I am currently mounting a Humminbird Helix 7 to my snowmobile. I was going to run power to the cigarette lighter on my snowmobile but am wondering if I will have issues with electrical connection bouncing around over drifts? If I hardwire do I need an inline fuse and if so what size? Should I run to a separate battery or will my snowmobile battery suffice? Thanks for an advice in advance.
The perfect setup would be to hardwire it to a lithium battery. But do whatever works best for you.
If your snowmobile has a pull start then it shouldn’t be a problem hooking to the existing battery. If it doesn’t have a pull start and you still want to hook to the main battery then definitely carry a jump pack.
Use a 3 amp fuse for a Helix 7.
I used to use a cigarette plug in and just like you are thinking I always had issues with it losing power.
Now I use this 2 prong plug for the connection and it’s solid… one end is on the Helix power cord and the other hardwired to the snowmobile battery. The 2 prong connector is actually from Battery Tender so I hook my snowmobile up to the charger/maintainer through the same connector.
I use the snowmobile battery to power my Helix 9 and it works fine. The Helix stays on all day, only moved to standby when not in use and I don’t have to charge the battery during trips. I originally had a separate battery to power the Helix and it was a PITA as I had to charge it every night after use or it’d die the next day.
Definitely use a fuse!
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I actually installed it to my riser on my sled. I had it on the dash but it did bounce around some at higher speeds. I use mine on remote trips into lake trout lakes in Ontario and love having it here. I have two plug set ups. I strap a lithium battery just behind it for fishing all day but have the other plug to run into the cig lighter for the long runs so I am not running down power. Mine has worked perfectly on the front like it is and I use the transducer just off the side and fish with it on my sled. I have the little handle bags attached that I drop the transducer in when I am running around. Good luck!
Thanks for the replies. I purchased a quick connect 4ft plug with battery terminals and went directly to the battery for this year. I can also you that to charge the battery in the summer. I may look at an additional lithium battery for future use.
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