery. There is only room for two batteries, starting and trolling deep cycle.

On both of the boats I've owned (16 footers each), all of the electronics except for the trolling motor are run off the starting battery. This works fine for me, with the exception of long night time fishing. If you run your trolling battery at night (no charging done by main motor), then your nav lights, sonar, GPS, interior lights can run down your starting battery some. I have to run the main motor periodically to keep a charge.

Ulimate setup would be to have an extra deep cycle for all other electronics. This may or may not be practical though.

[Pat K]

You tend to have electrical interference problems if you wire your depth finder to the same battery as your trolling motor.

[lindy rig]

Cool... yep, this is a 16' tiller. I had planned on running to the starting battery, but then wanted to double check.

Thanks for the help!

[Down Deep]

There is some information out there that the jolt from the starting battery can cause some units to malfunction over time. No doubt the more sophisticated the electronics become the more we need to guard against possible electrical problems. I have never had a problem using a starting battery on my hook ups. A couple of years ago I hooked up a new unit in my bow. I didn't have time to run a wire so I installed some alligator clips and used a vexilar battery. I used the vexilar battery for the entire season. Battery lasted about 2 full days before it needed charging. Something you may want to consider.

[PerchJerker]

Make sure you have a fuse in your red wire to the battery. They suggest putting the fuse as close to the battery as possible, in-line fuse holders work well for this. Most electronics call for a 3 amp fuse.

[steffanf]

They suggest putting the fuse as close to the battery as possible, in-line fuse holders work well for this.

That's funny. The fish finder that came installed on my boat had the fuse wired in the curcuit right under the console. The battery is in the back of the boat! Do you think it is alright, or should I relocate the fuse?

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'd relocate the fuse near the battery. It's protecting your boat, not the sonar. You need the fuse to blow if you get a short circuit. If you run 20' of wire to the sonar and the fuse is at the sonar, you've still got 19+' of unprotected circuit. Get a short circuit in that 19' of wire and you could have a fire.

[Down Deep]

Get a short circuit in that 19' of wire and you could have a fire.

........ and if you should smoke the wire it's 19 feet of wire you have to replace and snake it through the boat.

[PerchJerker]

Ralph Wiggum and Down Deep have good advice about relocating the fuse. Lots of places will rig them however it's quickest and easiest, which is not always what's best ....... and a lot of guys that are doing their own rigging probably just don't know any better.

[steffanf]

Lots of places will rig them however it's quickest and easiest, which is not always what's best .......

Well, I bought this boat new from the dealer like this. You would think that THEY would know better. I'm sure they were just doing a quick, lousy install. That's another strike against this dealer... would never recommend them to anyone...