Power Supply For Humminbird 383C

Finally got around to installing my Humminbird 383C on Thursday. On Friday, I tried it out on San Pablo and OMG!!!  what an awesome FF. Compared to my Eagle 250, the resolution and display are incredible. Never marked and didn't catch so many fish in my life.  Now the bad news, after 2 hours I started getting a low voltage indicator and 15 minutes later it was dead. I was thinking, WTF , it drained 10 AA 2500 mA batteries in TWO hours? I run my Eagle 250 on 8 AA batteries and it runs 6-8 hours. After lunch I tried by backup NiCad's and it drained them in 2 hours. So what are people using to power these global warming devices? Maybe a small nuclear reactor? 

Thanks! Scott

see if you can find some lithium batteries   they last

I looked up the 383c it has a .433amp draw, so I think you need a 3-4amp battery to run 6-8hrs. The color FF's are power hogs as Mahi-Mahi found out.

I looked up the 383c it has a .433amp draw, so I think you need a 3-4amp battery to run 6-8hrs. The color FF's are power hogs as Mahi-Mahi found out.

Mark -

Thanks for looking that up. Based on the real time drain, I figured 6-7 ambs for 6-8 hours so I ordered a 8 amp battery form Cabelas, Unforunately an backorder. probably ways a ton 

Scott

I have the 383c and use a 4amp battery for it. No biggie as I store it in a waterproof container that is held using velcro in the hull.  I've noticed that the battery runs all day. I've never encountered a situation where the battery ran out on me.
I have one of the 8amp batteries that I bought from Cabelas some time back that I never used. If you need it then let me know.

The power consumption of the fancy new fishfinders makes me stick to my low tech Humminbird Piranha portables.   For me, just seeing the depth, bottom contour, and suspended fish/bait balls is adequate.  I guess I'm just cheap and old skool that way.

Yeah, the power draw seems to be a draw-back...  But I was sure envious of the really cool FF that Carlos (forgot yer handle) had for the HMB tourney.  I didn't even have a FF then, and when entering into THE MOST FOG I have ever fished in, my buddy and I ended up following his super cool color GPS/FF for the entire tourney.  At first, we had no clue how to get out of the harbor!   

For my first however I decided to go with a cheap eagle ff, since I usually break everything once.  Will look at the super cool ones for the future

I'm using the old school 7A lead acid batteries scavenged from an Uninterruptable Power Supply. With the 383C I get a couple days of fishing out of a good charge. But I use my cigarette lighter jumpers on the way to the put in to keep the battery topped off just to be sure. I've got a new 787C2 that seems to be drawing a little more power than the 383C.

I also set my low-battery alarm to 10.5 volts. I don't want to be out in the fog, and have my battery go dead without warning. And yes, I do have a deck mounted compass just in case.

Regards,
Scott

What SHimmy said! The 383 is a great little unit.

I looked up the 383c it has a .433amp draw, so I think you need a 3-4amp battery to run 6-8hrs. The color FF's are power hogs as Mahi-Mahi found out.

What size battery did Mahi end up having to use? I decided to full-size color; so I couldn't use the 3.3 amp battery that Sean made for me. I ended up getting a 12 amp battery that would probably power several fishfinders for a day. Trying it out for the first time on Thursday at Del Valle. Who knows...maybe I'll end up pinging Nessie in the lake.

Howard

Who knows...maybe I'll end up pinging Nessie in the lake.

You mean this guy? 

Lets hope not!!!!   

Michael

Not quite...must be its cousin though.

Never thought I would be glad that I am color blind. Seems that the good ol' low power draw black and white ( gray ) does just fine for my needs.