Are you in the market for a new fish finder battery? If so, then you need to do quite a bit of research to find one that suits your needs and budget. A fish finder battery is most commonly used on kayaks or small boats that accommodate one or two persons. The right battery allows you to gain maximum performance while keeping weight to a minimum.
Your first order of business is to determine the require capacity of the fish finder battery. This can be easily obtained by multiplying the fish finder current and your desired operating time. The resulting number is given in Ampere-Hours. In most cases, fish finders use less than 1 Amp of current. This applies in particular to models powered by 12V sources. If you usually go on trips that last 3 hours, then multiply 1 Amp and 3 hours, which gives you 3 Ampere-hours.
The type of battery you want to power your fish finder must also be taken into account. A sealed acid battery is one of the most commonly used fish finder batteries because they’re leak proof and come in different shapes and sizes. Not to mention, they’re cheap as well.
Nickel Cadmium batteries are more lightweight compared to SLA batteries. These are the best choice if you need high currents. However, take note that they’re not the most environment friendly choice.
It can be confusing when you go shopping for a fish finder battery for the first time. But over time, you’ll determine your common practices and determine the best fish finder battery that accurately meets your needs.
How To Choose A Good Fish Finder Battery
There is no doubt that a fish finder battery is an asset you would find hard to live without once you have been used to using one. That being said, knowing how to choose a good one can be an issue. Below we will provide several useful tips on making a good choice.
Battery Construction
You should choose between sealed lead-acid batteries and lithium batteries. The first option is commonly used as deep cycle since these batteries are effective regardless of their orientation. Granted, they are a little heavy, however, you will find them to be leakproof and relatively cheap. Lithium batteries on the other hand are lightweight and tend to be a lot smaller. They also tend to be more expensive than their sealed lead-acid counterparts, however can discharge 100% power without risk of battery life problems making them an excellent choice.
Battery Power
To see which battery is a good choice for your needs you can follow a simple calculation of dividing the battery amp-hours (this will be noted on the side of the battery) with the fish finder amp draw (you will find this in the manufacturer spec), this will provide you with the expected hours of run time and can be a great help in deciding which fish finder battery is right for your needs.
Size And Weight
If you plan to use the fish finder battery on a kayak then you already know that size and weight are crucial. Lithium batteries are much lighter making them an excellent choice if you can afford them. Even if you are on a small boat, size is an important factor. When space is limited and you already have fishing gear on board, every tiny amount of space counts. In a few words; small and light is exactly what you are looking for in a great battery.
The Bottom Line On Choosing A Good Fish Finder Battery
There are many factors to take into account if you want to make a good decision. However, three of the main ones are battery construction, battery power and size and weight. Take the time to think about how and when you will use the battery and then weigh up these three factors to find the right battery for your needs. By taking a little time to do such research and consider your needs you can save yourself the expense of making a decision that you will later regret.
I Believe that I have been a fisherman ever since I was born. I have had and still have a couple of boats that me and my family and friends enjoy all year long. One thing I have learned in all of the years is that you need to be properly prepared when going out on a boat. It would be an easy argument to say that you can`t prepare enough. My hope is that this site gives you a few ideas for items or accessories that you may not have though of for your boating or fishing trips. Happy Boating & Fishing Everyone
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