What's that 12v battery you have all be raving about?

[danjor]

LiFePo4 is the name with correct capitalization. Aka "lithium Iron Phosphate"

LiFePo4 Advantages
about 1/2 weight of SLA Battery
constant voltage threw out discharge cycle, makes better finder readings
Unlike SLA amp draw doesn't affect use able ah
Faster charge times
If taken care of more than 20k charge/discharge cycles = a ton of fishing trips

Disadvantages
Expensive about 5x cost of SLA
Depending on "C" raiting can shock the living daylights out of you
Needs a cell monitoring circuit to keep from over discharge
If over discharged battery dies, period
Needs a special charger

SLA aka "Sealed Lead Acid"
Advantages
Cheap around $20 for a Chinese 12v 10ah
Forgiving with overdischarge, just stick on a trickle charger

Disadvantages
Heavy, oh yea heavy
Voltage sag
Amount of current draw affects useble Ah
Can last 2 weeks or 2 years who knows

In my opinion the LiFePo4 are the superior battery and even with the higher cost if you put it in a pelican case with circuit management board and a good charger the batter will last as long as 10+ years with maby 10% ah loss over that period if properly taken care of and just for the reason of no voltage sag it is worth the investment! So as long as you take care of the battery it will take care of you.