Best Fish Finder Battery of 2024: Affordable Yet Durable
The best fishfinder battery should be lightweight, compact, and powerful with a high reserve capacity & fast recharging rate.
As an angler, fishfinder equipment is your best friend, but to use that friendly for an entire day, you need power. That means choosing the right battery within budget.
How Do We Select Battery-Powered Fish Finder Batteries?
We talked to the local fishermen and anglers of Seattle and New Orleans about various equipment, fish finders, their power source, and the importance of lightweight batteries.
We also interviewed fishing enthusiasts about their expertise in fishing equipment and its power source.
Finally, after gathering all that data, we short-listed the 15 Best Fishfinder batteries from which we only selected the top 7.
We selected the top 7 battery-powered fish finder batteries based on their weight, power, reserve capacity, budget, size, steady voltage, charging rate, and overall performances after conducting various tests, including capacity tests.
Comparison Table of The Best Fish Finder Batteries of 2024
1. Dakota Lithium 10Ah 12V Fish Finder Battery
FEATURES & SPECS
Lithium batteries are known for their excellent performance and Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah is no different. People are saying it charges 5 times faster than your regular SLA battery, but it charges 4.6 times faster which is also superb. It is the best fish finder battery on our list.
When it comes to lasting It has a longer lifespan of 2000+ cycles, it delivers uniform voltage up to 97% of its charge and it is super compact and lightweight.
It is almost half the weight compared to its cousin (lead-acid battery). I never had any issue with it, I have bounced it around, it is heavy-duty, robust, and the connections of my fish finders are never loose on Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah.
Let’s talk about energy efficiency, you can use more than 90% of its reserve capacity in a normal manner before it starts depleting rapidly the life of Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah. For lead acid, it is close to 70%. After 70% it drops quickly.
I would suggest dimming down the brightness of the backlight of the fish finder to double the battery life whether lithium or lead-acid.
There is nothing wrong with lead-acid batteries as far as you charge it every night you are good to go.
But, as a person who is concerned about weight like ice fishermen, lightweight batteries are a lifesaver.
Moreover, Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah is super powerful and durable. The quality is really good and my connections are always tight, so I would suggest Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah over any lead-acid battery of a similar price tag.
2. Chrome 12v 10Ah SLA fish locator Battery
FEATURES & SPECS
Not all SLA batteries are worthless compared to lithium batteries, Chrome 12v 10Ah is a highly durable SLA battery with a lot of positive reviews over the years.
When I first purchased it, the resting voltage was 13.3, at 5Ah usage, the voltage was 11.4V.
Absorbed glass matt technology has been used in construction to make it spill-proof and durable. It is also vibration-resistant. Unlike most lead acid batteries, the connection on Chrome 12v 10Ah is always secure and tight.
As long as it doesn’t draws more than 10amps, it can run 3 battery-powered fish finders on the boat that require 10 – 20 VDC to run them for 5 – 6 hours.
It is heavier than lithium batteries of similar capacity which can be a bit problematic if you are conscious of weight distribution on the boat, or bushwalking.
I have also used 3 of them to in my black and decker lawn mower. They provide sufficient power to run my lawn mower without any problem. The voltage output is steady each time. You need to recharge them each time though.
A buddy of mine is using Chrome 12v 10Ah for a UPS system as an extra set to make the power last twice as long when the line power is out.
So overall, a lot of people are using Chrome 12v 10Ah fish finder batteries for their finders, lawnmowers, UPS systems, and even jeeps because these are cheap and durable.
I would recommend these batteries if you are low on budget and want something solid.
Unlike most SLA batteries, you can draw more than 75% of reserve capacity out of them before they begin to rapidly deplete.
3. Mighty Max 9Ah 12V Battery for Depth Finder
FEATURES & SPECS
Mighty Max 12V 9Ah is an extremely powerful SLA battery from the mighty max brand. No, doubt it is an absolute beast of a battery.
It is mostly a general-purpose battery but I use it with my finder only. It is constructed from absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology. It’s spill-proof and maintenance-free as well.
I am using the 9Ah model because it’s is lighter which is a great deal if are conscious about weight distribution like me.
Before that, I had a 35Ah mighty max battery which was giving about 12amps average on speed 3 for a 30lbs. thrust trolling motor.
If you dim the backlight of your fish finder, this battery will last for a long time just like a lithium battery.
I will again mention that if you are looking to shed a few pounds off your fishing equipment, then you might look for something lighter.
It is powerful there is no doubt in that and a lot of people are using Might Max for their fishing equipment just for the sake of simplicity and reliability.
4. ExpertPower 12V 9Ah Fish Locator Battery
FEATURES & SPECS
The reason I putting a lot of SLA batteries on my list is that people are purchasing them over and over again just for their simplicity.
