Hobie Bait Tank 6Volt Battery Question - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Lipripper92592 · 01-08-2015, 11:51 AM

I've been having some Hobie livewell issues the last three times I headed out. After replacing the switch I thought I had everything fixed, but it died again. The pump seems to work just fine, but dies after some time, and sometime being about 5 hours.
Which leads me to believe it is the battery.
When fully charged and allowed to rest for a day, the standing voltage is 6.2volts. I believe this is too low.
If you have a few minutes, could you check the standing voltage on your fully charged 6volt battery with a meter and let me know what the reading is? Trying not to waste $$ on a battery if that's not the issue, but your findings will confirm or debunk my theory. Thanks so much.
Chris

Bert Vega · 01-08-2015, 12:16 PM

Just get a fawking battery already. The tank only has three parts motor, switch, battery. You checked the motor and bypassed the switch. What else could it be

GregAndrew · 01-08-2015, 12:28 PM

It could also be your charger, so check the output voltage. You should have a higher voltage reading on a fully charged battery. My LiFePo 4 batteries charge at 7.3 volts.

Lipripper92592 · 01-08-2015, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

It could also be your charger, so check the output voltage. You should have a higher voltage reading on a fully charged battery. My LiFePo 4 batteries charge at 7.3 volts.

I'll check the hobie charger as well. Thanks Greg.

jorluivil · 01-08-2015, 01:16 PM

Does your motor rattle? The last issue that I had with my bait tank battery going dead sooner than expected was actually because of a bad pump motor/impeller.

Originally, I thought my issue was with the battery so I bought a new 6volt battery on Ebay, gave it a full charge, rigged my bait tank to a bucket of water and let it run, the battery died in under 5hours. After trying it another two times I figured that I was sent a bad/old battery so picked up a second one from OEX, charged it, tested it, 5hrs later..............same thing happened.

Could I have picked up two bad batteries?

I don't recall who it was that told me (I believe it was Tony) but he mentioned that he had a similar problem. He had asked if my motor was making any noise, I said YES, he said REPLACE IT, I did, that fixed my problem. Its hard to imagine that a bad impeller motor could cause this problem but it can and it will. I'm not saying that's your problem but its something to consider.

I replaced the motor back in 2013, the two batteries that I bought and motor have been running flawlessly since I replaced the motor.

Lipripper92592 · 01-08-2015, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Does your motor rattle? The last issue that I had with my bait tank battery going dead sooner than expected was actually because of a bad pump motor/impeller.

Originally, I thought my issue was with the battery so I bought a new 6volt battery on Ebay, gave it a full charge, rigged my bait tank to a bucket of water and let it run, the battery died in under 5hours. After trying it another two times I figured that I was sent a bad/old battery so picked up a second one from OEX, charged it, tested it, 5hrs later..............same thing happened.

Could I have picked up two bad batteries?

I don't recall who it was that told me (I believe it was Tony) but he mentioned that he had a similar problem. He had asked if my motor was making any noise, I said YES, he said REPLACE IT, I did, that fixed my problem. Its hard to imagine that a bad impeller motor could cause this problem but it can and it will. I'm not saying that's your problem but its something to consider.

I replaced the motor back in 2013, the two batteries that I bought and motor have been running flawlessly since I replaced the motor.

I found the replacement cartridge at Walmart for $12, just about to head down and pick one up. Thanks so much for the information.

Silbaugh4liberty · 01-08-2015, 01:48 PM

Once you start draining it completely dead, you damage the charging capacity.

I just noticed yesterday, that OEX sells a switch now, to help limit the usage of the battery. I

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...-Switch/Detail

jorluivil · 01-08-2015, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silbaugh4liberty

Once you start draining it completely dead, you damage the charging capacity.

I just noticed yesterday, that OEX sells a switch now, to help limit the usage of the battery. I

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...-Switch/Detail

If its an old battery just go get yourself a new one, do like Tony says and QUIT F**KING AROUND WITH THAT SH%T!!!

If the new battery doesn't fix the problem move onto the next item, the motor. If it was the motor that had the problem and not the battery you now have two batteries to use, you can do like I do and swap them out each time you go out.

Sometimes the easiest solution is the simplest.

Author: who cares!

PapaDave · 01-09-2015, 08:44 AM

I once had a similar problem, after buying two new batteries, it turned out to be the charger, it didn't fully charge the battery. Just a thought. Also had a problem with the terminals on the connector, the motor would not turn on or would quit at odd times. Turns out the connector was corroded.

Lipripper92592 · 01-08-2015, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Vega

Just get a fawking battery already. The tank only has three parts motor, switch, battery. You checked the motor and bypassed the switch. What else could it be

I spent all my $$ on waders

That's probably going to boil down to it. Check that voltage for me when you get home

Bert Vega · 01-08-2015, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lipripper92592

I spent all my $$ on waders

That's probably going to boil down to it. Check that voltage for me when you get home

YakDout · 01-08-2015, 02:59 PM

6.2 is too low for full charge standing voltage. Try putting it under load and testing it with meter again. Then run the pump for a couple hours with water and test again with battery disconnected, should still be over 6

RedSledTeam · 01-08-2015, 03:00 PM

6.8 - 7.2 volts!!

