ICEGATOR Arrives

[Fishin Fireman]

TEAM ALASKA

Okay before I send an email out to ICEGATOR, here is what I have come up with for testing criteria on what we will try and test the powerhead on.  I feel the data list will be quite informative to everyone who wants to come out and participate and try it out if we are given the opportunity to do so.

The data we will try to compile for the 8" powerhead will be battery amps warm (ICEGATOR left inside overnight).
On the lake the test will consist of measuring outside temp, ice thickness, time to drill each hole averaged over total number of holes drilled, what auger bit was used and how many holes drilled per battery charge.

The second area of testing will be battery amps cold (ICEGATOR left outside overnight), outside temp before and after. On the lake the test will consist of measuring ice thickness, time to drill each hole averaged over total number of holes drilled, what auger bit was used and how many holes drilled per battery charge. Plus we will also test the insulated cover if we are sent one as well.

We will try and do this on a weekend and on a lake or pond nearer to town and out of the way from other fisherman to not disturb their fishing if we are given the go. We may even have an informal meet and greet or some icefishing stuff going on as well just so everyone isn't bored while were there.

Is there anything else that anyone can think of that might be worth recording for the testing Please let me know and I will take it under advisement for inclusion NLT than tomorrow night as I will probably be sending the email off sometime Wed morning.

Thanks for all the help and resources so far. Once we get this off it will be up to ICEGATOR to determine if it is worth it or not.

Brad

[Buck1985]

8" right? 9 amp hr. or 12 amp hr.? by auger do you mean the bit? 

[Fishin Fireman]

Yeah 8" and auger bit and hopefully the will send 12 AH if they have them. I have 7.5 right now to run my sonar and even have some 33 amp hour batteries here at home for my icehouse. and I could get 55's but they are spendy but the 33 and 55's are to big to fit on the icegator.

I just clarified the 8" is what we are testing in my previous post.

Thanks

[travisj88]

I would also ask them for 2 or 3 sets of batteries if we are going to see how it preforms with different auger bits.  That way we can kill 1 set of batteries on each bit during a session.  You figure if we have 2 or 3 bits that we try out we can test them all out in the same conditions.  If we only have 1 set of batteries we would have to wait for another day with the same temps. to do a true comparison.  It would be good to see how it would do at -20 or -30 and then one at around 0.  This might be hard to do this year though because we don't have but maybe another month of the possibility of extreme low temps.
It's just an idea,
Travis

[garnede]

I would like to see the two test stated performed at above 0 and again at least 30 below.  Also it would be nice to test the recharge time.  Is a larger/smaller auger, 6" or 10", available?  If so then I would want to test them too.

[ice junkie]

I would like to see the two test stated performed at above 0 and again at least 30 below.  Also it would be nice to test the recharge time.  Is a larger/smaller auger, 6" or 10", available?  If so then I would want to test them too.

Recharge time is 5 to 6 hours for the 12v 9ah

[travisj88]

I would like to see the two test stated performed at above 0 and again at least 30 below.  Also it would be nice to test the recharge time.  Is a larger/smaller auger, 6" or 10", available?  If so then I would want to test them too.

They said that a 10" is not recommended and it could damage the powerhead.
Travis

[Fishin Fireman]

I did ask for an extra set of 12v 12AH batteries x $25 a piece =$50 so if they do that + add in the Nils adapter and jeepnjohn gets us free shipping then we are back to the $429 like the original post. I sent them an email already to let them know we already have testing criteria but we are looking to gather more testing ideas if possible. I asked for the insulated cover, an extra set of batteries, the 24 volt charger (which the 8" comes supplied with) and the nils adapter.

I will email them tomorrow with the criteria on testing and hopefully they will fill our request and will indeed send one here. Otherwise it's back to the drawing board for more ideas

Keep your fingers crossed

[jeepinjohn]

the auger is on its way.

