Solar for kayak - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

lowprofile · 07-02-2013, 07:42 PM

so you want a shopping list? or better yet a solar bait tank ready to go?

the solar kit and pump wired up will run around $300. could go all the way to $700 depending on the equipment.

Yakly · 07-02-2013, 08:32 PM

My boat has a 12v system running the livewell and fish finder/chartplotter. It's a 12v 10amp battery and I want to (I guess) have solar to ensure the battery stays charged for all day use. I don't want to have to put the live well on a timer and be able to leave the finder on all day as I'm moving from spot to spot. In this case I'm assuming I need some type of trickle charger to keep the already topped off battery at full capacity. I think?????? Or at least keep up with the discharge. Again I'm new to this so if I'm heading down the wrong path and this doesn't make since, I'm all ears.

Yakly · 07-02-2013, 08:34 PM

I have that same battery box from OEX but how long will that keep the electronic running?

ful-rac · 07-02-2013, 08:34 PM

Save your money and headaches, just charge your batteries at home.

ful-rac · 07-02-2013, 08:36 PM

Your battery dies get a bigger battery or bring a spare. Dont screw around with solar, your bringing something complicated into an already complicated situation.

beef78 · 07-02-2013, 09:02 PM

I have a 6 volt 10 amp battery and run a 500 gph bait pump continuously while I am out and I did 3 5-7 hour trips and it was still pumping as if it were fully charged. If you use math and stuff you should figure out that when you use a pump rated for 12 volt on a 6 volt system, it will draw twice the current. Which means a 6 volt 10 amp battery would last half as long as a 12 volt 10 amp battery. The guys at the battery shop agreed with my theory and the practice of taking it out a couple times backed it up, too. So, in other words, you should be good with that battery. If you are really worried about it, get a timer for your bait pump and turn your GPS/fish finder off when you are not using them. I agree with the other guys who posted and think it would be easier to put a backup battery in. This would probably help fight against battery memory and make your batteries have a longer life because you could fully discharge your battery and switch over to the full battery, then fully charge the dead one after the trip. This would ensure that you aren't just charging your batteries halfway up every time you go out.

alanw · 07-02-2013, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beef78

If you use math and stuff you should figure out that when you use a pump rated for 12 volt on a 6 volt system, it will draw twice the current. Which means a 6 volt 10 amp battery would last half as long as a 12 volt 10 amp battery.

That just doesn't sound right according to Ohm's Law.

V = I * R

Voltage = Current * Resistance

The resistance of the motor is a constant, so the only things that can change is volts and current which means that as voltage goes down so does current.

That means that a 6 volt 10 amp battery should last longer than a 12 volt 10 amp battery.

FishNinjaY · 07-03-2013, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanw

That just doesn't sound right according to Ohm's Law.

V = I * R

Voltage = Current * Resistance

The resistance of the motor is a constant, so the only things that can change is volts and current which means that as voltage goes down so does current.

That means that a 6 volt 10 amp battery should last longer than a 12 volt 10 amp battery.

This was my understanding as well.. Most of the pumps out there are "rated" for 12V, and around 2.5Amp draw, right? So, people have been advising using 6V battery to modestly decrease the water flow, and to prolong run time on the battery.

From your description, you are running BOTH your livewell and fishfinder off a single 12V10A battery? For way less than the cost of a complex solar set-up, you could get TWO 12V12A LiFePO4 batteries, that would weigh less also. I don't have this battery yet, but am considering buying it tomorrow.

http://www.amazon.com/Bioenno-Power-.../dp/B0083BMHPY

BWE member, GregAndrews (& others), here know a lot more about this. I'd look into this route, instead of solar. Good luck.

jruiz · 07-03-2013, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanw

That just doesn't sound right according to Ohm's Law.

V = I * R

Voltage = Current * Resistance

The resistance of the motor is a constant, so the only things that can change is volts and current which means that as voltage goes down so does current.

That means that a 6 volt 10 amp battery should last longer than a 12 volt 10 amp battery.

Motors aren't resistors.

07-02-2013, 07:42 PM	#1
lowprofile #1 on fishstick's hitlist Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sea level Posts: 1,478	so you want a shopping list? or better yet a solar bait tank ready to go? the solar kit and pump wired up will run around $300. could go all the way to $700 depending on the equipment. __________________ MLPA- My Largest Poaching Area

07-02-2013, 08:34 PM	#4
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Save your money and headaches, just charge your batteries at home. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

07-02-2013, 08:36 PM	#5
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Your battery dies get a bigger battery or bring a spare. Dont screw around with solar, your bringing something complicated into an already complicated situation. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

07-02-2013, 09:02 PM	#6
beef78 Large Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 316	I have a 6 volt 10 amp battery and run a 500 gph bait pump continuously while I am out and I did 3 5-7 hour trips and it was still pumping as if it were fully charged. If you use math and stuff you should figure out that when you use a pump rated for 12 volt on a 6 volt system, it will draw twice the current. Which means a 6 volt 10 amp battery would last half as long as a 12 volt 10 amp battery. The guys at the battery shop agreed with my theory and the practice of taking it out a couple times backed it up, too. So, in other words, you should be good with that battery. If you are really worried about it, get a timer for your bait pump and turn your GPS/fish finder off when you are not using them. I agree with the other guys who posted and think it would be easier to put a backup battery in. This would probably help fight against battery memory and make your batteries have a longer life because you could fully discharge your battery and switch over to the full battery, then fully charge the dead one after the trip. This would ensure that you aren't just charging your batteries halfway up every time you go out. __________________ "I shall not tiptoe through life to arrive safely at death." Last edited by beef78; 07-02-2013 at 09:11 PM.

07-02-2013, 08:32 PM	#2
Yakly Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ventura Area Posts: 65	My boat has a 12v system running the livewell and fish finder/chartplotter. It's a 12v 10amp battery and I want to (I guess) have solar to ensure the battery stays charged for all day use. I don't want to have to put the live well on a timer and be able to leave the finder on all day as I'm moving from spot to spot. In this case I'm assuming I need some type of trickle charger to keep the already topped off battery at full capacity. I think?????? Or at least keep up with the discharge. Again I'm new to this so if I'm heading down the wrong path and this doesn't make since, I'm all ears.