12V rechargeable battery - to lithium or not to lithium

Anthony A

Anthony A

Well-known member
Hello everyone,

Someone recently responded to a post with a link to a DIY power box. I loved the video, and searched the guy?s other videos to find another power box buid, which I?d like to take on as a project over the holidays.

I?ve never done anything electrical-related and would like to ask the group whether dishing out more money for a lithium battery is worthwhile vs a standard one. Don?t the standard ones lose their charge over time? Anyone have any personal experience?

We use lithiums for everything anyways (no rechargeables). I had a standard rechargeable battery (probably smaller, can?t remember now) for my mojo before I threw it out - long story there.

Advice appreciated

Anthony
 
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Hi Anthony

What's the application for the battery? That would help some people answer your question.
 
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Well, primarily as a safeguard during long hunts in cold weather to be able to charge my phone with the USB, second, to power a spotlight I have during the early morning/post-sundown using the cigarette lighter socket, and finally as a light source (two small LED lights attached to the front of the box) for camping, or in the event of a blackout. Don?t expect to use all charging efforts at the same time :)

Here?s a link to the project
https://youtu.be/torSEtjPZ2I
 
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I built a small power box for my Higbee which ran 2 LED front running lights and one LED stalk light. I used one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Power-Group-SEALED-BATTERIES/dp/B0057YB7O2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Universal+Power+Group+UPG-D5743%28KIT2-1%29&qid=1607954688&s=automotive&sr=1-1

If you're only running small LED running lights and trying to charge your phone, this will probably last you more than you could ever imagine. It's only when you start getting into LED light bars where you really start concerning yourself with discharge rates, etc.




 
Thank you Anthony, now I realize that I want to build one also! I could use it for the same applications, great for emergency power and lighting, which as Jay noted, with LED's, very little power draw for nav lights.
 
Besides the required red/green and white navigation lights all I ever used to ?see? in the dark was my Petzl headlamp and keeping an eye on the water in front of me, slowing down when necessary, and getting to know the hunting area like the back of my hand. I? ve seen some pretty neat built-in and custom DIY set-ups on other sneakboxes at the ramp but I?m reluctant to do any modifications to the sneakbox, I like it aesthetically as it is and I?d rather attach the lamp with a clamp - just need a power supply.
 
Jay,
Did the same on by Devlin Broadbill. After looking at the difference in power use between LED and regular bulbs, I switched to LED for running lights and this battery; should have plenty of power for multiple trips.

v/r
Bill
 
Anthony A said:
Besides the required red/green and white navigation lights all I ever used to ?see? in the dark was my Petzl headlamp and keeping an eye on the water in front of me, slowing down when necessary, and getting to know the hunting area like the back of my hand. I? ve seen some pretty neat built-in and custom DIY set-ups on other sneakboxes at the ramp but I?m reluctant to do any modifications to the sneakbox, I like it aesthetically as it is and I?d rather attach the lamp with a clamp - just need a power supply.
Click to expand...

This is all I ever used. I debated putting an LED light bar in the front of the boat but then the issue of discharge rates, not having a motor-driven charging system, etc came into play. My headlamp does all I could ever need really. I use one of the triple-beam rechargeable ones from Amazon. Just bought a new set of batteries for it for the first time in 3 years. It enables me to rotate my head to see the bank, see how I've placed my decoys, and so on.
 
I built that same power box that I use mainly for ice fishing and camping. Mine uses 2 10ah Dakota lithium batteries. They're not cheap but they are lighter and more durable. Nice to have all the different charging port options and I can recharge the batteries via solar panel also.
 
I can run 1/2 a season on a 6 amp hour lead acid battery. I power the red/green and all around LED navigation lights, interior LED lights and do recharge my phone. This battery cost about $15-20. I've used it for years.

One thing to keep in mind with a lithium battery, they require a special charger.

Mark
 
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Thanks everyone. I decided to try it out with the battery recommended in the youtube video. I?ll try it out for a year and let you all know.

Patrick, I don?t have a rechargeable battery for power tools. Very un-North American in that I?ve never owned a home, have been constantly moving, renting, my whole adult life :) only have 2 AC power tools...

I?ll post pictures of the power box build.
 
You know Anthony, you might have moved around all of your adult life and not have power tools(rechargeable!), but you have a duckboat. So what else do you relly need?
 
Greg,

Friends with power tools that I can borrow! :)

The dream is to eventually settle down somewhere where we have a garage (boat storage) a shed or two (decoy storage), a mud room (wader/wet clothes storage), a large backyard (retriever training), and a workspace with proper power tools to start learning how to carve and paint my own decoys... one day... :)

AA-
 
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