04-14-2007, 09:16 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I keep several SLA batteries charged and maintained on some shelves in my "staging area". I keep a voltage tester and a couple of chargers at the ready. My batteries range from 4 amp/hr to 8 amp/hour. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I select the battery "du jour" depending on where I am going and how long I plan to fish. For short trips, I will take the smaller batteries, without concern for completely draining them. For longer trips, with a higher wattage sonar, I take the bigger batteries...or for two day trips where electricity is not available for recharging.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Since I have several batteries, I almost always bring a spare in the bottom of my bucket. It's a bummer to hit the water and find out that your aging battery puked on ya. Better to be able to replace it on the water than to do without all day.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It might sound like I am a real spendthrift on batteries. Not so. I hit NPS freight clearance store here in Salt Lake regularly. They have SLA batteries in two places. In the bargain cave the batteries are only $2 or so. Out in the main area, the newer ones are just 70 cents a pound...about $6 for a 7 amp/hr battery.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As long as you have them put on a voltage tester, to determine if they are good, you can get perfectly suitable tubing and tooning batteries for very little money. I have only seen a couple that were not testing over 12.5 volts. And, the peace of mind of having extra batteries for even the longest "primitive camping" trips is well worth spending a few bucks extra.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I select the battery "du jour" depending on where I am going and how long I plan to fish. For short trips, I will take the smaller batteries, without concern for completely draining them. For longer trips, with a higher wattage sonar, I take the bigger batteries...or for two day trips where electricity is not available for recharging.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Since I have several batteries, I almost always bring a spare in the bottom of my bucket. It's a bummer to hit the water and find out that your aging battery puked on ya. Better to be able to replace it on the water than to do without all day.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It might sound like I am a real spendthrift on batteries. Not so. I hit NPS freight clearance store here in Salt Lake regularly. They have SLA batteries in two places. In the bargain cave the batteries are only $2 or so. Out in the main area, the newer ones are just 70 cents a pound...about $6 for a 7 amp/hr battery.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As long as you have them put on a voltage tester, to determine if they are good, you can get perfectly suitable tubing and tooning batteries for very little money. I have only seen a couple that were not testing over 12.5 volts. And, the peace of mind of having extra batteries for even the longest "primitive camping" trips is well worth spending a few bucks extra.[/#0000ff]
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