NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Zone => Gearing Up and Rigging Up => Topic started by: RacinRob on March 14, 2017, 11:21:09 AM

Title: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 14, 2017, 11:21:09 AM
Well, it looks like Salty killed the other thread, so I will start it here again. They are being shipped out to dealers this week last I heard. I have ordered 2 and the ship date to me is March 22nd. That says to me it is ready to go. Here is some info again.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Live2Fish on March 14, 2017, 11:46:15 AM
Awesome!!
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: bmb on March 14, 2017, 01:24:10 PM
Jim here's your chance to kill another one of Rob's threads.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: hdpwipmonkey on March 14, 2017, 05:54:49 PM
Awesome!  I want one... I don't need one, just want one.  😂
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: oldfart on March 14, 2017, 06:32:43 PM
Does it come with a charger?  14ah at how many volts?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on March 14, 2017, 06:52:51 PM
I've been waiting for this so I can set up my battery and transducer in the pod on my Thresher. I hope I can order at 12:01 tonight!
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 14, 2017, 07:40:42 PM
Does it come with a charger?  14ah at how many volts?

14ah @ 12 volts w/charger.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 14, 2017, 07:42:34 PM
I've been waiting for this so I can set up my battery and transducer in the pod on my Thresher. I hope I can order at 12:01 tonight!

Find a dealer that will take your order.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on March 15, 2017, 11:16:27 AM
I've been waiting for this so I can set up my battery and transducer in the pod on my Thresher. I hope I can order at 12:01 tonight!

Find a dealer that will take your order.
I guess I'll have to call around because I can't find it online yet.  :smt012
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 15, 2017, 12:21:36 PM
Have you called, or just looked online? Most of these retailers won't update their sites more than once a month if even that. Better off calling around to dealers in the US.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on March 15, 2017, 12:52:33 PM
Have you called, or just looked online? Most of these retailers won't update their sites more than once a month if even that. Better off calling around to dealers in the US.
I just called Adventure Sports and he has to email his rep. He seemed to think they would carry them sooner or later.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 15, 2017, 01:12:12 PM
It is possible also that retailers will choose not to carry them also.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on March 15, 2017, 01:18:21 PM
It is possible also that retailers will choose not to carry them also.
I was hoping Harmony Gear would be on it.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 15, 2017, 01:35:40 PM
It is possible also that retailers will choose not to carry them also.
I was hoping Harmony Gear would be on it.

Harmony shipping and site is run by ACK.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on March 15, 2017, 02:57:53 PM
Adventure Sports said they ordered 4 and expect them within a couple weeks. Guess I'll have to wait.  :smt010
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: NowhereMan on March 15, 2017, 03:25:33 PM
Awesome!  I want one... I don't need one, just want one.  😂

+1
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 16, 2017, 03:30:56 PM
Dang it!!!

Parts being held at customs right now. Should arrive in inventory 3/31/17.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: rshu on March 17, 2017, 09:56:37 PM
I ordered mine today from kayak connection santa cruz.

$125 for the battery, $20 for the battery cradle, and $10 shipping. should be here in 1-2 weeks.

Thanks Rob!
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: wormguy on March 18, 2017, 12:17:14 PM
Dang it!!!

Parts being held at customs right now. Should arrive in inventory 3/31/17.

Hope they are not coming from one of Trump's banned countries...May never get in!     :smt044
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Salty. on March 18, 2017, 11:22:57 PM
14oz total is extremely light for 14ah and the price isn't bad either. Seems like a fair price if those specs are legit.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: fisheducator on March 19, 2017, 10:52:51 AM
Any idea how many charges it will take before dying vs. a LAB ?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: NowhereMan on March 19, 2017, 02:22:17 PM
Any idea how many charges it will take before dying vs. a LAB ?

That's a good question and I'd be interested in the answer too. I currently use one of these, mostly because it's supposed to last longer than anything else:
https://www.amazon.com/Energy-K2B12V7EB-Lithium-Phosphate-Battery/dp/B0056BXE6A
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on March 30, 2017, 11:52:18 AM
Dang it!!!

Parts being held at customs right now. Should arrive in inventory 3/31/17.

