Battery Questions

[JnJnKatiebug]

There are some folks here that seem to know a lot about batteries and I have a question, but first an explanation of my intended use.

My friend and I do a lot of river kayaking and fishing, sometimes up to 20 miles and up to 12 hours in one day. I am getting older and paddleing that far is sometimes very difficult.

I am thinking of mounting a 30lb Minn-Kota trolling motor on my kayak to help out in the long holes of water between rapids. I found this battery at Academy Sports, Exide , weight is 23 lbs which is doable, 40 amp hours, reserve capacity 182 minutes, 160 cold cranking amps.

I would only need the slowest speed on the trolling motor as we fish as we move along and we are never in a hurry (unless a storm in brewing). I am just wondering how long this small battery would last. I have no idea how much draw the trolling motor would use on the slowest speed.

So, someone please give me a lesson on battery drain. 20 to 25 lb is my weight limit. This one is only $50. I really don't want to spend any more on a battery.

Moved to Tech Issues forum from DIY.

[RJsfishin]

Its perdy simple,......
Stay 0ut of the faster speeds, and you will be good for a couple hrs w/o hurting the battery. At any rate, when you have a noticeable decrease in performance, or when the next highest gear doesn't go any faster, it is time for shutdown, and a recharge.
I run trolling motors for 50+ yrs, still do.

[full_mosey]

Here's a 24lb 8au1 AGM for $68.

I would make them swear it is a genuine Deka/MK.

HTH;
John

[JnJnKatiebug]

OP here. I am still following along. I might still learn something. So continue on.

[mena661]

full_mosey wrote:

A colloquialism. Out of sight and out of mind does not mean invisible and insane either. 🙂

LOL! Nice!

red31 wrote:
So you don't have a labor rate for maintaining your battery(ies)? Interesting.

I know you weren't asking me but I'd only charge $20/hr for maintenance.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
I talk into my shoe...

LOL! Great stuff!

[Canadian_Rainbi]

I pity the poor OP, he's probably wondering how much he can believe from this group! :h

I promise to take the rest of this thread seriously. Honest. :B

[Canadian_Rainbi]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
I talk into my shoe...

Better than talking through your hat. :B

[NinerBikes]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
I talk into my shoe...

Is that you, Maxwell Smart?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I talk into my shoe...

[NinerBikes]

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Newer high quality digital scales define values to a tenth of a pound. Weigh a brand new VRB, then weigh it again when it goes bad. If it has lost so much as a tenth of a pound or 35 grams, your bad....Just make sure you also have a non-volatile check weight to ensure the scale accuracy had not drifted. A bag with 62 pounds of rocks makes a decent counterweight for some GC batteries.

Regular VRB users really should do this weight verification test to determine if written rote agrees with reality. You'd be surprised.

Damn engineers. Always insisting on high tech stuff. :B

You can tell by the way they dress. Nerd Pocket protectors for their smart phones.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Newer high quality digital scales define values to a tenth of a pound. Weigh a brand new VRB, then weigh it again when it goes bad. If it has lost so much as a tenth of a pound or 35 grams, your bad....Just make sure you also have a non-volatile check weight to ensure the scale accuracy had not drifted. A bag with 62 pounds of rocks makes a decent counterweight for some GC batteries.

Regular VRB users really should do this weight verification test to determine if written rote agrees with reality. You'd be surprised.

Damn engineers. Always insisting on high tech stuff. :B

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Newer high quality digital scales define values to a tenth of a pound. Weigh a brand new VRB, then weigh it again when it goes bad. If it has lost so much as a tenth of a pound or 35 grams, your bad....Just make sure you also have a non-volatile check weight to ensure the scale accuracy had not drifted. A bag with 62 pounds of rocks makes a decent counterweight for some GC batteries.

Regular VRB users really should do this weight verification test to determine if written rote agrees with reality. You'd be surprised.

[full_mosey]

red31 wrote:
So you don't have a labor rate for maintaining your battery(ies)? Interesting.

$120/hr.

HTH;
John

[red31]

So you don't have a labor rate for maintaining your battery(ies)? Interesting.

[full_mosey]

red31 wrote:

full_mosey wrote:

I just observed my highest temp comp'ed charge/ABS Volts of 15.45 via the MS TS 45PWM into the AGMs.

What's your labor rate?

15.0v in balmy Dallas, sg on up there also. Free and satisfying (to me) to know temp comp is working. Otherwise I would be inertly enjoying life.

I give advice for free so you always get what it's worth!

At 3PM and 22F, we are floating at 14.38V. It is like watching paint dry.

HTH;
John