I just got a elite 7 ti totalscan for my PA12 but I'm having a problem. I bought a 12v 7ah battery to run it just like the one that ran my elite 4 hdi. I'm not getting more than about 2-3 hours on a full charge. The manual says the power consumption is .9a at 13.8W. I'm not an electrical guy so I don't know if that's about what I should be getting from the battery.

I was going to get a little riding mower battery but saw that may not be a good way to go because they aren't rated for continuous use. I'm now thinking about a 22ah sealed acid battery.

Have any of you run into this issue with larger SI fish finders or have any better ideas?

Thanks for your help.

It depends on how long you want to run your FF a average day for me in the summer time is 10-16 hrs.
If that's what you need and if you have the budget for it I'd recommend a Deep Cycle LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) Battery in a 20-30 Ah rating, I would also verify the battery has BMS (Battery Management System) to provide over charge and over discharge protection. The LiFePO4 batteries have a good safety rating, they are more $ upfront but due to their higher life cycles and life expectancy cost should more tolerable.
Some are having good luck with the Battery Tender Lithium ion and it seems to be priced better than some of the other Lithium batts on the market.

If you go this route, be sure and get a charger for this type battery.

I'm running a Duracell 14ah on my 7ti. I run side scan 100% of the time and also have brightness at 100%. A full day of fishing 8+ hours only draws it down to about 12.7v. Haven't tested exactly how long it will last, to guess I would say between 12 and 16 hours.

Thanks for the information.

The Lithium are a bit more than I really want to shell out right now. The Duracell seems like the way I will go.

Having the 7ti and not being able to use it has been killing me.

TXshadow....I run a Battery Tender BTL18A300C Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery (16-18ahm) on my Lowrance Elite 5 HDI Chirp. The battery juice will last me the WHOLE day and some more. I've taken my FF out from 6am in the morning to 5pm in the afternoon and it provides more than ample power (I've even gotten home later, after forgetting to unplug my FF battery, and see the power last till 11pm). Now, I'm not running any LEDs on my kayak (this might eventually change).

The reason why I would recommend this battery is that you can buy a used one on AMAZON for cheap. Key is used. I purchased the lithium battery for $45 in Jan 2016 with shipping. Just pay attention to the online website every now and then, you'll be able to score this battery. I contacted Amazon customer service to see the reason for initial return and they said the original buyer didn't feel comfortable with battery brand (it happens a lot to these brand, I guess).

I've had no problems and it's still warranty for (3) years. Good luck with your hunting for battery and stay safe out on the waters!

Great info guys......Thanks for sharing....

Whatever you choose, get something capable of deep cycle. Most Li-ion cannot deep cycle and will die if you drain them too much.

What you need if you have a lot of power consumption is a small wheelchair or scooter deep cycle battery. They're not cheap, but you can buy them online, usually with free shipping.

The better Li-ion batts will have BMS and that won't be a issue. And yes make sure you get the Deep Cycle Batt.

Thanks guys for all the help.

I'm thinking about this one or maybe a 22ah.

ML18-12 - 12V 18AH CB19-12 SLA AGM Rechargeable Deep Cycle Replacement Battery - Mighty Max Battery brand product - $35