Powering a fish finder at home

[Uh Oh]

I have a Hook reveal fish finder chartplotter. I asked Lowrance if it is possible to power it via a transformer to allow me to set up and use it away from my boat. They said yes, I can use a transformer to power up the unit in my house. "We use MW RS-75-12" I can't find a UK seller for this.

I can buy a power cable but am not an electrician. Can anyone recommend a transformer, or someone I can buy one from, or who can give me some advice please

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Uh Oh

I have a Hook reveal fish finder chartplotter. I asked Lowrance if it is possible to power it via a transformer to allow me to set up and use it away from my boat. They said yes, I can use a transformer to power up the unit in my house. "We use MW RS-75-12" I can't find a UK seller for this.



I can buy a power cable but am not an electrician. Can anyone recommend a transformer, or someone I can buy one from, or who can give me some advice please

Any 12V dc power supply capable of delivering a couple of amps will do. Many smart battery chargers have a “supply” mode that would work too.

[GuyC]

CTEK do their MXS 7.0 which has a 12V supply although it may be overkill if you are not planning on maintaining a battery.

I'm sure someone will be along in a minute with a reason why you can't use one but what about a LED light transformer?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/aurora-12...iver-16w/2107t.

The GPS and transducer functionality wouldn't be available at home but it would give you the ability to learn about the piece of kit.

[Orwell boy]

Maybe just use a 12 volt alarm battery

[Uh Oh]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Any 12V dc power supply capable of delivering a couple of amps will do. Many smart battery chargers have a “supply” mode that would work too.

Thank you. I have a smart charger. It has a female cogar lighter socket. I'm thinking if I wired the power cable into a male cigar lighter socket, that would do the job.

[Uh Oh]

Originally Posted by GuyC

CTEK do their MXS 7.0 which has a 12V supply although it may be overkill if you are not planning on maintaining a battery.

I'm sure someone will be along in a minute with a reason why you can't use one but what about a LED light transformer?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/aurora-12...iver-16w/2107t.

The GPS and transducer functionality wouldn't be available at home but it would give you the ability to learn about the piece of kit.

I've got a CteK smart charger for my rib battery during the winter period. I suppose I could use that. It has crocodile clips so I would have to come up with a suitable connection.
And as you say, I want it to learn about using the kit. And hopefully inputting a few fishing marks!
Thank you.

[Uh Oh]

Originally Posted by Orwell boy

Maybe just use a 12 volt alarm battery

[Mattster]

Originally Posted by Uh Oh

I've got a CteK smart charger for my rib battery during the winter period. I suppose I could use that. It has crocodile clips so I would have to come up with a suitable connection.
And as you say, I want it to learn about using the kit. And hopefully inputting a few fishing marks!
Thank you.

You can buy extra "comfort leads" for less than a fiver which include the CTek connector - you could then wire the end of one of these leads to your fishfinder power plug (you'll need another one of these if you don't have one) - I use a couple of these comfort leads hard wired to various connectors for chargin different things. As others have already mentioned, you'll also need to be in "supply" mode which will put out 12v (more like 14 on my ctek) regardless - otherwise the charger will only put out a charge once it has detected a voltage, which won't be there on your sounder.

I also use a real bog-standard/ebay 12v wall adapters to power sounders in my office and it works absolutely fine. Just make sure you have the current rating, usually only 1-2A is required but check your sounder.

[Uh Oh]

Originally Posted by Mattster

You can buy extra "comfort leads" for less than a fiver which include the CTek connector - you could then wire the end of one of these leads to your fishfinder power plug (you'll need another one of these if you don't have one) - I use a couple of these comfort leads hard wired to various connectors for chargin different things. As others have already mentioned, you'll also need to be in "supply" mode which will put out 12v (more like 14 on my ctek) regardless - otherwise the charger will only put out a charge once it has detected a voltage, which won't be there on your sounder.

I also use a real bog-standard/ebay 12v wall adapters to power sounders in my office and it works absolutely fine. Just make sure you have the current rating, usually only 1-2A is required but check your sounder.

Sounds like a plan
Thank you

[paintman]

Originally Posted by Uh Oh

I take my Dragonfly off the dory & use it on the Rutland & Pitsford fishing boats for pike.
Head unit mounted on a bit of board that I attach to the boat seat & the transducer on another long bit of wood that G-clamps to the transom.

12v sealed alarm battery (currently Yuasa NP18-12B) works fine & fully charged will last at least 2 full days fishing - probably a lot longer but I've not tried.
Crocodile clips to connect the leads to the battery.

Car battery would work just as well - just a lot heavier to cart around!

[Uh Oh]

Originally Posted by paintman

I take my Dragonfly off the dory & use it on the Rutland & Pitsford fishing boats for pike.
Head unit mounted on a bit of board that I attach to the boat seat & the transducer on another long bit of wood that G-clamps to the transom.

12v sealed alarm battery (currently Yuasa NP18-12B) works fine & fully charged will last at least 2 full days fishing - probably a lot longer but I've not tried.
Crocodile clips to connect the leads to the battery.

Car battery would work just as well - just a lot heavier to cart around!

Thank you

[A1an]

You can use a bench top power supply. Great bits of kit.

The one I have tells you exactly how many amps you are drawing from whatever you’ve hooked up to it. It’s been a real eye opener to exactly what all the different electronic items on a boat ACTUALLY draw.

[Uh Oh]

Originally Posted by A1an

You can use a bench top power supply. Great bits of kit.

The one I have tells you exactly how many amps you are drawing from whatever you’ve hooked up to it. It’s been a real eye opener to exactly what all the different electronic items on a boat ACTUALLY draw.

Thats interesting. I'll look into it. Thank you