Battery install using Hobie kit: Can I use it for more?

Got my Hobie battery install kit today: 12 V battery in a hosing that sits in the rear hatch nicely. Should make connecting my Lowrance 4 tomorrow easy as pie. My question though, is can I use it for more?

I plan on adding an led light kit for night fishing as well. Can the battery handle both chores? I ask because the Hobie instructions say "Do NOT cut the excess power cable as it will interfere with the fish finder."

I had planned on running the wire to a box and splitting off - one power to the fishfinder and another to the led lights.

Am I seriously going to have to install TWO batteries now???

Yes the battery will work....Since the lights are not a "pulsating load", a steady DC current load from the LED's would not interfere with the fish finder operation.
I would make sure you use separate in line fuses for both the components, so if one happened to short, you still have the other item functional.

_________________
Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Thanks for the confirmation. I've never heard that shortening a wire lead would cause transducer problems. I actually would've thought the opposite - shorter wire = less impedance, etc. And one a wire stretching 10 ft instead of 12? Shouldn't matter at all.

I was considering a small distribution panel to hook everything up to but may just go in-wire and connect everything direct.

Tight lines, amigo

YOu will be happier with two seperate batteries for that operation. Good luck

How about the Hobie kit and a micro Power Pole? I was hoping to use one battery for both the fish finder and the Power Pole.