Garmin Livescope the battery eater

My group 24, 18 month old, high dollar Maintenence free Deka cranking battery did fine running 2 Helix Mega’s but one Helix and the Livescope is just too much for it. Running it for 3-4 hours is pulling the battery down to the point that the motor is noticeably turning over slowly while cranking. It’s jidt a matter of time til I have to use my jumper cables to get going. I charge my batteries after every trip with my onboard MK charger.

With the deep drain these new electronics pull on the battery I wonder if a “dual purpose” battery would be a better choice than a standard cranking battery? I know very little about the DP batteries but I know that cranking batteries aren’t made to be discharged often like happens now with the LS.

Thoughts?

You need to have that battery load tested.

I am currently using a jet ski battery that was given me to power my Live Scope System. I placed the battery on charger overnight before using it. I have used it on four different days now without needing to recharge it. Probably around 20 total hours of use during these four days I have used it.

I've seen videos that say the lithium battery is good for 10 hours of continuous use with the Live Scope System. So I suspect a problem with your boat battery.

Hmmmm. I have a load tester at the shop. I’ll check it.

Yes, I would like to know the results as well because I’m thinking of going to live scope system.

John


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Buy a second battery and use it specifically for the livescope. I’ve been using separate batteries on my electronics up front for years now. No more problems with my cranking battery. Well worth the peace of mind of not worrying about being stranded because of a weak battery.

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Originally Posted by chaunc;[URL="tel:3803814"

3803814[/URL]]Buy a second battery and use it specifically for the livescope. I’ve been using separate batteries on my electronics up front for years now. No more problems with my cranking battery. Well worth the peace of mind of not worrying about being stranded because of a weak battery.

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Same here, more electronics draw more power, get a second battery and go way larger than series 24. Check and see how many amps your motor needs to start with and you can maybe just downsize to a 450 amp or 550 amp starting battery for the motor. Starting battery will weigh way less than a deep cycle.

Only problem for me with going with a separate battery would be needing an additional charger. I have considered buying another battery identical to the one that I have, as long as my current battery tests good and wiring them in parallel to double the amp hours. I could charge both with one leg from my onboard charger

Takes double the time to use one leg of a dual charger charging 2 batteries in series. Just use any charger to charge the motor battery and once it’s charged, it doesn’t loose that charge as nothing from motor is trickling usage from it. I use a minn Kota 10 amp portable charger 110PD on motor battery and it’s a awesome portable charger that will also minimize the battery as it charges just like on board chargers. Search the web for best prices.

I suspect you have an issue also FurFlyin. I have been shutting down my 10 inch Lowrance console finder while I use my LS up front. Since I started doing that I barely draw any power out of my batteries anymore. I can sit up front with LS all day and barely use any power at all. You may possibly have some issue that is causing both the draining problem and your interference problem.

I’ll pull that battery this week and load test it. I fished 7a-7p Saturday and by lunch the voltage readout on the Garmin screen was 9.6 volts. I didn’t run it after lunch.

The battery load tested good with my tester at the shop. Our tester is probably 40 years old so I'm going to take it to where I bought it in the morning and let them test it to double check. It's a Deka Maintenance free 24M7. 800 CCA It does not have an amp hour rating on it. The group 24 battery may just not have enough back pocket to run the LS along with one or two Helix units.

Does anyone know what the amp draw on the LS is? If not I'll call Gamin tomorrow. I'm going to measure the amp draw tomorrow to see what it is actually pulling.

I don't fish from 7to7 but do fish the 5 hours where you turned off your unit. Have not had that problem, only have two batteries. The problem i do have is keeping a good connection, about every third trip i have to clean the cables because i get a no connection when i go to livescope. It does not effect the other transducer talked with garmin and was told the livescope pulls more power.

I took the battery to a parts store and it tested good. I came back to the shop, put the battery back in, and started testing the amperage on everything plus the Livescope. I put the LS ducer in a bucket of water and turned on the unit. The black box circuit showed 1.5 amps. The 93SV circuit was much lower than that.

So..... there is no reason my battery should be taking a dive 6 hours into a fishing trip, but it is. I guess I’ll replace the battery first and see how that goes

I had a similar problem with my starting in January. It would not hold a charge overnight in the slip if I left the charger off. It would start the motor on the lake if you were running off the engine every couple of hours. But if I ran off the trolling motor for several hours (different batteries) the starting battery would not crank the engine.

I took it into Walmart several times who said nothing wrong with battery. I had load tests done, was told nothing wrong with battery. Finally got tired of hassle, replaced battery. End of problems.

I have used my live scope using a small jet ski battery for over twenty hours now without a recharge. Still operating without a problem. I can't say what is causing your problem, just say I haven't experienced it.

Thanks ezgoing I think my issue is the battery. If you don’t mind can you get me the name and model number of the battery you’re using for the Livescope?

I will look at it when I go to the slip tomorrow afternoon. A friend give it to me as he no longer had a use for it

While small it is heavy. Since I have my unit up to be portable I am going to order a lithium batter for it since they are so light weight. Have to order it from manufacturer as I have not found anybody in this area that carries them.