ExpertPower lifepo4 batteries are beasts in terms of reserve capacity and overall performance. ExpertPower 12V 9Ah SLA batteries are no different if we ignore the fact that these are super heavy for a fish finder.
After reading online reviews about using these batteries in cyber power UPS, I too tried it and worked pretty well. I don’t have any complaints.
One of my friends converted his beach cruiser Schwinn bicycle to an electric bicycle using four of these ExpertPower 12V 9Ah batteries after reading about someone doing it before him.
He is about 6†and weighs between 185 to 190lbs. This bike takes him to the beach and bake, about 11 miles trip with some hills and stuff. He was telling me that these batteries have never gone below 50%.
I knew before that ExpertPower 12V 9Ah is preferred for fish finders but I was finding new uses for these batteries.
ExpertPower 12V 9Ah works well in cold conditions too. It’s simple to install, maintenance-free, and spill-proof.
One thing I will like to mention is that connections are prone to coming off and it is a bit bulky. You can work way around but for a fisherman these two problems are serious.
5. Eco-Worthy 12V 8Ah Lithium Battery
FEATURES & SPECS
I have already reviewed the 20Ah Eco-worthy battery for RVs, this one is no different. They maintain high energy density, these are solidly built, spill-proof, and vibration resistant.
I am reviewing the Eco-worthy 8Ah only for those who want to shed a few pounds off from their fishing equipment. You can choose a 10Ah or 20Ah battery for your liking.
Like an elite lead-acid 12v battery, this lithium phosphate battery also maintains 3.2V per cell which is very nice.
You can go as far as 80 to 82% depth of discharge rate, it won’t explode or catch fire. I have tested them personally.
You can easily run a 75-watt bulb for 6 hours after connecting it to an inverter by managing 13V even in the cold weather. Any other lead acid battery would have been down to 11V.
You can connect as many batteries as you want in parallel but only 4 in series which is pretty much fine if we are using it only for the fish finders.
Like other lithium iron phosphate batteries, an Eco-worthy 8Ah Best fish finder battery can go up to 90+% reserve capacity before voltage rapidly depletes.
The BMS on these guys is always good. It works for the low temp charging protection, and high temp charging protection. It also prevents any short circuits as well.
Overall, a very good and durable battery for fishing equipment.
Only 4 can be connected in series.
6. Miady 12V 20Ah Lithium Battery
FEATURES & SPECS
Miady 12V 20Ah lithium phosphate battery is lightweight, powerful, compact, vibration-resistant, and meant for small electric appliances with 100% DOD.
When it came the voltage was around 13.27V which is good. It looked super cool and durable with a nice little carry handle.
For fish finders of a current draw between 0.25 to 0.5 amps at 12V, this battery can last up to an entire day if also dim backlight too before recharging it.
Lower capacity options like 6Ah miady battery are more popular than a 20Ah battery, I have Miady 12V 20Ah twice, that is why I am recommending this one.
It is based on lithium phosphate technology with a built-in BMS (battery management system) to protect the battery from low temp charging and high temp charging.
It is extremely safe, I have not a single complaint about short-circuiting, but it doesn’t mean you overcharge it.
For small boats and kayaks as a 12V fish finder battery, Miady 12V 20Ah is an excellent choice with 100% DOD.
One thing I would like to mention is this battery’s over-voltage disconnect cuts off at 14.3V, the standard of lithium phosphate batteries is around 14.6V which is a little letdown.
Overall, Miady 12V 20Ah is lightweight and compact, the form factor is excellent, the terminals are screw type, and it can easily maintain a nearly 2C discharge rate. The only disappointment is its voltage disconnect.
7. ECI Power 12V 20Ah Lithium LifePo4 Fish Finder Battery
FEATURES & SPECS
ECI Power 12V 20Ah is like a perfect powerful lithium battery in between a smaller capacity, and a higher capacity battery. It is like a perfect bridge.
It is manufactured by the same guys that are manufacturing expert power batteries so you should expect quality and excellent performance.
A solid BMS has been installed that can protect the battery from low temp charging and high temp charging.
A group of solid engineers has built ECI Power 12V 20Ah to be ultra-durable, vibration resistant, lightweight, and compact with high energy density.
I have done the capacity test and it gives more than a 20Ah rating. I am testing it on my portable ice cooler, and even after 6 hours, the battery was super strong.
This is not a starter battery despite the 20Ah rating. It will power your small appliances on the boat, it is ideal for fish finders and trolling motors, but don’t try to use it as a starter battery.
Overall, ECI Power 12V 20Ah is a hidden gem in the fish finder battery industry. It is an absolute beast, it is durable, lightweight, and compact, has high reserve capacity, will not be affected by the weather, and comes with a quality BMS.
