In this video i show a step-by-step guide to building a Waterproof Battery Box for powering the electronics on a kayak, boat, SIB and more! I provide an in-depth discussion on the differences between standard 12V Sealed Lead Acid batteries and Lightweight Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries for use on a kayak. I then build a waterproof battery box that can be used with any type of 12V battery (SLA, VRLA, AGM, Gel, LiFePO4). I test the battery box at the end of the video to ensure it powers my fish finder and to ensure it remains waterproof when subject to shallow submersion. This box is a great way to keep your battery dry in the wet environment of a kayak or boat!
My battery box build makes use of a plug and socket for easy connection to a device such as a fish finder, GPS chartplotter, lighting rig and other 12V accessories. The battery can be quickly and easily disconnected from the box for charging via Super Seal connectors housed within the box.
I have used a smaller version of this battery box to power the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro on my kayaks for the last 3 years and it works brilliantly. I now have a new fish finder that requires a larger battery as shown in this video.
The Lithium battery i use is an Aliant YLP Ultra-Lightweight YLP LiFePO4 battery - these come in various sizes / charge capacities and in this video i show the YLP24 (equivalent to 24aH SLA), but i have been using the YLP10 for the last few years without issue for the Dragonfly 5 Pro. These are marketed as starter motor batteries for motorbikes, however they can be used for many 12V applications. Just ensure you use a suitable charger for LiFePO4 batteries.
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