This is probably a dumb question but i was doing some looking on here about powering a fish finder (I am going to be buying one soon) I am looking at the Garmin Striker 4. I see everyone making their own battery packs, my question is why not just use a vexilar battery, it is because of the weight? I was looking at the battery pack ideas you guys have wrote about but the cost of 20+ lithium batteries is pretty crazy compared to a vex battery.

A 12v 7ah battery can weight up to 5.5#. Compare that to 4 18650 batteries plus another backup set if needed and you are still under 1#. Also 1/8 the bulk size.

A 12 V 10 Ah LiFEPO4 battery comes in at 2.9# but will run you $100 and still a lot of bulk.

Yes it is a weight issue. I think a 9AH battery weighs about 5 lb. My fishfinder, battery pack, transducer, wiring and batteries for a week weigh less than that, I think.

May be way out of line as I do not use a locator but why not a 4c lipo rc battery
Low relative cost, size, and weight around 20 ounces. Understand the capacity differences but with on-off use could such batteries work considering size and weight?
I am familiar with this style as I do run several RC trucks and get long life and some long run times in that configuration. I get regular 45 minute run time from my 2c 7+ volt RC batteries, powering receiver and motor during continued acceleration and braking 0-40 MPH including rough terrain.

butthead

How many of you run rechargeable batteries, is it worth it to go that route instead of lithium’s?

Bring a couple of Vexlar batteries and just chuck the drained ones into the woods when they are drained. Seems to be the new way of doing it for some people. I have pulled 3 of them out of the weeds that look brand new on my last few trips. Carried them out.

Sure wish there was a way that people could be held responsible for this kind of behavior with a big fat donation to the forest service in the form of a fine and maybe a permit ban for the next year or two.

butthead: "May be way out of line as I do not use a locator but why not a 4c lipo rc battery
Low relative cost, size, and weight around 20 ounces. Understand the capacity differences but with on-off use could such batteries work considering size and weight?
I am familiar with this style as I do run several RC trucks and get long life and some long run times in that configuration. I get regular 45 minute run time from my 2c 7+ volt RC batteries, powering receiver and motor during continued acceleration and braking 0-40 MPH including rough terrain.


butthead"

A scenario with u and SOB popped into my head like from Oceans 11.
LOL

Reke0402: "How many of you run rechargeable batteries, is it worth it to go that route instead of lithium’s?"

I do this and have been happy. I do (2) 7-10 day trips a year so the cost seemed justifiable. I take 3 sets of 10 and I have my sonar(x-4) on 8hrs a day.

butthead: "May be way out of line as I do not use a locator but why not a 4c lipo rc battery
Low relative cost, size, and weight around 20 ounces. Understand the capacity differences but with on-off use could such batteries work considering size and weight?
I am familiar with this style as I do run several RC trucks and get long life and some long run times in that configuration. I get regular 45 minute run time from my 2c 7+ volt RC batteries, powering receiver and motor during continued acceleration and braking 0-40 MPH including rough terrain.


butthead"

YES BUT
I have been reluctant to recommend them because of the protection problem. It would be easy to put a voltage alarm on the battery but would they keep the alarm dry and would they stop using the battery when the alarm goes off. Those batteries need a balancing charger to charge them. Voltage alarm
Know your seller. There is a lot of falsely labeled batteries out there. I trust Hobbyking.

MagicPaddler: "YES BUT
I have been reluctant to recommend them because of the protection problem. It would be easy to put a voltage alarm on the battery but would they keep the alarm dry and would they stop using the battery when the alarm goes off. Those batteries need a balancing charger to charge them. Voltage alarm
Know your seller. There is a lot of falsely labeled batteries out there. I trust Hobbyking."

That's why I am hesitant to recommend them. My RC trucks use an electronic controller that shuts down at 3.1 volts per cell (also variable). No way would I recommend carting the charger setup I use around which is also temp/charge/balance/rate adjustable. I figured you would comment on this MP, thanks!

butthead

PS; Fully agree with the Hobbyking suggestion. bh