[Mainehazmt]

insulated cover??  never heard of that!   at 0 degrees Im sure you'll be happy I have been so far   and that was only using the 9 ah batteries    I only did a few holes at -18   At the - 20 and below I dont think anything should be left outside and it sounded really bad at  -35   but I didnt drill at that temp   I know Ill be awaiting your results as a comparison to the lovely northern Maine weather  that can be just as bad as yours

[Fishin Fireman]

Well!!!! The long waite is over and by next weekend we will be testing the icegator for ourselves here in the Interior. It was shipped on Thurs and as of the last tracking it was in Indy with an estimated delivery of Tuesday by 4:30pm. I was hoping it would have been here by this weekend but the guys were out of town and jeepnjohn couldn't get ahold of them til the other day.

At least we will have one here for the trying out, so those interested, chime on in and we'll find a local place to have at it.

Brad

[Jack Ryan]

It should be tested with as many of the augers and bits as possible that it is intended to be used with.

Can it be used with an extension for deep ice? If so you should run it for as many holes as it takes to simulate the deepest hole it is intended to cut with out stopping.

If it is not specified to keep it in an upright manner, I'd like to know if laying it down for extended lengths of time has an effect on the battery life. You never know who people will haul it or store it and one of the advantages to a battery over gas is you don't spill gas every where no matter how you haul it.

I'd like to know it is easy to use. I'd want to hand it to some one who's never used it, seen it used and say "Drill a hole in the ice." If they can figure it out then you know it is intrinsicly easy to use.

Make sure it stops as soon as you let go of it. Look for any bearing grease or any type of leakage at normal indoor storage temperatures.

How long does it take to change out those batteries after you've been on the ice 3-4 hours? Outside.

You have the 8 inch model and it is suppose to be capable of using the smaller 6 inch as well. How hard is it to switch those in the field and how long does it take in the cold and wind. Is there a lot of little tiny parts to get lost and are the hard to handle with cold fingers.

Check all parts, screws and bolts for tightness at the start of the day and then again after a full day of use or more to find if there is any potential problems there. Are any screws locktite from the factory?

When the battery is too dead to run the auger will it still run a vexilar so you could switch them out and still keep fishing?

Does it come with any way of recharging the battery from a 12 volt source like a cig lighter on a snow mobile, atv, or vehicle?

What is the fastest cutting time per foot of ice at the begining of the day and at the end of the battery power? Is there a big drop in speed or is it all ways about the same and then just drops off quickly when the battery goes down?

[Buck1985]

 I can answer a couple questions for ya.
     If you can't hold an auger upright and hit a button to make a hole, you probably shouldn't be out there.
     Should only take about 1-2 minutes to change batteries, there are 4 bolts you have to loosen, take off the cover, remove then place in new batteries, put top on and put screws back in.
     To change auger bits you simply have to take the screw out that you used to place the auger bit on the handle and put the new bit on and use the screw given for that auger bit.

 Those are the only answers I can give you as of yet from my experience.

[Jack Ryan]

I can answer a couple questions for ya.
     If you can't hold an auger upright and hit a button to make a hole, you probably shouldn't be out there.
     Should only take about 1-2 minutes to change batteries, there are 4 bolts you have to loosen, take off the cover, remove then place in new batteries, put top on and put screws back in.
     To change auger bits you simply have to take the screw out that you used to place the auger bit on the handle and put the new bit on and use the screw given for that auger bit.

 Those are the only answers I can give you as of yet from my experience.

It's easy to assume the answers but giving the equipment to some one to test is what confirms the assumption. It would be a lot easier to just mail them a couple pictures it they are to report on assumptions rather than actually perform the actual test.

That's about the only reasoning I can offer for my previous comments, based on my own experience of course.

[Mainehazmt]

It should be tested with as many of the augers and bits as possible that it is intended to be used with.

Can it be used with an extension for deep ice? If so you should run it for as many holes as it takes to simulate the deepest hole it is intended to cut with out stopping.

