08-30-2005, 03:26 AM
Tubedude,
The transducer and depthfinder are mounted with a scotty fishfinder mounting strap. As the picture shows the strap came with two mounts, one for the screen and one for the transducer. No suction cup just a heavy plastic mount with slots for the strap. I did a little jerry rigging to make it work best for me, mainly just screwing the strap to the mount so the transducer won't slip on the strap and monkeying with the mounting holes to get everything aligned. Smallmouth, the batteries are nimh 2300mah AA's. I think I said 2500's earlier and they would certainly work even better. Battery hungry digital cameras have been a boon for these type batteries. The first ones I bought for my camera were 1500mah and would not last too long but the 2300 and 2500's will last quite a while depending on drain, ie alarms, lights and such. As for rigging, all I did was buy a 8 AA battery holder and accompanying wires for the holder from the local radio shack, batteries and charger from your local area ebay, and wire nutted it to the end of the depth finder battery cable. I am sure you could shorten the cable but I elected to just tie it up as shown and hook it to the d ring. I used a tupperware container to help keep the batteries dry in the back of the fc4 pouch. Someone (probably tubedude) has pointed out earlier that the ff don't really require 12 volts. But the 8 AA's do make 12 volts and the piranhamax has a battery alarm and I have set it as low as 8.5 and the alarm goes off before the screen dies. You spend more for the batteries and charger to begin with but they have a long life and will keep their charge for up to a month or longer depending on usage. Keep in mind that nimh batteries take about 5 cycles of charging and uncharging before they attain their longest life spans so your initial usage will be shorter by a good bit. I had to charge it after 4 hours the first time, 8-10 the second and from that point on I usually charge it every 2-3 weeks depending on how much time I get to spend on the water. Also my charger takes 8- 10 hours per four batteries so plan accordingly or buy two chargers if you decide to go this route. Hope this helps. Seems there are as many ways to rig things as their are tubes to fish in. Wet lines everyone.
Vic L.
[signature]
The transducer and depthfinder are mounted with a scotty fishfinder mounting strap. As the picture shows the strap came with two mounts, one for the screen and one for the transducer. No suction cup just a heavy plastic mount with slots for the strap. I did a little jerry rigging to make it work best for me, mainly just screwing the strap to the mount so the transducer won't slip on the strap and monkeying with the mounting holes to get everything aligned. Smallmouth, the batteries are nimh 2300mah AA's. I think I said 2500's earlier and they would certainly work even better. Battery hungry digital cameras have been a boon for these type batteries. The first ones I bought for my camera were 1500mah and would not last too long but the 2300 and 2500's will last quite a while depending on drain, ie alarms, lights and such. As for rigging, all I did was buy a 8 AA battery holder and accompanying wires for the holder from the local radio shack, batteries and charger from your local area ebay, and wire nutted it to the end of the depth finder battery cable. I am sure you could shorten the cable but I elected to just tie it up as shown and hook it to the d ring. I used a tupperware container to help keep the batteries dry in the back of the fc4 pouch. Someone (probably tubedude) has pointed out earlier that the ff don't really require 12 volts. But the 8 AA's do make 12 volts and the piranhamax has a battery alarm and I have set it as low as 8.5 and the alarm goes off before the screen dies. You spend more for the batteries and charger to begin with but they have a long life and will keep their charge for up to a month or longer depending on usage. Keep in mind that nimh batteries take about 5 cycles of charging and uncharging before they attain their longest life spans so your initial usage will be shorter by a good bit. I had to charge it after 4 hours the first time, 8-10 the second and from that point on I usually charge it every 2-3 weeks depending on how much time I get to spend on the water. Also my charger takes 8- 10 hours per four batteries so plan accordingly or buy two chargers if you decide to go this route. Hope this helps. Seems there are as many ways to rig things as their are tubes to fish in. Wet lines everyone.
Vic L.
[signature]