®
Winter 2022
page
36
Until new boats come with a nuclear power plant, or
Batteries Plus Bulbs which is a 100AH AGM marine dual-
someone puts floating charging stations on every lake,
purpose battery. This is a beast, weighing 75lbs and sports
we need alternate power solutions. Power isn’t the only
1150CCA, 1370MCA, and most importantly 220 Reserve
consideration; interference-free energy is critical to see the
Capacity Minutes. This is where many anglers go wrong
detail modern fishfinders can show.
with their starting battery choice.
Having enough cranking amps for the outboard
DEDICATED WIRING
is important, but having enough power to run all your electronics is equally important. This battery or one with
Boat manufacturers rig bassboats to use the starting
similar specs can power the biggest outboard motors and
battery to power every electronic on the boat except the
boat electronics all day. My starting battery powers my
trolling motor. By default, our fishfinders are on the same
iCommand digital gauges, NMEA 2000 network, navigation
circuit as our aerators, bilge pumps, and other electronics
and courtesy lights, aerators, bilge pumps, running lights,
that introduce interference and obscures fish detection.
and horn.
Power consumption has greatly increased and considering
modern MFD (Multi-Functional Displays, aka sonar/GPS units) capabilities and high cost, it is important to understand how to
HOUSE BATTERY
provide the voltage these unit’s demand.
House batteries are well known on saltwater boats,
My overriding consideration was to provide dedicated
but until recently are less common in bass boats. House
8 or 10-gauge marine grade tinned multi-strand duplex
batteries typically power your boat electronics like
wire directly to my MFD’s at the console and bow. Utilizing
fishfinders, so they don’t deplete your starting battery for
an isolated wiring setup prevents significant voltage drops
safety purposes.
and prevents introducing interference from other boat
Ultimately, I found that a Lithium Ion 100AH battery
electronics such as aerators and bilge pumps. This will
makes a great house battery without adding much weight
improve the quality of your images. Friends that see my
or bulk. I added one to my system that was designed with a
electronics on the water are amazed at the superior images “starting BMS” (Battery Management System).
my MFDs display.
I only have my Lowrance HDS LIVE 12 and 16 units on
If you have ever started your outboard in the afternoon this house battery to avoid the potential of interference
and your sonar units blinked or shutdown, you have
which provides crystal clear images all day long. Lithium
experienced the problem of inadequate voltage supply. You
batteries maintain consistent voltage all day without a
need the right battery, and just as important you
significant drop, so they are ideal for powering MFD’s. The
need dedicated wiring to get maximum
starting BMS built into the battery provides
voltage direct to your MFDs.
outboard starting redundancy. My
house battery can be used with
STARTING BATTERY
my jump start switch if needed
to start my outboard without
Outboard motor manufacturers
damage to the outboard or
recommend using a lead-based
battery.
starting battery to prevent damage to
Having power
the outboard’s
redundancy can
alternator and to
be critical when
prevent sudden
needing to return to
shut-down which
the ramp during a
could be dangerous
tournament, or an
at high speed.
upcoming storm. If
There are lithium
you have fished a
starting batteries
night tournament
available (see my
you know the value
house battery
of a house battery.
below) but the
If you have ever
safe play is to use
fished big water
a flooded wet-cell
and took on water
or AGM battery
in your boat, you
that can start
understand the
your outboard and
need to have power
act as a storage
for not only your
battery capable of
outboard but to
running your boat’s
keep your bilge
electronics.
pumps working.
I installed the
This bass was spotted using live sonar 65-feet to the side
A house battery
X2Power from
provides safety.