Bait tank batt - timer switch vs reverse polarity

[Dave k]

Hey guys,
Building another bait tank that will be smaller than my current one. I've got it all figured out except for one thing... I'll be running a rule 360gph pump on a 12v battery. On the fence on whether I should add a timer switch, or simply reverse the polarity of the battery to slow the flow rate. Any of you electronics experts know how much switching the polarity will slow the flow?

Thanks

[ful-rac]

easier solution, just go with a 6v battery. No need for timers, or elaborate wiring. You don't have one buy one, you don't have the money to buy one save, then buy one.

And no, switching the polarity should not slow the flow.

[jruiz]

One thing I remember about going from 12V to 6V is that the reduction in current is not linear. I think rather than cutting the current in half it cut it to 1/3 of the 12v current or something. Something to keep in mind when sizing your battery. In the end it really didn't matter though since 12Ah is very common so it ended up being cheaper than the lower capacity, less common, batteries.

[CheapPelican]

Install a ball valve to slow the flow.

[kayachapi]

Reversing polarity run will run your pump backwards and empty your tank. My tank was not working properly, bought it used with my kayak. The pump was sucking my tank dry. I thought the guy who owned it just got the wiring wrong. Actually, the battery pos and neg where identified wrong. Pump ran backwords. I had never seen a battery misslabled before.

[Iceman]

Unless it was not the pumps usually used, reversing it will slow the flow, not reverse the flow as the fins on the impeller will not push as much water running backwards. 6 volt is my only answer.

[Dave k]

Thanks guys. Looks like 6v or a valve are the way to go. Back to the drawing board.

Thanks again.