Actual battery requirements for FF and lights - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Big T · 02-27-2014, 08:33 PM

Hey all, I've been toting around a 9ah battery for a few years now and just kept using it because it's "what I had" for my FF and lights for night fishing.

I'm certain it is way overkill and was wondering if anyone can give me some insight on how small of a battery I "could" run based on actual amp draw and your experiences.

I have a basic Lowrance Elite 4x Color FF and when I go night fishing/hooping I have two small 2-LED lamps on the Bow/Stern of my yak.

I don't exactly know what amperage draw each thing is but it can't be much right? Not enough to need to lug around a 9ah battery?

Thanks for any help. I keep getting fatter so I need to lighten the yak to compensate.

Smthtnnr · 02-27-2014, 08:38 PM

How long are you normally on the water for? My 10amp normally lasts me 11 hours on my elite 5 but that uses power for gps as well

Big T · 02-27-2014, 09:30 PM

At night it's about 5-7hrs if I'm hooping. 8-12 if I'm WSB fishing

Daytime is usually 7-10

Big T · 02-27-2014, 09:44 PM

So just for shats and giggles... I looked up the specs on an Elite 4x and it draws 200mah. That's not much at all. I also looked up the lights that I have installed and they draw 20mah.

So... doing the math, that's only drawing .24Ah

So my battery should last 37.5 hours!

I love Google.

So I guess I can downsize to something like a 3Ah battery and be totally covered for a 10hr excursion in the dark. Yes?

But hey maybe a noob will find this thread someday and need this info before he springs for that 100Ah deep cycle to run his FF! LOL

alanw · 02-27-2014, 11:08 PM

Try this online battery life calculator and use the 50% discharge number for a ballpark time (50% is the lowest you should discharge your battery and is also when it drops below 12v).

Iceman · 02-28-2014, 05:38 AM

The 4 series are great power savers, I have done multiple days on my 4.6 ah battery. I would bet the new 4 HDI series will draw a significant amount more.

Big T · 02-28-2014, 06:00 AM

Thanks for the input guys! That was fun.

87yota4runner · 02-28-2014, 08:38 AM

Very useful for once i get a ff.

StinkyMatt · 02-28-2014, 01:38 PM

Simple rule.....

Always OVERestimate what you will need.

Always underestimate what you have.

Translated......

Do you want to have "just enough" juice? How about when you change FF add a light..etc?

What about the possibility of lower battery performance (capacity) over time..... forgetting or not having enough time to fully charge...

Is that 1 or 2 pounds and the extra cost of buying a new battery really worth it?

Big T · 03-01-2014, 09:00 AM

Very good point Stinky. And I most likely wouldn't ditch my old battery for a smaller one JUST for weight, but the positive terminal is getting loose on my 9ah and it's got a crack in it that worries me. Not leaking yet, but not sure how much longer that crack will remain that way... so considering a smaller one on the purchace.

Your point is so valid though and will teach me to not just get a 3ah. But every lb does count to me. I'm a weight weenie. So maybe something in between. 6ah? LOL

02-27-2014, 08:33 PM	#1
Big T Member, You Member! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lake Forest Posts: 254	Actual battery requirements for FF and lights Hey all, I've been toting around a 9ah battery for a few years now and just kept using it because it's "what I had" for my FF and lights for night fishing. I'm certain it is way overkill and was wondering if anyone can give me some insight on how small of a battery I "could" run based on actual amp draw and your experiences. I have a basic Lowrance Elite 4x Color FF and when I go night fishing/hooping I have two small 2-LED lamps on the Bow/Stern of my yak. I don't exactly know what amperage draw each thing is but it can't be much right? Not enough to need to lug around a 9ah battery? Thanks for any help. I keep getting fatter so I need to lighten the yak to compensate.

02-27-2014, 11:08 PM	#5
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Try this online battery life calculator and use the 50% discharge number for a ballpark time (50% is the lowest you should discharge your battery and is also when it drops below 12v). __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

02-28-2014, 05:38 AM	#6
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	The 4 series are great power savers, I have done multiple days on my 4.6 ah battery. I would bet the new 4 HDI series will draw a significant amount more. __________________

02-28-2014, 08:38 AM	#8
87yota4runner Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 62	Very useful for once i get a ff. __________________ Do you like fish sticks?....Do you like putting fish sticks in your mouth?....What are you, a gay fish?

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02-27-2014, 08:38 PM	#2
Smthtnnr Fishing Addict Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County Posts: 202	How long are you normally on the water for? My 10amp normally lasts me 11 hours on my elite 5 but that uses power for gps as well

02-27-2014, 09:30 PM	#3
Big T Member, You Member! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lake Forest Posts: 254	At night it's about 5-7hrs if I'm hooping. 8-12 if I'm WSB fishing Daytime is usually 7-10

02-27-2014, 09:44 PM	#4
Big T Member, You Member! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lake Forest Posts: 254	So just for shats and giggles... I looked up the specs on an Elite 4x and it draws 200mah. That's not much at all. I also looked up the lights that I have installed and they draw 20mah. So... doing the math, that's only drawing .24Ah So my battery should last 37.5 hours! I love Google. So I guess I can downsize to something like a 3Ah battery and be totally covered for a 10hr excursion in the dark. Yes? But hey maybe a noob will find this thread someday and need this info before he springs for that 100Ah deep cycle to run his FF! LOL

02-28-2014, 06:00 AM	#7
Big T Member, You Member! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lake Forest Posts: 254	Thanks for the input guys! That was fun.

02-28-2014, 01:38 PM	#9
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Simple rule..... Always OVERestimate what you will need. Always underestimate what you have. Translated...... Do you want to have "just enough" juice? How about when you change FF add a light..etc? What about the possibility of lower battery performance (capacity) over time..... forgetting or not having enough time to fully charge... Is that 1 or 2 pounds and the extra cost of buying a new battery really worth it?

03-01-2014, 09:00 AM	#10
Big T Member, You Member! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lake Forest Posts: 254	Very good point Stinky. And I most likely wouldn't ditch my old battery for a smaller one JUST for weight, but the positive terminal is getting loose on my 9ah and it's got a crack in it that worries me. Not leaking yet, but not sure how much longer that crack will remain that way... so considering a smaller one on the purchace. Your point is so valid though and will teach me to not just get a 3ah. But every lb does count to me. I'm a weight weenie. So maybe something in between. 6ah? LOL