I just talked to them at kayak city and they still don't have them. Any word on yours?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 30, 2017, 02:15:22 PM
No new word since they were held at customs. Last I heard shipping to dealers tomorrow. I will see If I can get any more info.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on March 31, 2017, 07:46:52 PM
I called Kayak City back and they say they expect them by the end of next week.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on March 31, 2017, 11:10:46 PM
The batteries arrived on the 27th. They are shipping them out now. Expect them soon, very soon.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on April 07, 2017, 10:47:54 AM
I called Kayak City back and they say they expect them by the end of next week.
Called today and was disappointed again. They still have not shipped. Rob, did you get yours?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 12, 2017, 04:02:32 PM
I just received my two batteries. No testing yet, but they do weigh 14oz.
Charging by mini USB to regular USB via computer or adapter. It is the thinner type small USB
Includes round pin connector for FF hook up.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on April 12, 2017, 05:49:08 PM
Nice. I hope that means kayak city will have mine soon.  :smt006
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: KayakJames on April 12, 2017, 07:04:16 PM
Would love to have one but man a lot of work trying to find any.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 14, 2017, 07:58:01 PM
I hooked up my battery today in preparation for freshwater sea trials tomorrow. I went from 7ah 6lb15oz of battery and box to 15ah 2lb7oz of battery and box. So far so good. I will report back on how it does tomorrow night.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: wormguy on April 14, 2017, 08:07:54 PM
My battery died today after 6 hours on clear lake.
Need some better amps
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 14, 2017, 08:12:49 PM
My bafter died today after 6 hours on clear lake.
Need some better amps

What FF do you have?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on April 15, 2017, 07:23:25 PM
I checked with them today. They were unloading a shipment but no batteries.  :smt012
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: NoSoupForU on April 16, 2017, 07:26:00 AM
I hooked up my battery today in preparation for freshwater sea trials tomorrow. I went from 7ah 6lb15oz of battery and box to 15ah 2lb7oz of battery and box. So far so good. I will report back on how it does tomorrow night.
That battery must be working great!   :smt003  Since there is no report yet, you must still be out fishing.   :smt044
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 16, 2017, 11:26:25 AM
Wow!!!! I just got off the water from yesterday. lol

I was on the water for 12 hours with my HB 768 grey scale fish finder. The battery has 5 led's to show strength. It started at 12.1 volts and after 12 hours went down to 12.0. 4 out of the 5 led's are still lit up. I think I really like it. I did charge my phone some too.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: ALPINEX on April 16, 2017, 02:23:39 PM
Looks awesome. May have to get into one of those, my 14ah deep cycle is better served as a boat anchor I think.

Looking forward to a longer term test rob! A lot of lithium battery's begin to lose capability around 200 cycles, and all benefit from, correct storage charge and not over discharging. Do these have a storage charge setting (usually about 80%) or a protection from over discharge? Not hard to monitor on your own, just curious if maybe it was built in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: JimmyD on April 16, 2017, 11:03:56 PM
The wilderness battery looks good. What's the reviews and final price?  I was looking at lifepo4 batteries such as this.

Bioenno Power 12V, 12Ah LFP Battery (PVC, BLF-1212A) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DOVDV9S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_eOf9ybK3681YR
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 17, 2017, 12:21:49 AM
It s brand new to the market and I do not know of any true use reviews. It sells for 124.99.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Odonata on April 17, 2017, 08:42:05 AM
Interesting.  I see this battery uses a different connector for FF power -- any thoughts on if I can buy a connector or cable without buying the whole FF install kit ?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on April 17, 2017, 09:03:37 AM
Interesting.  I see this battery uses a different connector for FF power -- any thoughts on if I can buy a connector or cable without buying the whole FF install kit ?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
I have seen FF cables for sale. What kind is yours? I'm just going to cut the connector I added when mine was new and solder this one on.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 17, 2017, 09:30:25 AM
My battery was connected by shielded female spade connectors. All I did in my battery box was add male spades to the end of the supplied cable that came with the battery and plugged them into the female side. Took about 2 minutes. They supplied cable is just bare wire to connect anything you would like to.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: ReelKnots on April 17, 2017, 09:32:54 AM
Who else carry this product locally? I want one.   :smt006 :smt007



-Kiel
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 17, 2017, 09:35:39 AM
Adventure in Sac will have them soon, Sunrise in Livermore may have them now, or look online.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: ReelKnots on April 17, 2017, 09:55:16 AM
Adventure in Sac will have them soon, Sunrise in Livermore may have them now, or look online.


