03-13-2013, 08:01 PM
[cool][#0000FF]Any source of 12v DC current will run your electric motor...for SOME period of time...at SOME speed. But you will obviously be happier with a good deep cycle battery with higher amp-hour ratings...even for minimal use.
When I first started putting a sonar on my float tube I was using an old heavy flasher unit...powered by two 6 volt lantern batteries wired in series to produce 12 volts. It worked, but the batteries didn't last long and were not rechargeable.
Next I used 12 vold lead-acid motorcycle batteries. They were designed for running the motorcycle electric and being constantly recharged by the system. They also did not last for many cycles of deep discharge and recharging.
I have been very happy with the SLA 12 volt batteries we now have for running sonars, but in testing them on running my electric motor I can tell you they don't last long at all.
If your batteries are rated at 12 amp hours, that does not mean you can run them wide open for 1 hour. If your batteries begin the trip at 13 volts on the tester they will begin to drop voltage until they get down to the 12 volts or less level. By then you are running much slower. At some point your motor will not run at all...even though it is not completely drained. If the voltage drops below the level needed to move the motor it will not work.
Without knowing all of the specifics of the battery the best I could suggest would be to run them either one at a time or wire them in tandem to produce one larger 12 volt battery. Be sure you do it right or you will be sending 24 volts. You can find wiring diagrams online. Then take your toon out and put it through the paces. Take a voltage reading on the batteries before you launch and then again after you get back. That will tell you a lot.
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When I first started putting a sonar on my float tube I was using an old heavy flasher unit...powered by two 6 volt lantern batteries wired in series to produce 12 volts. It worked, but the batteries didn't last long and were not rechargeable.
Next I used 12 vold lead-acid motorcycle batteries. They were designed for running the motorcycle electric and being constantly recharged by the system. They also did not last for many cycles of deep discharge and recharging.
I have been very happy with the SLA 12 volt batteries we now have for running sonars, but in testing them on running my electric motor I can tell you they don't last long at all.
If your batteries are rated at 12 amp hours, that does not mean you can run them wide open for 1 hour. If your batteries begin the trip at 13 volts on the tester they will begin to drop voltage until they get down to the 12 volts or less level. By then you are running much slower. At some point your motor will not run at all...even though it is not completely drained. If the voltage drops below the level needed to move the motor it will not work.
Without knowing all of the specifics of the battery the best I could suggest would be to run them either one at a time or wire them in tandem to produce one larger 12 volt battery. Be sure you do it right or you will be sending 24 volts. You can find wiring diagrams online. Then take your toon out and put it through the paces. Take a voltage reading on the batteries before you launch and then again after you get back. That will tell you a lot.
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