12 volt / two 6 volt batteries

[utwalleye]

Hey Guys, I've herd that two 6 volt batteries hooked up together will have more power and last longer then one 12 volt. have any of you guys delt with this setup. I'm thinking about trying it next year. thanks later chuck
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[FishingWaters]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 2]What are you using the batteries for?[/size][/font]

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[font "Times New Roman"][size 2]Connecting two 6 volt batteries in series will not necessarily last long or have more power. What you need to do is look at the amp hours of the battery when you buy them. The amp hours determines the amount of time the battery will last. There are different types of batteries for several different uses. Get the battery for the right use. You can also connect two 12 volt batteries in parallel to help them last longer. When connecting batteries together make sure the both batteries are new and the exactly the same.[/size][/font]

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[size 2][font "Times New Roman"]Here is a web site that may help.[/font][/size]
[url "http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/g_knott/elect27.htm"]http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/g_knott/elect27.htm[/url]
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[Fishindude]

contact (fishnpro40) he dose it to hook his fish finder on his float tube he would probabley know
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[TubeDude]

[cool][size 2]Hey, Chuck, I hope you are not planning to use them for anything on your vehicle or boat. Doubt you would get any "cranking power" I suspect you are thinking about sonar for the ice.[/size]

[size 2]When I first started adding sonar to my float tubes, I used the dual 6 volt lantern batteries, rigged in series, to run my old Humminbird flasher. Even with judicious use, I got only about three trips out of them and it got expensive.[/size]

[size 2]Next, I went to the acid-filled motorcycle batteries. They lasted about a year of regular use and recharging. They were also a nuisance, since I had to make a special box on my craft to keep the battery upright...to avoid spilling acid.[/size]

[size 2]The little SLA 12 volts have been great, for over 5 years. Depending on how much power you need, for how long, you can get one for about what a couple of sets of 6 volt batteries would cost, and the weight and bulk would be a lot less.[/size]

[size 2]We get those discussions all the time on the float tubing forum. Don't know if we have all the answers, but we do know most of the questions by now.[/size]
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[utwalleye]

Hey Pat Yea, now that I've had all night at work to think
about this it's not really going too. the guy that told me this is the owner of advanced RV, yea they might last longer just running lights and camper stuff, but I was planning on using it for my trolling motors witch draws alot more AMPS.
anyway thanks alot you guys. later chuck
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[Matador]

I don't know if you should try this, but here is what I did. I used to work for Skil and for that reason I was able to get (for cheap or free) ahold of lots of chargers and batteries for their 12V Topgun cordless drill. I modified a broken charger base, which was obviously built to connect to that kind of a battery, so that it connected to the fish finder and supplied power to the fish finder from a battery that you easily plugged into it. Then I used a normal charger to charge up a few batteries before I went to the lake. I had a Bottom Line 210F and one fully charged battery would last most of a day, even in the cold while icefishing. Those batteries could supply plenty of power(amps) continuously until they were drained. The batteries charged in about one hour and I even had a charger than you could plug into the cigarette light of a car. Overall it was a fantastic system. Very cheap to keep and very portable. I even used to run CB radios and stuff like that.

m
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[BADFISH]

Hey there,

I am in the auto equipment repair business. Battery chargers and such. I personally use a 12 volt Gel Cell battery it has about 100 amH on it and it runs my lectric trolling motor for 4 to 5 hours straight on high with my big butt in it. I have had the same battery for five years all I have done is recharge it. It also has a five year warranty (pro-rated) on it. and I have not had to use it. It is a battery typically made for Rascals, which I fix, and scooters. I have had no worries with it and it is a sealed battery filled with a jelly substance instead of acid, the maintenance is minimal and they go for about 90 dollars. If you want more info let me know I may even be able to get you a deeper discount. I am also working on a solar charger hooked up to the unit (battery and lectric motor) to extend the run time. I just need to wire it up and see if the solar puts out enough juice fast enough to run the set up. I will let you all know how that turns out after some trial runs. anyhow that is how I get around, I am sure that one of the batteries would last you for ever if you are just runinng your flasher or fish finder on it.

laters,
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[Gumbo]

Hey Chuck,

That is true when connecting two 12v batteries in series to power a 24v trolling motor. But not because it's greater than the sum of its parts, but because a 24v motor is much more efficient than a comperable 12v model.

I do know you can buy small 12v batteries like those used to power an AquaView camera. But I don't have a clue how long one of those would last you out on the ice. I'll defer to Pat for the solution to your dilemna.

[TubeDude]

[cool]As always, a battery will last as long as the stored juice holds up to power your electronics at the wattage they require. My low end Eagle stuff only sucks about 800 milliamps, but some of the Garmins and other beefier models have high wattage and real time displays that drain a small battery pretty quick. They are designed to run off a boat's recharged battery system...not a wimpy 7 amp battery.

Most flashers and ice compatible sonars will run most of the day on a 7-10 amp battery...as long as it does not get too cold. Keeping the battery in an insulated container is not a bad idea on ice. Better than keeping it down the front of your snow suit. Z-Z-Z-Z-A-A-A-P-P-P-P!
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