Quinte Fishing

Hey,

I just bought a new hummingbird fish-finder and it has a built in low battery alarm. I have a 40 hp Tohatsu outboard that is electric start and was hoping that this alarm would protect me from draining my battery so much that I wouldn't be able to start my boat up to get home.

I run all my navigation lights, fish-finder and electric start off of the same battery. So what I am asking is what is the voltage that I should set the alarm to?

Thanks a lot.

Dan

90 views and no replies? What do you have your low battery alarms set to? Just curious as I am fairly new to the world of fish-finders.

well, that sounds like an alarm propriatery to Hummingbird....

many folks use eagle/lowrance finders....and none of the 3 i've owned have that alarm.

I have hummingbird sonars on my rental boats and noticed they had the low voltage alarm, and I forget what I set my low voltage too. It was whatever the minimum voltage was required to run the fish finder. I found this number in the manual. The only reason I use it is becuase 2 of the rentals don't have altenators so the only thing that runs off the batteries is the fish finders.

If you do a decent amount of running with the main engine. I don't think you ever have to worry about the nav lights or the fish finder killing the battery. The fish finder hardly uses any power. I haven't charge the batteries in my rentals yet this year and many times I find that the renters have left the fish finder on all night or all day. As mentioned a couple of the boats don't charge the battery and they are still fine.

I know I really didn't answer your question but maybe alleviated some of your fear of not being able to start the main engine.

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West Lake Willows Resort, Picton Harbour Inn, and Bay of Quinte Charters
Bay of Quinte Charters offers a 26' Charter Boat operating out of Picton Harbour with a fully enclosed cabin.
Picton Harbour Inn offers 31 rooms, docking, and a restaurant on the sheltered waters of Picton Harbour.
West Lake Willows offers 8 cottages and camping at the doorstep of the famous Sandbanks on West Lake.

www.bayofquintecharters.com, www.pictonharbourinn.com, www.westlakewillows.com

Your engine will need at least 12V. Outboards have small alternators.

If your battery is in good shape you should be OK. If it is more than 3 years

old you are taking chances. Fish finders use very little power. When you buy

a new battery make sure it is a 27 or 31 series. you will get more and better

service than a 24. Also remember that battery warranties are useless after

the free period.

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Live to fish

Thanks guys. I took the advise and set it to the minimum voltage required to run the fish-finder, and you guys were right. Seems like the finder and nav lights hardly use any of my battery, nothing that a run down the lake doesn't cure any way.

So once again thanks for the faithful good advise.

Dan

I have a small 12v that I use for all my accesories in my boat and leave the starting battery by itself for the motor alone. the small 12v is very light and cost something like $30 at Canadian Tire. Never have to worry about draining the starting battery and the small onr will run my accesories i.e. nav lights, 2 finders, livewell pump, interior lights, radio, 12v sockets, etc..for a week with no problem. May be an option to save you the concern of draining your starter
orrsey