12 volt rechargeable

[Angling Andrew]

Does anyone know where I can get a 12 volt rechargeable battery for my sonar for a decent price? Other then Walmart. I don't want to make the trek to BPS and all the local stores don't carry them, maybe Costco?

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Thanks

[corklabus]

For several years, I simply hooked my sonar directly to a cheap (20.00) motorcycle battery from WalMart. Worked just fine even on a bigger boat and was rechargeable at home with a regular car battery charger. It operated the sonar for three or four days before needing recharged as long as it didn't have to operate anything else. I suppose the small size would be great for a canoe or kayak.

[Iowa_Josh]

I was just at the Interstate battery dealer the other day and they had small, sealed wet cells that should be just what you want. 12v 4ah

[jeremiad]

Andrew, check out http://www.catfish1.com/forums/blogs/7686/power-your-kayak-diy-article-388/

My blog will discuss how to connect two 6V gell batteries in series.

I would never use a wet-cell battery on a kayak or canoe. Not if, but when you overturn you will have a dangerous situation on your hands!

I would be careful even with sealed wet-cells. Since you can run most fishfinders on AA cells for days, take care in increasing your risks without a good reason. Since I want to power lights as well, then it does make sense to have a larger power source on board.

[flatwater]

You could go to radio shack and get a AA battery holder that holds 8 AA batteries.
Than get 8 rechargeable AA batteries.Good luck.

[jeremiad]

You could go to radio shack and get a AA battery holder that holds 8 AA batteries.
Than get 8 rechargeable AA batteries.Good luck.

Actually, AA batteries work just fine for most fishfinders of the smaller kind useful for kayaks/canoes. Ready-to-go kits can be purchased from kayak accessory retailers such as ACK.

I installed a higher power option mainly because I want to run lights as well. My battery box is configured with several circuits, each having their own in-line fuse and a primary disconnect switch for charging.

Thanks for the input, Mike, and welcome to the USCA!

[rush_60]

I use AA batteries (not rechargable kind). I've had the same ones in my FF for 2 year now and they still got juice. This is on my backup kayak and it doesn't get as much use as my main one. I usually let my guest paddle it, and let them look at the FF.

[plainsman]

A battery shop should have gell batteries, or check out them companies that sell those powered chairs for invalids to use in the house or 3 wheel carts that folks drive around town on. They have larger batteries, should power a lot for a long time. I think I would stick with rechargeable batteries, less weight.

[bmbmkr]

"You could go to radio shack and get a AA battery holder that holds 8 AA batteries.
Than get 8 rechargeable AA batteries.Good luck."

I use AA for my sonar- just make sure you get the 2100mAH( milli amp hour) batteries made for cameras & such- Energizer and everyready are available at Walmart last I checked.

I made my battery holder out of a piece of 1/2 PVC- I used the springs out of an old flashlight and glued the cap on, the cap on the removeable end is friction tight, and I put a loop of paracord through it(siliconed the hole) to hook inside my hatch so that end doesn't get wet. I can run my little eagle dept finder for a day or two on freshly recharged batteries. 8 x 1.5V =12 V. I have a buddy who uses 9 batteries, it's 13.5 V starting out, but he swears his depth finder runs a few hours longer, especially when we are catfishing at night with the screens backlight on.

[mavmannate]

I was cleaning out my wifes grandmothers closet the other weekend and she had a battery backup system she bought for an old power lift chair/recliner. It was a normal 120 volt system. The thing was shot so i tinkered around with it and found that the actuall batter inside was a 12 volt battery. about twice the size of your fist. Im going to try to charge it and see if it works. It will be for the lights on my canoe. If I were to tip, the shock that it would bring wouldnt kill me. It might hurt, but lifes a bi$#h. LOL

You could look into finding what part (battery) they put in those backups and purchse the part separately online. Hopefullly this will be enough for some lights required by the state for at least 6 hrs. I HOPE! :-)