Battery gauge for my inflatable.

[susp3nd]

Alright....first time user and poster. My question is this....I bought a 31m Sears Deep Cycle battery and I obviously do not want to run out of power in the middle of the lake. I will be running a 40lb thrust Minn Kota. Is there any easy way to monitor my battery charge somewhat accurately? I prefer a device that I can easy plug in or something like that. How much run time would I actually get if I were to run it on half all day?

This is the one that I bought.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850131000P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

I already have a battery box for it as well.

Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Battery gauge for my inflatable.

You could get a voltmeter, build a little box for it and mount it on top of your battery cover.

Art

 

[arks]

Re: Battery gauge for my inflatable.

I use one of these on my Jonboat: http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-onboard-battery-and-alternator-load-tester-65928.html

It's easy to wire, small enough to mount anywhere, and has a velcro mounting strip.
Basic but it works. The best part- it's cheap!

 

[susp3nd]

Re: Battery gauge for my inflatable.

Nice. Thanks for your reply. Ill go to harbor freight tomorrow!

 

[dobbs571]

Re: Battery gauge for my inflatable.

go to wally world get a digtal one for 9.00 .I bult mine into my battery box with a switch look at my post and you can see pic of the box I bult .You can buy a box from Min Kota for about 40 that has it already . You need a battery box any way makes things a lot easyer wally world has them for about 10.

 

[dobbs571]

Re: Battery gauge for my inflatable.

looked at the one from HF thats cheap if you get a box look and see if you can mount it so you can see it all the time then you know .

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Battery gauge for my inflatable.

Better go for an amperimeter instead, electric motors run on amps, that's why you have bought a heavy duty high amp battery, with extended boating use, you will have low amps and near normal volts that won't take you any further. You could add a solar pannel to your battery, to recharge while fishing or shoreline stop.

Happy Boating

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Battery gauge for my inflatable.

Minn Kota has you covered. http://store.minnkotamotors.com/products/418929/Digital_Battery_Meter