Thanks Rob!  :smt006


-Kiel
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Odonata on April 18, 2017, 07:51:28 AM
My battery was connected by shielded female spade connectors. All I did in my battery box was add male spades to the end of the supplied cable that came with the battery and plugged them into the female side. Took about 2 minutes. They supplied cable is just bare wire to connect anything you would like to.

Awesome, thanks !
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on April 21, 2017, 11:12:08 AM
Adventure sports told me that wilderness pulled them off the market to fix some issue they had with the ones that were released to stores on the east coast.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on April 21, 2017, 12:14:18 PM
Nope. There was a mistake in the instructions and they are sending revised instructions to be placed in the boxes already on the shelves. The batteries are fine.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on April 21, 2017, 02:06:17 PM
Nope. There was a mistake in the instructions and they are sending revised instructions to be placed in the boxes already on the shelves. The batteries are fine.
He didn't tell me what the problem was. Makes sense. I wouldn't think they could pull batteries and fix a physical problem with it without sending them back to the factory.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on May 06, 2017, 08:17:34 PM
Yea! I finally got my battery.  Nice and compact! I like that it comes with a USB charging cable. I wondered if I needed to buy a special charger. It's good that I can charge it with my phone charger in my truck. It has a feature that I didn't expect. I haven't decided if it is good or not.

The instructions say the battery will automatically turn itself off when power is no longer being pulled or drained. Unplugging devices or turning devices off will start the 30 sec automatic shutoff cycle. LED indicators will turn off after 15 sec and the battery will turn off completely after another 15 sec.

If devices are plugged in (or turned on I assume) before the 30 sec shutoff cycle is completed, the battery will reactivate and continue to supply power.

I guess this is a safety feature to prevent the battery from somehow self destructing and sinking your kayak. That is a good thing. Since the battery will be tucked away and not easily reached or unreachable while on the water for some people this could present a problem.

Maybe the solution will be to add some secondary accessory that will put a small drain on the battery so it won't power off if you want to shut off your FF.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on May 12, 2017, 07:51:22 PM
My instruction sheet is different. It doesn't say revised but there is a small 4/17 at the bottom. Mine came with a micro USB charging cable. I charged mine and it worked fine. Is it mixed in with the 12 volt power cable? It looks like my cable was designed to seal when plugged in. It's possible other micro USB cables won't fit into the battery if the plastic part of the plug isn't shaped the same. I tried a different one I have and it fits in. The two larger USB ports are to supply power to your phone or other USB device. Plug your iPhone cable in and use the battery to charge your phone. The small one is to charge the battery and the round one is 12volt out. Below are photos of my charging cable.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on May 12, 2017, 09:38:21 PM
The instructions that came with mine (Rev. 11/22/16)do not say anything about auto shutoff.  I have been wondering how I'm supposed to know which of the 3 modes the battery is in just by looking at it...(1) 5-volt output only is on (2) 5-volt output and 12-volt output are both on (3) Off.

The standard square plug that came with my iPhone 6 will not charge it.  The USB outputs on my PC would not charge it.  I have a 1.1A Orico charger that finally worked, but it took a while.

I purchased mine from Mariner Sails.
These are the instructions that originally came with the battery. They were wrong. That is why there was a 1 week hold on shipping. All retailers were sent updated instructions if the had batteries shipped before the revision. Apparently this retailer did not swap out for the new instruction. Trail Dads are correct.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: wormguy on May 13, 2017, 10:28:46 AM
Adventure sports is out..they plan on getting 8  more next week
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on May 13, 2017, 04:56:49 PM
Adventure has 3 in stock. I was just there
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: wormguy on May 14, 2017, 09:41:35 AM
Then the guy on the phone needs to look harder....
I was on my way down there to buy one and decided to call first. The guy gave me a long story
about how they were supposed to be there and now they won't be there until next week...
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: FishingAddict on May 15, 2017, 09:28:42 AM
Please post a review.  Its hard for me to imagine a 15a battery / 6 capacity cell that small. 
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on May 15, 2017, 09:44:43 AM
Please post a review.  Its hard for me to imagine a 15a battery / 6 capacity cell that small.

