Maximum Output of Peak Power for Two Backpack Electrofishers Operated at Various Pulsed Direct Current Duty Cycles and Water Conductivity Levels

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to (1) determine the maximum output of peak power for two backpack electrofishers (Smith-Root Model LR-24; ETS Electrofishing Model ABP-3) at various pulsed DC (PDC) duty cycles and over a wide range of resistance levels and (2) use those results to develop a generalized model for predicting the maximum output of peak power available from backpack electrofishers for various water conductivity levels and duty cycles. The electrofishers were operated to maximum capacity under controlled conditions for water conductivities of 19, 155, and 610 μS/cm and for PDC duty cycles of 15, 25, and 50%. The results agreed closely with those expected based upon the manufacturer ratings for these backpack electrofishers and provided a graphical and analytical methodology for predicting backpack electrofisher capabilities over a range of water conductivity levels when operated at duty cycles recommended for electrofishing. Both electrofishers produced square wave PDC at low water conductivities. At higher water conductivities, the waveforms for both electrofishing units deviated from square pulses as they approached shutoff loading, but the response varied between electrofishers.

Received April 12, 2010; accepted February 9, 2011

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NCTC for use of their electrofishers, test equipment, and laboratory facilities. We especially thank Matthew Miller of the NCTC laboratory for providing us with de-ionized water for adjusting water conductivity. We are grateful to the three anonymous reviewers who invested considerable time and made many helpful suggestions to improve this paper. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.