Ok, thanks

I have a 12volt trouble light and use small wattage dc bulb connect to a fully charged battery check how much current it is drawing and see how many hours it takes for the voltage to drop gives me a good indication of the battery life. you can find low wattage bulbs that current draw compares to your electronics draw

a bad battery can still load test as good.

Had same issue even with two cranking batteries in line. Just bought a deep cycle marine battery to parallel the cranking battery. Hope this solves issue.

My buddy has same issue with his LS. Eats the battery charge up

I had forgot to update this thread with the outcome.... Those of you who said I had a bad battery were 100% correct. I had it checked at two different places and it tested good both places and on my old times load tester. I got fed up with it and bought a group 27 Deka AGM Dual Purpose to replace the other with. I have not used it more than maybe 4 hours at a time since I installed it but have been out probably 6 times since changing.

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Originally Posted by FurFlyin

I had forgot to update this thread with the outcome.... Those of you who said I had a bad battery were 100% correct. I had it checked at two different places and it tested good both places and on my old times load tester. I got fed up with it and bought a group 27 Deka AGM Dual Purpose to replace the other with. I have not used it more than maybe 4 hours at a time since I installed it but have been out probably 6 times since changing.

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Load test is not a sure fire test...Most of time there accurate but not always.....Neighbor had a newer JD tractor...took battery to have tested AZ /NAPA/ORs all said great battery..Pulled starter and alternator took to have rebuilt.. they said nothing wrong...We talked I told him Battery he said no ,its good.....I said I got a spare Battery in shop ..we put it in and walla cranked right up.. He still can't believe all that BS and work and time lost ...
Thx for update we all learn

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Originally Posted by FurFlyin

I had forgot to update this thread with the outcome.... Those of you who said I had a bad battery were 100% correct. I had it checked at two different places and it tested good both places and on my old times load tester. I got fed up with it and bought a group 27 Deka AGM Dual Purpose to replace the other with. I have not used it more than maybe 4 hours at a time since I installed it but have been out probably 6 times since changing.

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To prolong a deep cycle battery's life you should recharge it immediately after every use.

I recharge the batteries every time. I leave the 3 bank charger plugged up unless I'm using the boat.

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Originally Posted by FurFlyin

I recharge the batteries every time. I leave the 3 bank charger plugged up unless I'm using the boat.

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Fur, I'm betting he thought you said that you've had it out 6 times since charging....instead of "changing". That's what I read too. Had to go back and read it again myself.

That would have been much more clear if I had written "changing batteries" instead of just changing.

I had mine out today and I got about five hours out of mine. I also had a 10" and 12" bird running at times. I had to jump the motor from the trolling batteries. I'm going to have to figure out something different.

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Originally Posted by Stainless

I had mine out today and I got about five hours out of mine. I also had a 10" and 12" bird running at times. I had to jump the motor from the trolling batteries. I'm going to have to figure out something different.

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I had to do the same thing prior to installing a new cranking battery. I went up to a group 27 or 29 (can't remember which) AGM dual purpose battery. It had done great so far.

I can fish 8 hours with mine and so far the voltage has not gone below 12.2 volts. I bought a really small 12 volt battery just for livescope, hardly takes up any room. Smaller than most lawnmover batteries. Works great for me. I still have 2 other units running off my cranking battery, no more worries.

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Originally Posted by Roy

I can fish 8 hours with mine and so far the voltage has not gone below 12.2 volts. I bought a really small 12 volt battery just for livescope, hardly takes up any room. Smaller than most lawnmover batteries. Works great for me. I still have 2 other units running off my cranking battery, no more worries.

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Which battery are you using?


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SI-ACR Automatic Charging Relay - 12/24V DC 120A - Blue Sea Systems

Add one of these and both batteries always stay charged,
Starting and accessory battery

Which battery are you using?

I'll have to check but I know it was an AGM battery from Walmart for around $50. I fished today for about 5 hours. Battery started at 12.7 volts and was 12.4 when I stopped fishing. It's small, I have it in a small compartment up front wired directly to my Garmin 93sv plus and Livescope black box.

I use a 100Ah lithium ION battery (LIFEPO4) to power my TM and Garmin 74SV and Livescope. If you put a switch between the livescope and the battery you can turn it off when moving around and turn it on when you are anchored to fish. This saves lots of battery for other uses. This is all for my kayak.
The battery weighs only 26 lbs. You can get a 50AH battery for all day use of the sonar and leave the livescope on as well and you can get about 12-15 hours of continuous use. Lithium work better and do not use as much amps as a cranking battery or AGM.

Roy if you bring livescope to Gaston anytime soon I'd really like to check that thing out. :)

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Originally Posted by mustfish

Roy if you bring livescope to Gaston anytime soon I'd really like to check that thing out. :)

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Will do, Gene has one as well. He lives close and will fish it more than me this summer. Contact him and see if y'all can meet up one morning.

Disclaimer:
Don't hold me responsible if you end up spending too much money on a Livescope system after seeing one it action.
It will change the way you fish.
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