Humminbird Side Imaging Forums

Side Imaging Forums => 997c SI, 998c SI & 999ci HD SI => Topic started by: fishbone on October 23, 2015, 08:26:08 AM

Title: 998 and 999 power draw effects
Post by: fishbone on October 23, 2015, 08:26:08 AM

I have run a 998 SI off the starting battery without any problems for 5 years.
Several of the lakes I fish are electric only, so the engine never gets started to aid in charging.
A new 999 SI replaced the 7xx unit on the bow so that two 99x units are drawing on the starter battery.
Now my stater battery drops from 13.2 v to 12.3 over the course of 6 hours.
I would expect the drop to be less if the engine was used.
Does anyone use a different approach when using heavier draining units?
Thanks

Title: Re: 998 and 999 power draw effects
Post by: Ronquest on October 23, 2015, 11:38:54 AM

If your battery is in good condition you shouldn't have any problems.  I've run 2 units (wired like yours) and a 360 for that time frame and didn't have starting or unit issues.
-Do you need to have both units running all the time?
-Carry jumper cables on the boat, if you need to, jump to a trolling motor battery.
-Turning down the brightness of the screen, and turning off the transducer that's not being used will save energy too.

Title: Re: 998 and 999 power draw effects
Post by: fishbone on October 23, 2015, 01:05:12 PM

Thanks Ron. I had a 3 position switch installed when the boat was new that puts the engine starter on either the engine battery or one of the trolling motor batteries.
I was just surprised at the drop in the charge from the 2 HB.

Title: Re: 998 and 999 power draw effects
Post by: Bob B on October 24, 2015, 04:08:15 PM

6 hours for 2 900 series units should be about 12AH in 6 hours....They each draw about an amp.  It shouldn't be that much different than 1 700 series and 1 900 series.