Deep cell battery for thrower

[DTFerg1595]

Hey all, I just bought a Do All White Wing thrower and have some questions as far as what kind of battery to get. I know I need a deep cell but what size am I going to need. I'm going to be going on a camping trip with a bunch of friends at a spot near Manzanar (the Japanese internment camp during WWII) and we'll be throwing about 500 targets.

[redcliff]

My google-fu found a recommendation from a knowledgeable person who maintains five dc powered throwers and he recommended an Interstate SRM-27. It's a marine deep cycle with high cranking amps. Just guessing but bringing a set of jumper cables to recharge it if needed might be a worthwhile precaution for the first outing to see how it goes.

Looks like a cool trap thrower, very jelly Have fun!

[Tri750]

How about a Harbor Freight solar charger?
You can get a really nice one if you have the money, OSH or Camping World.
I bought a HF for less than 20 and according to my volt meter, it does what it's supposed to for my needs.
Just sayin.

[jaymz]

Buy two 6 volt AGM batteries. You won't be disappointed.

[diveRN]

How about a Harbor Freight solar charger?
You can get a really nice one if you have the money, OSH or Camping World.
I bought a HF for less than 20 and according to my volt meter, it does what it's supposed to for my needs.
Just sayin.

The solar charger idea is solid, but I've had issues with the HF models x2, they seem to be short-lived. I bought this one and it's held up after about a year's worth of intermittent use.

[DTFerg1595]

I've read a lot of good reviews on "Goal Zero" products, would something like this work, or should I get a separate battery and charger?

http://www.goalzero.com/p/166/goal-zero-yeti-150-solar-generator-kit/24:2/

[diveRN]

I've read a lot of good reviews on "Goal Zero" products, would something like this work, or should I get a separate battery and charger?

http://www.goalzero.com/p/166/goal-z...ator-kit/24:2/

Spendy option. What you need to know with something like this is how many watts it'll produce. Given the "150" in the product's name, I would guess that it's a 150 watt model, but that's just a guess. Didn't see any power info, other than 12vdc, in the description.

What you also need to know is the amp draw of the thrower, should be on a plate somewhere if it isn't worn off or painted over.

Amps = watts / volts or 12.5amps = 150watts (supposed) / 12 volts

If your thrower draws more than 12.5 amps, which it most likely does, then you'll need the battery. Such devices aren't typically made as a sole power source for your application.

[Epaphroditus]

Since I could not find anything on the product regarding actual power consumption there is really no way to make a decent recommendation of battery sizing.

Post the marking on the provided power supply or on the device itself regarding power. Alternately you could use something like a watt meter or a "kill a watt" to directly measure the power during operation for say 10-20 clays then extrapolate to your target of 500 clays.

Once you have the power loading for the event than you can figure the amp-hr capacity requirements for the battery.

Forget about using a solar panel to recharge any decent sized battery or you will be waiting a long time. A small generator like Honda EU-1000 or 2000 will charge a decent sized deep cycle battery in a few hours. Depending on the current draw of the thrower you might be able to just run it directly off a generator. Make certain you consider the continuous output capabilities and not the peak output for the generator (e.g. the EU-1000 supplies only ~8 amps continuous).

Might as well take a few old fashioned manual throwers just in case.

[Divernhunter]

Do not overthink this.
Get a group 27 deep cycle battery.
Take a set of heavy duty jumper cables Which you should allready have. to recharge it if needed.
Or a small generator and battery charger.

[DTFerg1595]

Did all the calculations and found out that the interstate SRM 27 will power the thrower for about 3000 throws. That's more than 3 times what I need. So it looks like there's no need for a charger. Thanks everyone for your help, I'm fairly new to this forum and all the help and friendliness I've gotten on here is incredible.

[hermosabeach]

as always, COSTCO has some of the cheapest battery prices and the 100 month warranty...

Have fun on the trip...

[CGT80]

I use the costco deep cycle batteries in both my trucks and my toy hauler. I like the stud terminals on top. I use wing nuts to hold the battery cable rather than hex nuts.......no tools needed to disconnect a battery. Top post cable ends always get stretched out and this doesn't happen with a ring terminal. I also crimp my own ends on cables when needed. Use dielectric grease on any electrical connections. It keeps them from corroding. I rewired most of my 79 pickup and used the grease. 6 months later there isn't any corrosion on the battery cables. It keep air and water from getting to the connections.

The costco batteries seem to last about 5 years. Some of mine sit for a long time without being used or charged. For the price, the life doesn't seem bad. Luckily I can use the same size battery in all three vehicles, so that means all 5 batteries are the same and can be swapped in a pinch.

[Divernhunter]

^^^ Except that deep cycle batteries should not be used for starting engines. They are not designed for the quick very heavy draw of a starter. This would not apply if they are deep cycle/start batteries.

Deep cycle batteries are designed for a lower constant longer time draw such as a trolling motor or lights etc in a travel trailer/motorhome.

The best ones to get would be the golf cart batteries. That is what we use in the trailers/motorhomes/live aboard boats etc.

[ENVYGREEN]

I have a Walmart marine car sized battery. I have the thrower and also the wobbler and have never came even close to draining the battery.

[mjsweims]

Do not overthink this.
Get a group 27 deep cycle battery.
Take a set of heavy duty jumper cables Which you should allready have. to recharge it if needed.
Or a small generator and battery charger.

+1
Or get long jumper cables and start your engine when the thrower slows down. You can use short jumper cables if you're good shots.