I hope to have mine in use at Shelter Cove this weekend.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: FishingAddict on May 15, 2017, 10:30:25 AM
The closest battery I know of is 16a and weights around 3 lbs.  I use the 10a version to power my Dragonfly 7.
The Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery weights only 14 oz with the case.  I wonder how this possible and if they can validate their specs.  Just curious.
 
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/multistar-high-capacity-4s-16000mah-multi-rotor-lipo-pack.html

Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on June 17, 2017, 11:44:19 PM
I finally got to use mine at the tourney today. I charged it maybe a month or more ago. It showed all five charge status lights before use. I kept it on for about six hours and when I was done it showed three charge status lights. So I used around half the power, maybe a little more or a little less. Two six hour days with constant use is pretty decent, especially for a battery that light. I'm using a Hook 5 FF with my screen turns up bright. As of tonight Austin Kayaks says this product is out of stock and has been discontinued. Maybe Rob can fill us in on that.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on June 20, 2017, 08:29:39 PM
I finally got to use mine at the tourney today. I charged it maybe a month or more ago. It showed all five charge status lights before use. I kept it on for about six hours and when I was done it showed three charge status lights. So I used around half the power, maybe a little more or a little less. Two six hour days with constant use is pretty decent, especially for a battery that light. I'm using a Hook 5 FF with my screen turns up bright. As of tonight Austin Kayaks says this product is out of stock and has been discontinued. Maybe Rob can fill us in on that.

I found out that the battery is still for sale so maybe it was Austin Kayaks that is not carrying it anymore. It is still on the web for sale.

Here is one site.

https://www.prokayakfishing.com/products/wilderness-systems-lithium-battery-15ah
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on June 25, 2017, 10:06:28 PM
I used my lithium battery again this weekend. Maybe 5 hrs the first day and maybe an hour and a half the second. I'm getting the same display for recharging. 2 solid light and three blinking. Maybe sometime soon I can get a good long day otw and really put it to the test.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Hojoman on June 26, 2017, 10:53:19 PM
Do you have to kep the battery above a minimum charge, or does that apply only to lead acid batteries?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on June 26, 2017, 11:34:48 PM
Use it till it stops. It will always be at about 12 volts unlike a lead acid battery that will dip down to 11-10-9-8 etc. The charge indication lights are the way to tell how much is left.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Dale L on September 08, 2017, 04:18:54 PM
Any more comments now that people have had them for a few months, seem to be readily available now but online reviews are almost nonexistent and I'm ready to lighten my load.  Lighten my wallet as well as the yak.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on September 08, 2017, 05:16:40 PM
Any more comments now that people have had them for a few months, seem to be readily available now but online reviews are almost nonexistent and I'm ready to lighten my load.  Lighten my wallet as well as the yak.

So far so good with mine. I haven't used it but a few times yet. I did hear one story of a defective battery. It shut off every time the FF was turned on and had to be plugged into the charger to "reset" it so it would turn on again. The return was handled easily and quickly though.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on September 14, 2017, 11:04:29 PM
Any more comments now that people have had them for a few months, seem to be readily available now but online reviews are almost nonexistent and I'm ready to lighten my load.  Lighten my wallet as well as the yak.
Had mine out last weekend after an overnight charge.  About 5.5 hours in, my FF shut off.  It was on my paddle in so I didn't notice it until I got to the ramp.  I turned it back on and pushed the on/off button on the FF and it powered back on.  When I got home and plugged it in to recharge, it had zero blue bars solid.  This has me nervous and I'm going to be watching it carefully this weekend.  If the battery shuts off and you wait 30 seconds, you have to push the button to turn it on again.  I keep mine way up in the bow in an inaccessible spot. 

