steve m Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hi All I need to buy a new battery for my dinghy. I used a old car battery last year but far too large and too heavy. I would like to use a sealed lead acid battery as used in house alarms / electric toys. I need to run a fish finder, gps, small pump and there is a single nav light but have never needed that yet. What size amp hour battery do you recommend and What do you canoe boys use? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Fishfinder and GPS won't draw much current, but the pump will probably be the problem. What type of pump is it, need to know the max current and how long it's likely to run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hi Brian I have just had a look at the spec for the pump which is listed as 4.5 amp. It is one of those small pump you can use to transfer water and diesel etc and i should think it would only be used once or twice on a trip and for a couple of minutes. I always have some other means of bailing the boat out on board. I did think of having 2 small batterys. 1 for the electronics and 1 for the pump/light. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niggle Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Steve,Bournemouth Batteries have moped/motorbike 12v batteries about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hi niggle I would prefer to use a sealed battery rather than a vented battery. I have used bmth batterys before and they sell the sealed type of batterys as well. Its the amp hour i was unsure about. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Steve What sort of light is it? To keep the current down some bulbs can be replaced with LED's, although they're not cheap. Ultra LED's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hi Brian Its a stainless steel pole with all round white. The bulb is 10 watt. Have had a look at the led bulbs but not going to change the bulb yet as i have not had to use the light and most of my fishing is in the harbour due to limitions of the boat size. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zzippy Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 (edited) Hi Steve. We use the alarm batteries.I have a12volt, 7amp sealed battery which does me a few trips before charging.I run the fish finder/ Gps with it. I think I have a couple of spare in my locker at work.If they hold the charge your welcome to one of them. I will bring them home tomorrow night and charge them. Edited February 5, 2011 by Zzippy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks Mark I like to give it a go with the smaller battery as it would be so much less weight to carry in and out of the dinghy. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zzippy Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 I gave Dave(Pirky) one last year.He would be able to tell you how long it lasts and using what equipment.I think it was just for his fishfinder/GPS.But cant be 100% sure. I will charge them up then you can try one to see if its suitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hi mate, i sugest that you use two of the batteries that Zzippy has suggested, one for the FF and light and another just for the pump. If anythingunexpected happens then at least you have options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks Paul If Marks battery is ok I was going run each item separately and seen how long the battery lasts. I have a brand new power supply unit for door locking systems in the garage so have no problems charging the battery and depending on the power consumption of the pump will run this on seperate battery so that i have a back up. I alway have my hand held vhf and gps on the boat anyway. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirky Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hi Steve ...... As Zippy said I used a 7 amp hr for my gps and fishfinder without a problem for the season......lasted me 7hrs and more on a full charge depending on how much I used the gps........ I used a seperate one for the vhf ( a real drain) and elecs .......as Sprinter says it gave me options. I managed to get a 17 amp hr ( golf trolley battery ) which runs both but still take a spare 7 amp hr because they are so light and easy to store ......and the vhf gets more use out in the bay. Hope that helps Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieannear Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Not sure if this is of any help, but I happened to spot these the other day: Maplins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zzippy Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Not sure if this is of any help, but I happened to spot these the other day: Maplins The 12v 7.2amp or the 12v 12amp would be ok.Anything less wouldnt last long I dont think. I see they are about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m Posted February 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Thanks Mark That would be great. I can run some tests but i think i will need to get a spare battery but most times i go out i only use the fish finder and gps on the dinghy anyway. Most off the water which comes in after launching i can clear out with a sponge. THANKS to everyone for there input on this subject. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 If you need any 12v 7amp/hr gel batteries let me know as I use them and can sell them at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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