Lightening the Load

It seems as if ice fishing manufacturers have become diligent with scrutinizing and improving every aspect of an individual's ice fishing experience.  From lines of clothing, equipment on the ice, and various other necessities, ice fishing companies are trying to make your time more enjoyable and conducive to having a good time while on the ice.

One area of the on ice experience, which is often over looked, is powering your equipment.  For many years, the stock standard 12 volt 7-9 amp, sealed lead acid batteries have been the mainstay of powering our electronics, lighting, and other various electronic needs.  They are generally reliable, cost effective, and have a decent shelf life.  The downside of SLA batteries are their weight. They also are not environmentally friendly, and you have to maintain the batteries when not in use.

Hitting the ice scene last season was an alternative to SLA batteries and they came in the form of lithium powered batteries.  Many folks are familiar with lithium batteries as they power many cordless tools, most laptops, personal devices, and various other powered items.  While lithium batteries have been around for a number of years, they have not really taken hold of the ice fishing market yet. 

Below I have broken down some of the pros and cons of lithium batteries versus sealed lead acid batteries; hopefully this will help those who are thinking of making the switch to lithium or sticking with the standard SLA batteries.

Lithium Batteries

• Cost anywhere from $100-$275 for a 12 volt 7-10ah battery plus charger
• Quick recharge time: Approximately 2 hours
• Around 2,000-3,000 recharge cycles
• No need to maintain batteries; lose approximately 2% power each year if not used
• Approximately half the weight of a SLA 12 volt 7-9ah battery
• Battery does not sulfate
• Come in either Lithium Ion or Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries
• Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are ecologically friendly
• Not many manufacturers currently
• Cost of ownership is less than a SLA over the life of the battery

Sealed Lead Acid Batteries

• Cost anywhere from $15-$40 for a 12 volt 7-9ah battery
• Complete charge can take many hours
• Around 500 recharge cycles
• Need to maintain batteries during non-use
• Twice as heavy as a lithium battery
• SLA batteries are not ecologically friendly
• Battery can sulfate
• Have been around for a very long time and are easy to find

A handful of ice anglers tested lithium batteries last ice season and reported back excellent results.  The concern that cold temperatures would limit the battery's ability were unfounded as they held up to temperatures as low as twenty below zero outside of a heated shack with no lack of performance.

One confusing aspect of lithium batteries is that there are more than just one chemistry.  Three of the more popular chemistries, in reference to ice fishing, are lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), lithium polymer, and lithium ion.  Each chemistry has its pluses and minuses but all share the same benefits over SLA batteries (decreased weight, shorter charge time, longer duration between charges, no maintenance, etc). 

As these lithium batteries become more popular and widespread, I imagine you will see more anglers using this power source.  Only then will we see if the benefits of lithium batteries outweigh the up front cost.  Until then, they certainly look promising on paper!