Lipripper92592 · 01-08-2015, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSledTeam

6.8 - 7.2 volts!!

Thank you, thank you thank you!

That's around what I figured, but everyone on the interweb thinks they are a battery expert, so lots of false information out there.

YakDout · 01-19-2015, 10:06 AM

The hobie livewell holds 8 gallons

ghotion · 01-19-2015, 11:10 AM

5 hours is too long to be on the water anyway.

YakDout · 01-19-2015, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghotion

5 hours is too long to be on the water anyway.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one Bob

Bert Vega · 01-19-2015, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one Bob

No he is right. We should launch and 20-30 minutes later have a trophy fish of our choosing. Back at the house before the warden wakes up

Lipripper92592 · 01-19-2015, 02:34 PM

Bypassed the switch, installed new cartridge, soldered and shrink wrapped up new terminals, did the same to the new 6 volt battery. And what do you know....it pumps like a champ.

h2ofishfo · 01-20-2015, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one Bob

X2 it's takes me 6 hours to make bait

......but side note I was having the same issues less splices the better I hard wired mine w/o switch Beside how often do u need to turn the dam thing off. My battery would be fine at home on voltage and power on the pump . But when the splices got wet after being on the water a couple hours I would lose voltage just do to water getting in the splice heat shrink splices

01-08-2015, 11:51 AM	#1
Lipripper92592 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 516	Hobie Bait Tank 6Volt Battery Question I've been having some Hobie livewell issues the last three times I headed out. After replacing the switch I thought I had everything fixed, but it died again. The pump seems to work just fine, but dies after some time, and sometime being about 5 hours. Which leads me to believe it is the battery. When fully charged and allowed to rest for a day, the standing voltage is 6.2volts. I believe this is too low. If you have a few minutes, could you check the standing voltage on your fully charged 6volt battery with a meter and let me know what the reading is? Trying not to waste $$ on a battery if that's not the issue, but your findings will confirm or debunk my theory. Thanks so much. Chris

01-08-2015, 12:16 PM	#2
Bert Vega Tail Chaser! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Murrieta Posts: 627	Just get a fawking battery already. The tank only has three parts motor, switch, battery. You checked the motor and bypassed the switch. What else could it be __________________ I hate seals!!!

01-08-2015, 01:16 PM	#5
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Does your motor rattle? The last issue that I had with my bait tank battery going dead sooner than expected was actually because of a bad pump motor/impeller. Originally, I thought my issue was with the battery so I bought a new 6volt battery on Ebay, gave it a full charge, rigged my bait tank to a bucket of water and let it run, the battery died in under 5hours. After trying it another two times I figured that I was sent a bad/old battery so picked up a second one from OEX, charged it, tested it, 5hrs later..............same thing happened. Could I have picked up two bad batteries? I don't recall who it was that told me (I believe it was Tony) but he mentioned that he had a similar problem. He had asked if my motor was making any noise, I said YES, he said REPLACE IT, I did, that fixed my problem. Its hard to imagine that a bad impeller motor could cause this problem but it can and it will. I'm not saying that's your problem but its something to consider. I replaced the motor back in 2013, the two batteries that I bought and motor have been running flawlessly since I replaced the motor. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

01-08-2015, 01:48 PM	#7
Silbaugh4liberty Fishing Patriot Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,121	Once you start draining it completely dead, you damage the charging capacity. I just noticed yesterday, that OEX sells a switch now, to help limit the usage of the battery. I http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...-Switch/Detail __________________

01-09-2015, 08:44 AM	#9
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,473	I once had a similar problem, after buying two new batteries, it turned out to be the charger, it didn't fully charge the battery. Just a thought. Also had a problem with the terminals on the connector, the motor would not turn on or would quit at odd times. Turns out the connector was corroded. __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

01-08-2015, 12:28 PM	#3
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	It could also be your charger, so check the output voltage. You should have a higher voltage reading on a fully charged battery. My LiFePo 4 batteries charge at 7.3 volts.

01-08-2015, 02:59 PM	#12
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	6.2 is too low for full charge standing voltage. Try putting it under load and testing it with meter again. Then run the pump for a couple hours with water and test again with battery disconnected, should still be over 6

01-08-2015, 03:00 PM	#13
RedSledTeam Daddeo Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: OC Posts: 660	6.8 - 7.2 volts!!

01-19-2015, 10:06 AM	#15
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	The hobie livewell holds 8 gallons

01-19-2015, 11:10 AM	#16
ghotion Junior Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 12	5 hours is too long to be on the water anyway.

01-19-2015, 02:34 PM	#19
Lipripper92592 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 516	Bypassed the switch, installed new cartridge, soldered and shrink wrapped up new terminals, did the same to the new 6 volt battery. And what do you know....it pumps like a champ.