FX3 Battery pack options

60X

New member
Just curious what everyone is using to power their fx3's. I'm using AA rechargable batteries. Sometimes they last awhile and other times they don't make the whole night. Is their NIMH battery pack any better?
 
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I go with an external 12 volt SLA 3AH up to 8AH, depending on how I'm hunting. I use the AA's if I'm snowshoeing in any distance and weight is a concern.
 
Hey 60X. Don't forget that when you use the 8 aa battery pack, you are only delivering 9.6V. Each battery is 1.2V, so 8 times 1.2V equals 9.6V. The amp in the caller is designed to work at peak efficiency with 12V. The very least battery you should have, in my opinion, is a 2.3AH. You can call all day, use a lot of volume if you are so inclined, and still have plenty of juice left at the end of the day. The longest it has ever taken my wall charger that comes with Foxpro's 8AH battery pack to charge my 2.3AH battery is 3 hours, and that was after an all day hunt, and probably 20 stands, some with high volume in extreme wind. If you are going to crow hunt or something of that nature, where you know you are going to use a lot of volume, go with the 8AH battery pack from Foxpro. You couldn't wear that thing down in a 3 day hunt. You will get better performance all across the board with a good 12V battery, and in the case of the 2.3AH like I am using, you aren't adding that much weight. Batteries Plus and stores like that sell them all over the country. Be sure to get one with the flat terminals on top, and on opposite ends of the battery to make sure you don't accidentally short out and blow a fuse. I can send you a picture of my setup if you send me a PM. I think I made a post about this some time ago, so you may be able to find it in the archives.
 
Hey Silverfox: Sorry to be so slow getting back to posting the photos of the FX-3 or FX-5 battery set up, but I have been beyond busy getting my kennel setup for my Ladner Blackmouth Cur pups. Here are three pictures of the way I handle the battery set up for my FX-5. I did the exact same thing with the FX-3, and have never come close to running the battery down on a full day's hunting. If I go out for a extended period of time, I take my wall charger with me, and my 8AH battery pack just to make sure. Notice the yellow arrows I used on two of the pictures to indicate a couple of ideas I added to the setup. One of the arrows indicates a simple little wire tie that I keep attached near to the plug on the 10 foot wire. I leave that plug sticking barely out of the zippered compartment, and loop the loose end of the tie through the hole in the zipper tab, to avoid having to look for the plug inside the compartment where the battery stays (The front zippered compartment with the piece of blue dense foam rubber sticking up (Battery protection and extra insulation). On the other picture, the yellow arrows indicate how I tape the wire to take all strain off the soldered terminals. Hope this helps you out. I have another 10 foot cable to use with my 8AH battery pack for crow shoots and the like.
HuntscenesandFX-5batterypacksetup00.jpg

HuntscenesandFX-5batterypacksetu-1.jpg

IMG
 
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possumal--Thanks for the photos and the nice explanation!! You have put some thought into your setup and I'm glad it is working for you.

You wrote earlier and said:

Quote:
Don't forget that when you use the 8 aa battery pack, you are only delivering 9.6V. Each battery is 1.2V, so 8 times 1.2V equals 9.6V. The amp in the caller is designed to work at peak efficiency with 12V.



The 8 AA batteries that I use are NiMH Energizers, and while the information stamped on the side says they are rated at 1.2V and 2500mAH, the voltage reading I get after I am done charging them and they have sat idle for about 12 hours is 11.11 volts. I don't know if mine are a rarity in getting a reading at over 11 volts or not??? I have never had the voltage meter with me while I am out calling, so I haven't taken a reading part way through a day of calling, but I'll probably take a reading when I get home from calling next time.

If folks are having a problem keeping their batteries charged, they may need to break them in properly. A fellow who had lots of experience with rechargeable batteries suggested using a dishcharge board to "condition" my batteries. He gave me the following instructions:

For the board, you will need:

5" x 10" “bread board” - blank circuit board with a bunch of holes.

Wire - 14 or 16 gauge - maybe 3 feet. Car stereo speaker wire would work perfectly - nothing heavy, you will not be drawing that many amps.

8 – single AA battery holders (if Radio Shack has them)

8 – “194” bulb holders or similar. 12 volt

8 – “194” bulbs Or similar. 12 volt

Assemble circuit board, lay out the eight AA batter holders in order. Wiring schematic is easy....

1. Basically, tie positive side of battery holder to one side of the bulb socket.

2. Tie negative side of battery holder to other side of bulb socket.

3. Screw in bulb.

4. Place battery in AA battery holder, discharge until bulb is almost out.

5. Let batteries “recover” from discharge for 20 minutes, and charge.

This process conditions the batteries to be able to receive a good charge and to provide a good, even discharge rate. Basically, you are training your batteries what to do.


I didn't set up a board, but I did set up some battery holders with 12-volt bulb holders and #194 bulbs. Here's a photo of my dishcarging setup. I made four of these discharging units.

Battery_Discharge_Units.jpg


I bought the battery holders and the 9-volt type plug in wires from Radio Shack and then went to an auto parts house and bought the bulb holders. It takes about 12 to 16 hours for each pair of batteries to get run down in these devices after I have them fully charged. I ran through this charge, discharge cycle two times with my batteries. This process is supposed to help your batteries last longer and have a bit better "staying" power. I'm not the "expert" but am only passing along what I was told.

Another suggestion I would make would be for folks who have problems with rechargeable batteries running down is to buy a cheap inverter and take your wall plug in charger along in your vehicle and plug that into the inverter and plug the charger into the FOXPRO while driving to your next stand. I'd suggest opening up the door to the battery compartment and taking the battery pack out when you are charging them though. The batteries get rather warm.
 
Hey Silverfox: No problem. As to your batteries getting you a higher reading when fully charged, they still won't hold up in cold weather and heavy calling. Furthermore, they are not 12V even when at their best, just as you indicated. The amp in that caller is designed to work at peak efficiency at 12V, so why cut it short? The total weight you are adding is negligible, when you subtract the weight of the 8aa from the weight of the 2.3AH battery like I am using. Add to that the fact that you don't have to take the back off your caller to cool the battery pack when you charge up is enough to make me never use the 8aa pack. I am carrying the case with the FX-5 in it anyway, so why not have an efficient battery at the same time? Get in touch with Snowcamoman, and he will set you totally straight on the short battery life of the 8aa pack compared to the 12V SLA. They just won't cut it.
 


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