FF Battery Issues

Thanks for the info Mike.  I'm going to combine 2- 12 volt 8AMH batteries and run it on 24 volts.  The manual says it can run from 10 - 30 volts.  I'm hoping the higher voltage will provide more efficient use of power and longer operating time.  If that doesn't work, I'm going to have to figure out how to get limits quicker!  I'll post up the results of the 24 volt "solution" as soon as I get a second battery.

  If that doesn't work, I'm going to have to figure out how to get limits quicker! 

 

Update:  I connected 2 12 volt 8AMH batteries together to create a 24 volt power supply for the "power hog" fish finder.  The batteries were reading 26.8 volts at the time I connected the FF.  I ran it in simulation mode for 28 1/2 hours and it was still running.  I shut it off and checked the battery voltage and it was down to 12.8 volts.  I'm not sure how close the battery draw is in simulation versus actual operation but the color screen was bright and showed lots of movement which would seem to be be fairly similar to actual operation.  It looks like Sonny's 24 volt solution is going to work.  2 days of fishing on a charge would be great but even one full day would be a huge improvement.  Thank you Sonny (Sailfish).

I just buy a similarly rated office UPS from places like staples or office depot. You get a 12v 4-7ah battery AND the charger in one.  So when I go out i turn off the UPS, take out the battery to plop into the dry bag, and when i get home i put the battery back into the UPS. Then i get a fully functional UPS when i'm not on the water (99% of the time) and it charges automatically at the same time. They usually run $40-60 but when on sale or coupled with Staples coupons they get pretty cheap and comparable to just buying bare cells at Frys or online.

Will (vesper's dad)