I would have loved to install 3 in series to get 36V without cutting out but the battery is limited to two in series only.
I am not saying it is the best fish finder battery on our list, but it is among top 3 for sure.
Things To Remember When Buying The Best Fish Finder Battery
A lot of people are confused over terms like cycles, volts, amps hours, etc. First I would like to clear those confusions.
Volts: Voltage is the measurement of the difference in potential. In simple words, the volt is the driving force, 1 volt is the difference in potential needed to make a 1-ampere current flow/drive from the battery through a wire.
Ampere: Amp (Ampere) is the rate of electron flow through a circuit or measurement of electrical current.
Ampere Hour: Ah (Ampere hour) is the number of hours a battery can store electricity inside before it discharges. In simple words, Ah is how much electricity a battery and is stored inside for a certain period.
So for a fish finder battery, a 12V 10Ah battery means the battery has 12volts of driving force and it is expected to last for 10 hours at that voltage.
A higher Ah rating longer the battery will last, but for fish finder equipment, we don’t want a heavy battery. So anything between 10Ah and 20Ah is fine.
Cycles/Cycle life: Every time you charge the battery, it will be a bit less effective than it used to be. The cycle life of a battery means how many times you can drain and then recharge your battery.
Difference Between A Kayak Fish Finder Battery, And A Regular Fish Finder Battery
The only major difference is the size. A standard fishing boat can hold 4 to 5 people whereas a kayak is a smaller boat so it requires a smaller fish finder battery to distribute the weight properly. If we talk about the best kayak fish finder battery, you should look for a compact option.
Buyer’s Guide For The Best Fish Finder Battery
Our buying guide is based on the battery’s size and weight, capacity and power, and charging rate.
We have only those things which are practical and useful for anglers. Our selected top 7 best fish finder batteries list covers all the aspects written in this buying guide.
Fish Finder Battery Size And Weight:
For small kayaks, every pound of weight counts, so lithium batteries are preferred because they pack a lot of pf power in a small body.
These batteries are also compact. Such batteries are ideal if you are into bushwalking.
For standard boats of 4 to 5 people capacity, 12V 10Ah, or 20Ah batteries of either SLA or lithium are considered. Such boats can handle some weight.
I do recommend going for compact batteries because small kayaks and boats have very limited space, you don’t want to be cramped.
Overall, don’t go beyond 7 pounds for a fish finder device.
Fish Finder Battery Capacity And Power:
Anything above 6Ah rating is fine for fish finder sonar, but you should go for anything between 9Ah and 20Ah to have that extra reserve capacity for long days.
I chose some powerful batteries with enough reserve capacity to last an entire day for fish finder sonar and some other low-load appliances.
If you want to determine how long your battery will last, follow some simple math explained below.
- Current draw of the battery. Listed in the specs. Usually around 1A
- Ampere hours rating (Ah)
BATTERY Ah divided by Amp draws of the battery = Hours of run time
Ah/amp draw = run time
Suppose you have a Garmin striker 4 whose current draw is around 0.24A @12V. If your battery has a 10Ah rating, then you will get a runtime of 41.66 hours virtually.
In reality, batteries don’t run at perfect efficiency even it is a high-class lithium battery. Consider a 15 to 20% cut-off of that number. Large fish finders use more power.
What Battery To Use For Fish Finder
- Battery Type for Fish Finders
Two main types are suitable for boats and kayaks because these two types can withstand the wear and tear of harsh marine conditions. Speaking of such, check out our article on the best Marine batteries.
Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)
These are sealed batteries to prevent spillage, these are cheap and a bit heavy. You need to be careful with them because if you discharge an SLA battery to more than 80%, it will affect its lifespan. These batteries are usable in most weather conditions.
Lithium Fish Finder Batteries (LifePO4)
These are the most popular types of batteries for most fishermen. It is smaller and lightweight and smaller than lead-acid types. You can discharge that 100%, no problem.
They provide stable and steady voltage throughout. You can use 90% of the reserve capacity before the voltage drops rapidly unlike 70 to 75% of lead-acid.
Charging Time:
For an active angler who is in and out of the water daily, faster charging time is very important.
Lithium batteries in particular have a high charging (rapid) rate compared to SLA (sealed lead acid). The best fish finder battery should recharge in 4 to 5 hours.
Waterproof Casing:
Getting a waterproof box for the battery is a no-brainer. Water and electrical terminals are a disaster. Especially in kayaks, the waterproof casing is a must.
Alex Black is a seasoned electrical engineer with a remarkable 8-year track record specializing in appliances, generators, and transfer switches. With extensive hands-on experience in the field, Alex possesses a deep understanding of electrical systems and their intricate workings. Throughout their career, Alex has consistently demonstrated expertise in designing, troubleshooting, and maintaining various electrical appliances.