Couple of questions for complete noob

[Johnsy]

Hi all

Ive just got into kayak fishing, I'm loving it but I am a complete noob and know sweet FA
So I have two questions

1. I bought a lowrance hook 3x fish finder. Where is the best place to get a battery and what battery? (Don't wanna spend to much money)

2. I'm in Seaford and would like to know any good places near there to catch fish (PPB)

Thanks in advance

[bunyip]

I would look at a sealed battery, super cheap should be about to have a XX% discount sale any time now.
Get a name brand about 10-15ah should do the job and don't let it run flat, deep cycle are good but will cost more.
Simple formulae for fish, I find the best place is anywhere I'm not.

[laneends]

This is the standard battery
https://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-7-2ah-sla ... y/p/SB2486
They are commonly used for house alarms

You can get cheaper ones delivered from Ebay. Recharge after each trip. A battery this size would still get you 15 hours or so run time out of it.

You can get bigger ah rated ones as suggested by bunyip, but they will cost more and be heavier, and suit those with bigger sounders or lights etc

Use proper trickle charger
https://www.jaycar.com.au/2-6-12v-lead- ... r/p/MB3518

If you attempt using larger car chargers it wont do as good a job and can shorten battery life

There are other options but the above is the bread and butter approach

[Johnsy]

I would look at a sealed battery, super cheap should be about to have a XX% discount sale any time now.
Get a name brand about 10-15ah should do the job and don't let it run flat, deep cycle are good but will cost more.
Simple formulae for fish, I find the best place is anywhere I'm not.

Thanks guys
Hahaha yeah I have found the same formula works for me to bunyip

[Tim399]

What volt do you guys charge those dia mec batteries to? I have one of those digital smart chargers but dont know anything about batteries

[laneends]

Just charges SLA's until its full, then trickle charge keeps it there. First draw from sounder usually is about 12.8 volts depending on voltage drop of connecting wires. Amp draw should be 0.6-1.0amp

[Tim399]

Im not sure if my charger will stop charging and trickle charge when its full or if it will keep charging until the battery is overcharged? The highest ive seen it is 15.3v is this too much?

[laneends]

The charger has to be higher than the standing charge on a battery to have flow in the right direction. A fully charged standing battery with no load attached sits on over 13volts.. If battery is overcharging it will be overheating. As it gets closer to fully charged the amps fall off rather than the voltage. It is the amps that is a measure of current flow.

If the charger is too big it will not provide a sensitive enough trickle and shut off tending to leave battery undercharged.

My charger sits on 15v+ when charging

[Tim399]

Thanks mate, i think i understand it now. Sorry to hijack your thread johnsy!

[vicyak]

I recommend checking the safety section. I've recently flipped my Pro Angler 14 and wasn't a fun experience.

Know your limits. A strong offshore wind may look like the water is flat in close however that is how many people get in trouble because it is much harder to get back in. I've seen a kite surfer had to cut his lines and swim back in. We went out and picked up his kite for him. Offshore winds are often dangerous because they give you a false positive of the true conditions.
Check the wind forecast. Often good conditions now will not be good shortly.

Seaford you are in snapper heaven. West winds from on that side of the bay can get rough.
Frankston and Mordiallic/Parkdale also some great whiting and squid spots. Parkdale you are only about 300m from the beach for some great whiting and pinky spots.