SMALL 12 VOLT BATTERY

T

Tracy Letterman

Member
I need a small 12 volt battery. I am thinking something like a lawn mower battery to power the running lights Only. YA'll got any great suggustions on this topic?
 
Academy has a small deep cycle battery that I use to crank my 18 hp and run the lights, fishfinder & spot light. The first one I had (very similar but from Walmart) served me well and lasted about 6 years before it gave up. And a deep cycle will hold a charge and last longer than a lawnmower batttery.
 
Carl,

I like the sounds of that battery but never heard the name before. Where did you get yours. I'm using a lawnmower battery from Wallyworld but like you said they're short on life.

Thanks,

Ed L.
 
The first one I found at wallyworld but they stopped making it.
I went to Academy to see what they had and found my current one by chance. Its about 6.5" W x 11" L x 7" high. Much lighter than full size deep cycle.
I believe it is a Stowaway Brand U24:
http://www.exide.com/products/marine_rv/stowaway_marine_deep_cycle_specs.html

Battery Specifications​
Stowaway Marine/RV Deep Cycle Marine Battery - 24 Month Warranty - 12 Volt BCI Group Size Part Number CCA
at
0° F CA
at
32° F RC Minutes
@ 25 Amps Dimensions (in.) Capacity Pallet
Load Qty
27½ in. Length Width Height U1 STU1DC40 200 250 40 7-1/4 5-1/8 7-1/4 23 Ah. 75 24 ST24DC140 400 500 140 10-3/16 6-13/16 9-7/16 80 Ah. 48 27 ST27DC180 500 625 180 12 6-13/16 9-1/2 105 Ah. 42 31 ST31DC205 600 750 205 13 6-3/4 9-7/8 115 Ah. 36 4D ST4DDC250 600 850 250 20-3/4 8-3/4 10-7/8 160 Ah. 12 8D ST8DDC400 800 1200 400 20-3/4 11 10-7/8 200 Ah. 8
Please contact your Stowaway dealer for an explanation of the Exide Warranty Program.​
Return to product description​
 
For running lights only, a small sealed lead acid 12v battery may work. A 12v, 5amp/hour battery weighs about 4lbs. You can get them with many different amp/hour ratings. The 12v, 5ah battery runs about $20 shipped off E-bay or you can do a web search for sealed lead-acid batteries and there are several outfits that sell them. A local store may carry them as well- just not where I live. Somebody on this forum could tell you the amp/hour rating you need based on the length of time you have your running lights on, but I don't know how to figure that. Good luck.
 
There are a # of manufacturers, Panasonic etc, that make 12V gel batteries about 10"x10"x4"thick. We use them for FF2000 formula car batteries(mounted on their side under the drivers legs). The cars run a total loss system(no alternator). Not super cheap but they last a long time. Pegasus racing sells them as well as other performance catalogs. Good luck.

Kyle
 
Rick, How long will that 8 ah battery run a set of nav lights. I could figure it out but that would not be as good as real world experience. I am planning on using a breakaway brake battery but am concerned about time between charges.
 
Tom,
I don't know. I've used it for two seasons now and have never run the battery completely down. Usually I recharge the battery once or twice a week during the season.
Rick
 
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