Battery for AP55 Kota?

[eddystone]

Hi all,

I have a ap55 kota on the way.

Now what do i need in terms on a battery??? I have no idea....

PLEASE feel free to fill in with details. I believe the motor draws 45amps per/hour at maximum....

Given my boat is only SMALL and light it shouldn't take much to move it....

Also do i need a special charger?

Thanks HEAPS
eddy

[scott]

pretty sure the 55lb kota has an energy saving thingy, forgoten wots its called. But it shouldnt drain more than 20amp/hour on max

Its sort of like a light globe. It constantly flicks on/off at a rate faster than u notice...

U shouldnt need a battery more than about 100 amp. U can buy some pretty sh|tty batteries out there for about $200, but they wont last much more than a year. If i was u i would go for slightly more expeno... as it will last longer...

And for battery chargers, the same applies. There are some crap ones out there, with no auto features. Bottom line is a crap one will depreciate or even fry your battery. If u can get one with an auto trickle feed, for topping up your battery that would be the go... Also rule of thumb is you want at least 10% of the battery amps as a charger. So if you have a 100 amp battery, at least 10 amp charger...

Hope this helps

Scott

[Brad Y]

Gday mate

Mine runs on a 130 amp hour trojan deep cycle. Ive fished an eight hour session solid with the leccy as my only form of propulsion before and it still had heaps of go in it- fairly windy day too. It set me back $280 in WA but is probly less over there.

I use the old mans 6 amp arlec charger- nothing flash but it works really well and ive never had any battery troubles at all. No need to upgrade when it does the job.

[scott]

Brad, how old is your battery?

[Brad Y]

Bought it about 9 months ago, that reminds me i have to take it in to get equalise charged.

Usually fish every weekend if not definitely every fortnight so it gets used heaps for that and now since we have a few power blackouts, i hook the roo shooting spottie up to it so we can see what we are doing instead of lighting bloody candles

[eddystone]

Thanks for the heap fellas!!

Also is there are charger that charges quickly??

I'm guessing set at 10amps it would take 10hours to charge a 100amp battery??

The issue is when i'm away i often only have a generator

eddy

[brad mcdonald]

g'day eddy,

by all reports one of the solar cahrger setups are the way to go when your in the bush away from 240v for a long time. i know a few of the tournament boats have them on them to trickle charge the bat as your fish.... not sure of the price but i can feel a visit to the 12v shop coming one

brad

[Mark M]

Check out this thread Eddy

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/sho...attery+Charger

I use an electronic 3 stage charger I got from Battery World, which can be left connected to the battery and holds the charge using intermittant pulses, about $280 I think.

http://www.batteryworld.com.au/v1/St...or/default.htm

Cheers
Mark

[madsurfe]

U can buy some pretty sh|tty batteries out there for about $200, but they wont last much more than a year

geez Scott thats a pretty broad statement

I've got a Delkor DC31 100AH that cost less than $200. It is maintenance free ie. no caps and now 2years 8mths old and still going strong. I originally started with a trickle charger and the performance of the charger was woeful. A few months into ownership I switched over to the Beehive charger and have not looked back. A few of the Breamers in Wa are using DC31's and I haven't heard any complaints. I am thinking that the charger is actually critical to trouble free performance as well as understanding the most efficient way to use the charger and batteries. To extend the life of the battery you need to have enough capacity so that you don't draw the battery below the last 20% otherwise you risk high sulphation and damage to the plates.

To avert this situation I purchased a 2nd DC31 six months ago and at the end of the 1st day of a tournament will swap the batteries. I no longer muck around charging with ext leads and the like to the boat. I take the drained battery and generally whack in on charge in the cabin. This way I don't have to worry about rain, thieves or rampant wildlife causing damage. When Mim and I did our trip in the SE of WA we could run 4 days without charging and still have reserve, quite handy when in remote locations or just camping without power.

Also consider that we have a Minn Kota cable steer and as with all cable steer motors we do not draw amps to turn it which saves quite a bit of power.

Beehive are an Australian company producing an excellent product and I have no fear in recommending them after using their product for 2 years.

Beehive

[Evan]

JP

i had one of those Delcors and it definately didnt last long at all! started playing up after a year and i barely used it....

got myself one of those trojans same as brads and havent looked back. Set me back $220 from challenge batteries. When asked at the store, the guy said maintenance free batteries such as the delcor will not last as long as the trojans... he said the trojans were the pick of the 2 (prob cos they cost more) which was interesting considering they are the wa distributor of the delcors....

IMO it was worth spending the extra $50.

[scott]

JP

Its not a broad statement, its the truth..... Some batteries under $200 are just crap, and to be avoided... Not all, but definately some. I didnt name brands?????

I will agree though and reinforce, that a quality battery charger is essential... If u have a budget battery charger, you will just be depreciating your battery at a rapid rate.

[eddystone]

Thanks fellas.

VERY useful!!

eddy

[Tony]

Originally posted by eddystone
Thanks for the heap fellas!!

Also is there are charger that charges quickly??

I'm guessing set at 10amps it would take 10hours to charge a 100amp battery??

The issue is when i'm away i often only have a generator

eddy

++++Comercial post ++++

Hi big bream,

I use Guest 2620 battery chargers and they are a twin bank 10 amp charger that will charge two troll batteries to full in 5-6 hours. a charger that takes 10 hours would be more like a 5 amp per bank charger.

I sponsored the AFC boats last year and all anglers were more than happy with the way there boat was ready the next day to go out and fish. Also a giveaway at the Bream Megabucks just gone.

Guest chargers are 3 stage and will look after your batteries very well. They are water proof and shock proof.

have a look at www.guestindustrial.com

I sell them so if this is seen as unjust delete . Sorry.

I just think people would like to know what is out there and able to obtain.

Regards Tony Payne.

[corey]

My Delcor is around 18 months old and performing like new.
I have only a 6amp charger so at tornaments I maximise charging time as best I can ie puting the batt on charge is the first I do when I get back and taking it of last thing in the morning.
I have never run it flat and I think this has helped with its longevity (spell)
I payed $160 from Chalenge batteries!!!!

[BIG PETE]

i have had a Delcor in my cruiser for about 3 years running friges showers and lights works great just wish my main battery had lasted as long it was a cheaper brand


BIG PETE