I walked into radio shack with plans on getting this battery. But when I asked the guys that worked there what to charge it with, they couldn't tell me? It says not to use a standard auto/marine charger. Anyone have any suggestions?


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/1785.jpg


Ideal backup power source for alarm control center. Sealed lead-acid battery can be recharged hundreds of times for long use. Size: 4.09 x 3.54 x 2.75" (HWD)

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I use a 2 amp trickle charger for my battery. Of course it hasn't been used much and is probably inadequate regular use but... so far so good.

I have a similar battery that is a different shape. I have a charger that looks like the part that you plug in on any rechargable item. I got mine at an electronics store. It's just the kind of square looking part with no wires on it when you buy it. You'll have to make your own wires. It cost about $35.

I have the same battery and you need a "guest charger" I picked mine up at West Marine for $30 bucks. See the link below.

FIT


http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=50578

It says right on the nameplate of your battery that max charge is 1.5 amps. Being that your battery has only a 5 amp hour capacity, I would not charge it at more than one half amp(500 milli-amp). If you go much over that, you will eventually build up heat at the top end of your rechrage cycle, which will reduce the efficiency of the charge, and also cause loss of battery capacity over a few cycles. At 500 ma, if you start from a completely discharged state, your battery will be fully charged in 10 hours. Be careful not to over charge, because batteries don't last as long when you do that, and only having 5 ah to start with, you don't want to lose very much capacity. You can find 500 ma trickle chargers with slip on connectors that will fit your battery.

I got a 7 ah battery and charger together from BassPro for $29.99 for running my sonar. The battery is not much bigger than the one you got, and fits nicely inside the tackle bag on my kickboat. You could return your battery to Radio Shack and order that set from BPS if you have trouble finding the charger. The battery and charger set at Bass Pro is listed as a power source for the Aqua-View camera system if you go to look for it. It is item number 38-521-007-00. The picture they show is not exactly what was sent when I ordered it. The battery was from a different manufacturer, and the charger had slip on connectors instead of the alligator clips they show on the website. I prefer the slip ons, because they provide a better contact(they were made for those terminal types) and they will not fall off if they get bumped.

Since someone already started the thread on batteries I was looking into 12 volt partable battery and charger from Cabelas. Has anybody used this battery? I need one to run a live well and possibly a fish finder on my kick boat.

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

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Hey John,

My buddy and I have this battery and it works very well. It is a 7amp hour rating and as long as you don't have both your fishfinder and livewell running all day you should be fine.

Todd

The battery that John is looking at is on sale. 2 batteries and charger for $40. Is it possible to hook up these batteries together in series like regular bats? Then he could run whatever all day.

Probably just a mis-statement but for clarification: If you are trying to extend the battery life or double the available amperage hook them up in parallel; if you are trying to double the voltage hook them up in series (i.e. get 24 volts from two 12 volt batteries.

Parallel is when you connect both positives and both negatives together; series is when you connect the positive terminal on one battery to the negative terminal on the other.

Wouldn't want someone to fry their gear... ;-)

Buzzzzzfish

My bad! Buzz you're right. I meant parallel.