gillyakers

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Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 27, 2016 at 9:09pm

Yep. Always calculate everything, including the weight load and handling capacity. Since i'm using an oversized kayak, i'm not too worry about the turn-on-a-dime issue. I'll use a heavier battery to save money. I do have a 14V 7Ahr LIPO pack. Use only for the "weight is critical" situation, like the FishCat float tube.

Comment by Allen Morgan on June 27, 2016 at 6:46pm

Ok.  Looks like you've already gone about as far as you can go with battery life, unless you add more batteries for a bigger battery bank.  However, those SLA batt's are HEAVY!  To much weight might overload a boat, or make it handle less effectively.

I'm only running a cheap sonar on my yak.  I bought an 8-cell, AA battery tray from Radio Shack years ago.  I don't leave my sonar on all the time.  8 AA batt's will usually last me for most of the summer, if not longer.  Current set is a couple years old, as I didn't use my kayak much last year or the year before.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 27, 2016 at 6:36pm

Sealed lead battery, multi purposes:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A82A2ZS/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&am...

2 of these runs in parallel.

Comment by Allen Morgan on June 27, 2016 at 6:22pm

Leo, what kind of batteries are you using?  SLA "Deer Feeder" batteries?  Something else?

Have you thought of wiring the batteries in parallel, instead of in series.  Double your use time?

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 27, 2016 at 2:01pm

I have every confidence in you.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 27, 2016 at 10:54am

Indeed. Red sidemarker is only $5, full 180° projection. Not the one I like. I do have a red head lamp, but practicality wise, not so much, since brightness does not exceed more than 150 lumens for the eyes to optimize for night vision. "Lamp" is about $50...no thanks, and since I have no above fix point mounting aside from the stern light pole, it's useless. I may have jerry rig the sidemarker with a reflector of some kind. Save money and headaches.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 27, 2016 at 10:44am

Perhaps just a simple red LED HEADLAMP will suffice?
I've also seen red LED cockpit/cabin map lights; these are used on small sailing vessels. Anything with the word "sailing" attached is gonna be pricey, though.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 27, 2016 at 9:43am

David, dead as as usual with the red light. During stationary/creeping, amber lights remain on for activities. During movement from point to point at full throttle, amber lights get switched off via a SPST. I was thinking of installing the red lights earlier, but didn't get a chance to purchase ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for amber to red LEDs, along with the proper red LED that I wanted, in hoping to find a power regulating switch that will use the same LEDs that can switch from amber to red based on a voltage change switch. Haven't found one yet.

On top of that, I haven't able to find an LED sidemarker, with a single directional projection yet. Most lights are 180° projection. I need a 90° to 110°, preventing glares to maximize night vision. I know too well about night vision and its importance. I may have not enjoy the fun time on the water with a warship, but precautions are taken into account on all levels.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 27, 2016 at 9:29am

econd ago
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As usual, Leo makes a good case for his actions. Being seen is obviously crucial on the water at night.
And since a kayak, even underway at full head, is essentially an invisible, stationary vessel, there's an upside to being lit up like a Christmas tree.
If confusion = safety on the water, Leo has a good thing going.

If I were installing cockpit night lighting, however, I would opt for red. This is based on my years in the Navy, and the general maritime convention.
Red light preserves your night vision better than any other, and you soon grow accustomed to it.

I think amber light would better illuminate any hand work associated with fishing, but at the risk of your night vision. It takes 5 minutes or more for your eyes to readjust, once their night vision is disturbed.
So we can light up our boat so that others see US, but during that time your night vision is impaired, how YOU see the watery world around you is drastically affected.

However, amber light might be a worthwhile compromise under the circumstances. A red-lit warship and a fisherman in a kayak are very different things, and I've never tried it.

Thanks for the tech talk on current draw and power consumption. That is important!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 27, 2016 at 8:58am

Ken, by the way, the draw is of the following if you want to calculate how much you need extra, on top of your fishfinder:

Shoreline Marine 360 stern light: 0.090A

Sidemarker LED: standard is 0.150A per sidemarker (6-LEDs). If you purchase truck/trailer LED, it can go as high as 0.750A.

LED strip (like the one I use): 1.4A for the 12-LEDs, and 2.1A for the 24-LEDs version, both for the low draw. High draw, designed for the 2-miles visibility will increase much, much more.

My fishfinder is drawing 1.100A (although, it's indicated only 0.900A..which is BS).

My power source is 12V 12AHr. Definitely need 2 of these batteries if I plan to staying out all night. Each battery is fully spent around 4 to 4.5 hrs. Not good for the battery, but when you're desperate, there's nothing you can do. If my wife is not with me, I double up on her battery to prevent the battery from fully discharging beyond 50%.

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