If it is not specified to keep it in an upright manner, I'd like to know if laying it down for extended lengths of time has an effect on the battery life. You never know who people will haul it or store it and one of the advantages to a battery over gas is you don't spill gas every where no matter how you haul it.
 
 it is a sealed battery store it like you do your vex battery  on the ice I haul it on its side on top of my otter  at home I sit the auger minus the bit in a 5 gal pail with the adapter still attached

I'd like to know it is easy to use. I'd want to hand it to some one who's never used it, seen it used and say "Drill a hole in the ice." If they can figure it out then you know it is intrinsicly easy to use.
Self explanitory!  handles    2 buttons one says forward 2nd says reverse


Make sure it stops as soon as you let go of it. Look for any bearing grease or any type of leakage at normal indoor storage temperatures.
Ive had mine since aug / sept  no issues    And Yes it does stop right away

How long does it take to change out those batteries after you've been on the ice 3-4 hours? Outside.
Changing out  what for!   If you kill the batteries your drilling swiss cheese   Ive had it out for 4 days didnt even bring the charger and no issues   A buddy had his  for the same time frame and drilled better than 70 holes and this was in less than ideal conditions  plus several people asked to use the icegators   and no instruction was given!     Changing the batteries is simple though  4 bolts with hand turnable knobs   if you ment charging  well just plug it in!   I dont have the 24 volt charger yet but have 2 of the vex type chargers  I remove the batteries and charge them manually

You have the 8 inch model and it is suppose to be capable of using the smaller 6 inch as well. How hard is it to switch those in the field and how long does it take in the cold and wind. Is there a lot of little tiny parts to get lost and are the hard to handle with cold fingers.
I have the 8" model also I have an 8" strikemaster lazer hand auger I use with it   I also have the 6" lazer hand auger  it uses the same adapter you put it on the same way as you would attach the handle to the hand auger  simple!

Check all parts, screws and bolts for tightness at the start of the day and then again after a full day of use or more to find if there is any potential problems there. Are any screws locktite from the factory?

so far this winter nothing has loosen

When the battery is too dead to run the auger will it still run a vexilar so you could switch them out and still keep fishing?
I dont know about that it isnt great battery care to completely kill any battery    But what I have done is after Im done drilling my holes I have hooked the battery to the portable dvd player for my grandson

Does it come with any way of recharging the battery from a 12 volt source like a cig lighter on a snow mobile, atv, or vehicle?

Does not come that way but you can make your own   just limit the power charge  IE: a regulator something limiting the amperage to 1 amp or less

What is the fastest cutting time per foot of ice at the begining of the day and at the end of the battery power? Is there a big drop in speed or is it all ways about the same and then just drops off quickly when the battery goes down?
HAvent timed it  but it is not much different unless ya have drilled 100 holes  lol    I will say by the time you take a jiffy strikemaster what ever type  lay it on the ice next to the icegator  say go and both go for it   the icegator will have a hole drilled or mostly drilled before the other starts

[Jack Ryan]

Thanks.
That's exactly the type of first hand knowledge of each aspect I like in an evaluation.

[Fishin Fireman]

There was a suspicious package on my front porch this afternoon

Turned out to be the ICEGATOR

Man I can't waite to get out and use this thing. You can actually hear yourself think when it runs and you can play with it in the house or anywhere else without your wife screaming at you because she can't even hear the tv or you are smoking up the house or the neighborhood.

I came seriously packaged and was fully charged and ready to go and all put together. I was told it had been boxed up for over a week or two before it was shipped. Not too heavy with the 12 v 9AH bats in but those 12 AH are brutes.


I just have to contact them and find out how to hook up the Eskimo auger bit. The hole is too small on the gator for the hex bolt and the other adapters, for the Nils and lazer hand auger don't have long enough bolts with their adapters. Have to get up and call or email in them in the morning.

I will post something later in the week to see when and where we want to meet and try it out. Any ideas, just say the word.

Think this is the "Farthest North ICEGATOR" in the World

[Mainehazmt]

LOL  take away MY glory!