05-28-2009, 11:55 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Cabelas, Sportsmans and other places that sell sonars and electronics all sell the gell cell (SLA) batteries. Standard size is 7 amp/hours. I get some that are only 4.4 a/h and run my sonar continuously all day...and still put out 12.6 volts when I get home.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The little 110 volt trickle chargers for those batteries only cost about $10. They put in about a half amp per hour. Don't use heavy auto battery chargers. After a long day on the water my charger takes only a couple or three hours to bring the battery back up to the top. It may take longer the first charge.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Get a volt tester and check your batteries often. Charge them up to about 13 volts before you go out and then again when you get home. SLA batteries are not deep cycle batteries. You should not run them down to failure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think Cabelas has a combo battery and charger for only about $25.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The little 110 volt trickle chargers for those batteries only cost about $10. They put in about a half amp per hour. Don't use heavy auto battery chargers. After a long day on the water my charger takes only a couple or three hours to bring the battery back up to the top. It may take longer the first charge.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Get a volt tester and check your batteries often. Charge them up to about 13 volts before you go out and then again when you get home. SLA batteries are not deep cycle batteries. You should not run them down to failure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think Cabelas has a combo battery and charger for only about $25.[/#0000ff]
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