04-14-2007, 11:25 AM
[cool][#0000ff]SLA batteries are what have made using sonar on tubes and toons practical and efficient. Over the years, I tried everything from rigging two 6 volt lattern batteries in tandem to using the liquid acid batteries sold for motorcycles. The former were heavy and expensive, and did not last long. The latter were potentially dangerous and seldom lasted more than a year.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As already mentioned, SLA batteries are not intended to be used as "deep cycle" batteries. They should not be drained beyond the point that they will operate your sonar. Of course, the type of sonar you have and the wattage will determine how much of an amp draw it puts on the battery and how long it will last.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The most commonly recommended battery for running sonar...for ice fishing or tubing/tooning...is a 12V, 7 amp/hour battery. For the sonar units we use most for tubing/tooning, with 1000 - 1500 watts, that battery will provide a couple of long days on the water between charges. However, it is best to recharge after every use...and/or to top off the battery before taking it on the water. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]SLA batteries do not operate like the rechargeable Nicad or NiMh batteries. They can tolerate wide ranges of charge and discharge and do not have "memory". You can top them off at any point in their cycle without affecting life or performance.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are two items you should have to check your battery and keep it properly charged. One is a volt meter and the other is a little "trickle charger". A volt meter lets you see exactly how many volts your battery is charged to. For a 12 volt SLA battery, a full charge will show something between 12.75 volts to over 13 volts. If it shows less, before you go fishing, put it on the trickle charger for awhile.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The trickle charger is a step down transformer that feeds 12 V. current into your SLA battery at the rate of anwhere from .500 amp/hour to as high as 3 amp/hour. Lower is usually better, with less potential for overheating your battery. These little chargers are usually sold wherever you can buy the batteries and should cost no more than about $10.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you fish in cold weather, it is a good idea to wrap the battery in some kind of protective material while you are using it. Cold knocks the heck out of a battery's life and performance.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As already mentioned, SLA batteries are not intended to be used as "deep cycle" batteries. They should not be drained beyond the point that they will operate your sonar. Of course, the type of sonar you have and the wattage will determine how much of an amp draw it puts on the battery and how long it will last.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The most commonly recommended battery for running sonar...for ice fishing or tubing/tooning...is a 12V, 7 amp/hour battery. For the sonar units we use most for tubing/tooning, with 1000 - 1500 watts, that battery will provide a couple of long days on the water between charges. However, it is best to recharge after every use...and/or to top off the battery before taking it on the water. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]SLA batteries do not operate like the rechargeable Nicad or NiMh batteries. They can tolerate wide ranges of charge and discharge and do not have "memory". You can top them off at any point in their cycle without affecting life or performance.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are two items you should have to check your battery and keep it properly charged. One is a volt meter and the other is a little "trickle charger". A volt meter lets you see exactly how many volts your battery is charged to. For a 12 volt SLA battery, a full charge will show something between 12.75 volts to over 13 volts. If it shows less, before you go fishing, put it on the trickle charger for awhile.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The trickle charger is a step down transformer that feeds 12 V. current into your SLA battery at the rate of anwhere from .500 amp/hour to as high as 3 amp/hour. Lower is usually better, with less potential for overheating your battery. These little chargers are usually sold wherever you can buy the batteries and should cost no more than about $10.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you fish in cold weather, it is a good idea to wrap the battery in some kind of protective material while you are using it. Cold knocks the heck out of a battery's life and performance.[/#0000ff]
[signature]