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Running time for fish finder - 12volt battery

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Tomatron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Running time for fish finder - 12volt battery
    Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 7:52pm
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Hi there, I have a 4m tinpot and am thinking of getting a fish finder. Looking at the Lowrance Mark 5x fish finder - looks like good bang for buck at $350- $400.

However, I have no idea how much power it will use. I plan to run it off one or two batteries that I use for spot lighting, the little 12volt 7 a/h rechargeable ones. Currently there are no other sources of battery on the boat as the engine is pull start and no alternator so the FF will be dependant on the 12v battery/s

See this link:


All I am after it an approximate battery time, given that the battery is full and that the back light will be turned off. If they can run a 55w spot light for about an hour, I could only assume that a FF would use substantially less power than the spotlight ...

I have no idea with power measurements, so in lay mans terms would be good.

Thank you in advance for your input!

Tom
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Skoti Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 7:58pm
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Give Far Quirk a PM , he has a system like this in his 12 footer .
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Dagwood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 8:52pm
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Running a B&W Garmin 140 off a Dick Smith Gell Cell battery (from burglar alarms etc). I'd be guessing at the capacity of it but it seems you'd measure the run time in days not hours. I chose a cheap sounder with the voltage display. When it gets close to 12 volts, I pull it out and charge it. Haven't been caught short yet.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Fishing Addiction Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 9:29pm
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I use basic lowrance and can get several outings off single charge on 7.2m/amp hours 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote wotfish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 9:35pm
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Hi there, the HDS 5 sounder draws aound .7A max, which would give a theoretical max run time of 10 hrs.  I've got an HDS5 combo that I run off a 7AH battery and I get pretty much a full day use out of it (7 or 8 hours)....
What? Fish? Where?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Cigar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 9:56pm
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The manual lists typical current draw at 0.25 amp, so you should get up to 28hrs from a 7ah battery.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote CoastalStan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 10:47pm
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Real time useage is going to be around 6-8 hrs. Most fish finders will switch off once the voltage drops to 8-9 volts. Kayak fishing guys use them and will help you out with some ideas re wiring them up. Lots of options like running in series and best ways to connect them (lugs can break off if you arent careful)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote  Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 6:58am
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I run an Lowrance X40 Pro off a 7A 12 volt and so far have had 12 hours out of it over three four hour sessions,an I've yet to run it flat.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Tomatron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 7:28am
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nice. That all solves my question. Found heaps of info in the yak section. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote JK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 7:29am
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Made a portable setup on my old IRB using one of those SLA batterys you mention and used to get about 3 or 4 trips out of it so probaby 10-12 hours. Never ran it flat either.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Muppet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 7:30am
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Just keep it topped up after each trip it will be sweet.
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