Dave

It takes a long time to get a full charge in those batteries. Was it showing 5 solid bars, or was it not fully charged with 1-2 lights still blinking? What fish finder?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Odonata on September 15, 2017, 07:16:42 AM
I ordered one from Austin Kayak earlier this week and just received it in the mail yesterday.  The box also contained a 3' micro-USB to USB cable and a 3' 12V line with a couple of crimp connectors and a length of heat-shrink tubing (a nice touch).  The unit came with a partial charge (3-4 bars), enough to test out my setup; I plugged it into one of my tablet power bricks and gave it a full charge overnight.

There was a manufacturer notice at the Austin Kayak site mentioning that the max current draw for this battery was 1A; any more and the unit would automatically shut off to prevent problems.  There was a list of fish finders and their current draws, some will not work.

I received a Garmin 4cv in the mail at the same time, and it was a simple matter to solder up the power cable and heat-shrink it.  Seems to work in the living room.  Pretty psyched so far.  The battery is light enough to put in the mesh pocket behind my seat.  I suppose I should think about some kind of water-resistant container; perhaps a small drybag ?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on September 15, 2017, 08:55:44 AM
It is water resistant, but not water proof. I have had it really wet and it survived, but don't do as I did. Put it in a dry bag.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Dale L on September 15, 2017, 11:29:17 AM
Just guessing here after a little research.

In a perfect world Amps = watts/volts,  Looked up the Dragonfly 7 and found 9.4w tops.  So about .78amp draw.

15 amphour/.78amp=19 hours. 

I'm not sure how much of the 15ah gets pushed out at 12 volts,

IMO, Lots of extenuating issues and losses around this stuff so if I got half of that I'd consider it good,
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Odonata on September 22, 2017, 08:32:39 AM
Found a dry sack for mine on amazon -- a Seattle Sports Micro Dry, in size medium.  When sizing these things, don't forget to account for the length of the cable that is plugged into the battery :)

Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on November 05, 2017, 10:11:32 PM
I used mine for 5-6 hrs today on my Lowrance Hook 5. I keep the screen fairly bright. I plugged it in to charge and two lights are flashing. Maybe we'll get 10-12 hrs on a full charge.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Odonata on December 01, 2017, 08:46:11 PM
Can't believe it's taken me this long to actually try this thing.  First actual test with my new Garmin Striker 4cv and this battery.  Started out with full five LED's.  Out on the water from around 8am until 4pm or so.  No issues.  Plugged the battery in to charge when I got home and it was showing three LED's.  Works for me !
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: NowhereMan on December 02, 2017, 05:33:46 AM
Anybody thought about running both a FF and a livewell pump off of one of these? It looks like it might work for a half-day or more...
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Sin Coast on December 02, 2017, 10:54:17 PM
I ordered one of these with the KFS 25% discount coupon. Hope it works out!
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: FriedKalamari on January 16, 2018, 12:56:35 AM
i got this battery as well. 

if anyones looking for an easy way to mount it, this is how i put it in my revo using the wilderness systems battery cradle.  you could make the cradle pretty easily too.

basically i just used a rubber/metal clamp from ace hardware, mounted this to the mast tube, then mounted the cradle to it.   the little metal piece is for added rigidity since the clamp only has one mounting hole.

simple and works. the battery is awesome too.

(https://i.imgur.com/UEc1mdRh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/pUgGxFTh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4mQRRJfh.jpg)
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on January 16, 2018, 08:19:20 AM
That looks good, but remember this battery is water resistant and not water proof. If you think water may enter the hatch and get on the battery you may need to modify the location some.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on January 16, 2018, 08:25:50 AM
That looks good, but remember this battery is water resistant and not water proof. If you think water may enter the hatch and get on the battery you may need to modify the location some.
Maybe turn it upside down so water won't drip onto the openings.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: FriedKalamari on January 16, 2018, 11:19:25 AM
That looks good, but remember this battery is water resistant and not water proof. If you think water may enter the hatch and get on the battery you may need to modify the location some.

