Another pump thread

[ian123]

I m trying to find a good balance between battery weight and capacity. I guess it depends on the run, but how long are people running their pumps in a day?

[bambam]

My current canoes all leak, and not just from the top. Add to that I'm not such a clean boater, like to run the wet lines at times just for the fun of it, and I do some playing. Plus, I carry twin pumps, Atwood 1250's.

Suffice to say I ask a lot of my battery.

I experimented with a small Werker WKA 12 - 1.3 F. (Translation, 12 volts, sealed lead acid, 1.3 amp hours.) It weighs 1.4 pounds and didn't do the job very well.

Add just over half a pound and my Werker WKA 12 - 2.3 F pretty much pumps all day if I ask it to. 2.04 pounds.

Half a pound difference probably isn't worth scratching your head over. Prices vary but mine was about $20 at Batteries Plus. Trickle charger (recommended) was another $20.

Ken

[iRolled]

Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) - tough, waterproof, last 3-4 trips on single charge, works great.

Li-ion - works awesome, pushes pump a little harder, but you cannot get it wet, "at all". not as heavy, pretty light.

I like using the SLA's myself. I would get a charger with variable settings, just so that you're able to charge vehicle batteries in the future. I found a really good charger for about 40 bucks at walmart. you could probably find a cheaper one if you just want it for your boat battery. I charge mine on a 2 amp trickle charge.

[Todhunter]

I drank the koolaid and went to Li-Ion...I will never go back!

[sbroam]

What's the story on LiFePO4?

http://www.batteryspace.com/waterbottle ... eplug.aspx

[h2sk1]

What's the story on LiFePO4?

http://www.batteryspace.com/waterbottle ... eplug.aspx

Great batteries, have a better ability to start a motor than LiIon (which need a 'soft-start' circuit to prevent drawing too much current when you turn on the pump). Very light and compact for the capacity. They are used extensively in model airplanes.

Downside of LiFePO: cost, particularly of the charger. These things are really tough to charge without damaging the cell, and thus need special chargers which measure current, time, and temperature. It MUST be a charger specifically for a LiFePO battery or you can expect very early failure of the battery.

[marclamenace]

What's the story on LiFePO4?

http://www.batteryspace.com/waterbottle ... eplug.aspx

Never heard of these ones I would be really curious to know more...

SLAs have strong memory effect which makes them a bit tricky to use, or they won't last so long. LI-ion are nice but more harmful to the environment than the Ni-MH I am using, just as lightweight and lasts longer too. My actual setup goes up to 14.4 volts and my tsunami takes it up pretty nicely so far. Better have the strongest flow if you want to reach above the gunnels of the other boat besides you

[sbroam]

I'm intrigued by these water bottle setups - they look slick and could do double duty on a bike...

[fez]

LiPo in a protection box is also nice

http://www.wildwasserboard.de/g6p388-pumpe.html

[Wendy]

For lithium batteries I would use Matt Todhunters system. For the waterbottle setup I use the NIMH. I've put these in my boats and others. I don't think the lithium set up in the waterbottle would be waterproof enough. Matt has not seen issues with his. Both set ups are great. Lithium is more expensive but lighter and can't get wet. The waterbottle system is much lighter than SLA, works great and 2 of mine have lasted 5 years for year round use.

[ian123]

No pumps!

[hazardharry]

a gallon of water is 8 pounds. my entire dual pump system with 5ah battery does'nt weigh close to that. who like to sit in ice water all winter? a few paddlers ask everytime they run the dead river "hey where did you get that" after hand bilging or jumping and dumping. although my OCtane91 is wicked dry if i choose to run dry lines.