How do you power your fish finder?, Alternative power...

Hello Fellow Fishermen,

How do you power your fish finder? I came across some alternative ways in which people are powering their fish finder. With recent advances in batteries, especially Lithium, I wonder if we are not exploring all the options out there.

I am particularly interested to know if any of you are using lithium based portable power stations, usb battery banks, and car starters to power you fish finders. Would love to see how you got it to work.

Here are some videos to explain what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oQ-GEuTriE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TupZB_B1QoA

bonus video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbn_n7sAY7I

This is for using your power drill batteries:
https://www.amazon.ca/Milwaukee-terminals&#...aps%2C54&sr=8-9

I believe they have an adapter for most major brands.

Would love to see how you got your alternative power, as opposed to the traditional 12V7ah rectangular batteries, to work with your fish finder.

Thanks.

Joe

i use the milwaukee m18 power source,cat.no. 49-24-2371,runs my finder + i can charge my phone & my hand warmers off it .. runs off the m18 batterey which i run a drill for my auger on.also i have an old humminbird wide portable finder that takes the 2, 6 volt flashlight batteries i rewired the battery box & now just put the power source & battery right in where the old 6volters used to go, works perfect..

That's great. Would you have a picture of it by chance? Would love to see how you got it connected. Thanks.

on the ol 6 volt battery system all i kept in side was the 2 power wires for the finder took all other parts out the m18 battery fits in nice, i use a 9amph ,seems to last forever..sorry no pics , dont know how..

I also use Milwaukee M18 9.0AH battery with Milwaukee M18 Power Source that converts battery's 18V to 12V for fishfinder (and 5.0V USB to charge cellphone, etc). The M18 Power Source (adapter) simply clips (or slides) onto top of battery.

One more pic (the Milwaukee M18 Power Source adapter)

See my post and pics above

Hey James, How long does that set up last for your fish finder?

Hello Xiaolu,

Thanks for sharing. The 12V cable that you use to attach to your fish finder, did you buy it or did you make that yourself? Thanks.

Do you just clamp those cables to the posts on the battery that is attached to the fish finder And power it that way or do you skip the battery some how

Yes, those clamps (+/-) would clamp on to the fish finder.

Hey James, How long does that set up last for your fish finder?

With my Lowrance Elite-7ti fishfinder with 7-inch monitor and with brightness turned up to 8 or 9 out of 10:

9.0AH battery lasts all day
5.0AH battery lasts around 6 hours

It's DIY: Just find an old/unused power supply/charger for whatever electronic devices, one with the plug having outer diameter of 5.5mm (to fit the Milwaukee power source's plug port)

pic:

Hey James, How long does that set up last for your fish finder?

With my Lowrance Elite-7ti fishfinder with 7-inch monitor and with brightness turned up to 8 or 9 out of 10:

9.0AH battery lasts all day
5.0AH battery lasts around 6 hours

Nice. Those batteries are much more expensive then the 12 V sealed batteries but boy, that looks like such a slick DYI and you can use that battery for powering a drill for the anchors and of course an auger set up. Once I go electric with the auger, I will definitely follow what you have done to save on weight. My auger is still human powered as part of the exercise aspect of my ice fishing (as well as walking though I do have Smitty that works very well) but human power can only last so man years and then things have to change.