That looks good, but remember this battery is water resistant and not water proof. If you think water may enter the hatch and get on the battery you may need to modify the location some.
Maybe turn it upside down so water won't drip onto the openings.

yeah one of those dry bags in this thread should do before i actually take it otw.  the hatch should be pretty sealed though in normal conditions? this is the same place the hobie battery kit mounts.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on January 16, 2018, 01:09:20 PM
Ask the Hobie guys how well the hatches seal. I don't own one.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Sin Coast on January 16, 2018, 04:49:12 PM
I always place my FF battery in a small tupperware box (Lock N Lock brand from Target has served me well). Because it's a kayak. And shit happens. So if you don't get any water inside the hull, you'd be the first. On your kayak, it'll come in through the round center hatch moreso than the big bow hatch [but those have been known to leak too!]. Saltwater is especially corrosive & harmful to electrical terminals. So, I would suggest using a drybag or box for this WS lithium battery. You know I will...because I'm frugal and that battery was expensive! Plus, experience from the previous dozen kayaks that I've installed fishfinders on suggests it is a wise idea to secure & seal the battery. :-)
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: FriedKalamari on January 16, 2018, 10:31:33 PM
I always place my FF battery in a small tupperware box (Lock N Lock brand from Target has served me well). Because it's a kayak. And shit happens. So if you don't get any water inside the hull, you'd be the first. On your kayak, it'll come in through the round center hatch moreso than the big bow hatch [but those have been known to leak too!]. Saltwater is especially corrosive & harmful to electrical terminals. So, I would suggest using a drybag or box for this WS lithium battery. You know I will...because I'm frugal and that battery was expensive! Plus, experience from the previous dozen kayaks that I've installed fishfinders on suggests it is a wise idea to secure & seal the battery. :-)


good tips :thumbsup: seems like a dry bag is a no brainer.  im actually surprised WS doesn't offer an optional waterproof solution to go with this.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Azkikr on January 17, 2018, 02:10:27 PM
Nice battery. And you guys gave me new ideas. Thanks a lot!
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: FriedKalamari on January 28, 2018, 10:06:22 PM
for anyone that needs a dirt cheap waterproofing solution https://tinyurl.com/y8rct4w7

perfect fit

(https://i.imgur.com/jKuQqkOh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JX33TQS.jpg)
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: fisheducator on January 29, 2018, 07:02:50 PM
I have a Lowrance Elite5-HDI fishfinder and tried to use this battery.

1) hooked it up, powered up , works great...
2) get to the water the next day and hit the F.F. power button and nothing, lights go off on battery, won't turn back on, tried a couple of times later in the day...
3) realized it has a 1 amp max. draw, my F.F. is rated at 1.1, so I powered the F.F. with another battery , turned the brightness way down, turned off the sonar, powered the unit down, switched back to the W.S. battery and it powered up just fine, problem solved  ?
4) decided to put an amp clamp on it just to see what I got on start up, battery shut down again !

The only way to get the battery to reset after overdraw is to put it on a charger again, I have not contacted customer service yet, I bought it from ACK, my F.F. was not on their list of F.F. that won't work with this battery.

Help ?, thoughts ? , ideas ?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on January 30, 2018, 12:08:46 AM
Bryan had a similar problem. As I recall my battery worked and his didn't on the same FF. I think some batteries have a problem.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on February 05, 2018, 07:56:52 PM
I am sending a message off to R&D/QC. Hold tight till I get a response. Could be a day or 2.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: fisheducator on February 05, 2018, 09:18:29 PM
Okay, will hold on for a few days...
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on February 07, 2018, 07:35:34 AM
The Elite series will not work with the battery parameters.

The recommended limit for our battery is 12v, 1.0 Amp. This limit accommodates many popular fish finders but there are exceptions as mentioned above. We have identified some popular fish finders below and will notate which ones are compatible with our battery and which are not. This is not a comprehensive list so please check the specifications of your fish finder if yours is not listed below. The ones that are not either exceed the 12v or the 1.0 Amp parameter.
 
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Sin Coast on February 07, 2018, 10:20:27 AM
Do you mean the newer (chirp) Lowrance Elite or Hook series? I have a Lowrance Elite 5 (pre-chirp) from 2012. Will it work?
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: fisheducator on February 07, 2018, 04:03:48 PM
Hey Pat, this is from W.S. website, my owners manual says 12V, current drain - Typical: 1.1A

The recommended limit for our battery is 12v, 1.0 Amp. This limit accommodates most popular fish finders but there are some exceptions. Fish finders that do not work well with the Lithium Battery typically exceed either the 12v or 1.0 Amp parameters. See the two popular examples below.

Garmin 73sv – current draw is 12v 1.41Ah. Ah is higher than our battery compatibility.
Lowrance 7TI – current draw is 13v 0.9Ah. Voltage is higher than our battery compatibility.

** Please note that if the battery shuts down while powering on your fish finder, the battery is performing as designed for your safety. In this case, our protection circuit is sensing over current demand and shutting the battery off. This prevents damage to the fish finder and prevents a hazardous situation with battery overdraw. Other competitive batteries do not feature the same protection as ours does.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: lucky13 on February 07, 2018, 08:53:02 PM
** Please note that if the battery shuts down while powering on your fish finder, the battery is performing as designed for your safety. In this case, our protection circuit is sensing over current demand and shutting the battery off. This prevents damage to the fish finder and prevents a hazardous situation with battery overdraw. Other competitive batteries do not feature the same protection as ours does.
That's non-sense. My weakest LiPo batteries is rated at 10C, which makes my 10Amp battery able to draw 100Amp. Limiting the draw to 1amp speaks volume about their design and quality. Build your own lithium battery box and let your FF draw as much as it wants.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: CGN-38 on February 08, 2018, 02:36:54 AM
 :smt012
  For $125 that battery better power everything I plan to run on my kayak, as in the FF, Compass light, LED deck lights all at once.  1A seems way too small.  I can't justify that much $$ for something so limited.

Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on May 26, 2018, 07:02:31 PM
I finally got a chance to use it until it went dead. I used it for at least 6 hours last week at gs12 and it lasted another 2 hours today. I using it to run my Lowrance Hook 5.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on June 24, 2018, 07:56:32 PM
I finally got to use mine until it died. I ran it 5-6 hours on Saturday and 5-6 hours on Sunday. I’m running an older 5 inch humminbird black and white unit.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on June 25, 2018, 09:28:51 AM
I finally got to use mine until it died. I ran it 5-6 hours on Saturday and 5-6 hours on Sunday. I’m running an older 5 inch humminbird black and white unit.

Mine went from 6am till about 7pm when it died. HB Grey scale too.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: E Kayaker on September 09, 2018, 05:16:44 PM
The O ring makes a tight fit plugging the wire into the battery. I put a little spit on my finger and carefully wipe it on for lubricant. It’s a lot easier to plug in when wet.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: Chet on September 10, 2018, 09:35:41 AM
Check my signature. I have a comparison on a couple Lithium batteries.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on September 10, 2018, 09:56:48 AM
Did you call customer service or contact the dealer you bought it from when you started having issues?

888-525-2925
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: FriedKalamari on September 10, 2018, 10:28:08 PM
Did you call customer service or contact the dealer you bought it from when you started having issues?
No.  Shame on me.  Now I'm 4 moths out of warranty.

First it was delivered to me with wrong instructions.  Then is wouldn't last very long before discharging.  I thought I had it when I started turning my brightness down.  Then is started crapping out early again.  I thought I had it again by really forcefully jamming the cable onto the connector. 

I really wanted this to work.

Maybe you got a defective one.  Mines been perfect and I don't treat it well.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on September 11, 2018, 12:04:45 AM
Did you call customer service or contact the dealer you bought it from when you started having issues?
No.  Shame on me.  Now I'm 4 moths out of warranty.

First it was delivered to me with wrong instructions.  Then is wouldn't last very long before discharging.  I thought I had it when I started turning my brightness down.  Then is started crapping out early again.  I thought I had it again by really forcefully jamming the cable onto the connector. 

I really wanted this to work.

Still call and tell them the story. They are very friendly and good to work with. You never know.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: yatzmail@yahoo.com on September 13, 2018, 08:12:24 PM
Score!!!!! That's awesome.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on November 24, 2018, 10:24:11 AM
The original battery would only turn off when power was not being used, accessory turned off. The replacements will turn off when button pushed twice. Been that way since day 1. You now have 2 working batteries.
Title: Re: Wilderness Systems Lithium Battery-new thread
Post by: RacinRob on November 24, 2018, 12:22:29 PM
You now have 2 working batteries.
Yes, but only one working cable. 

 Call Wildy CS and order a cable. Easy.