Trolling Motor Wiring and Tripping Breaker

I have a 93 PII, with a 80lb MG Tour Digital and recently at an electric only lake, have my breaker for just 1 of my batteries pop, when I put it on high to move across the lake. It is always the same battery, (Both a new this spring). It is a 40 amp breaker, and I just have to cruise at 3/4 speed to not trip it. I think the breaker is bad, and I when I buy the replacement I plan to use a 50amp, as Ive read on here is a good idea. Sounds simple enough.2nd part of my question, and seemingly more complicated. In the rear, I dont have a jumper connection from 1 battery to another ("+" of one to "-" of the other). I have 4 wires running the length of the boat from the batteries to the TM plug. My question is, wouldnt it be better to jump positive to negative between the two with a 12-18" jumper, and then double up the positive wires and the negative wires, to the remaining open terminals? It is a 12/24 plug, and still the stock plug, from what I can tell, but not entirely sure. My assumption is that I essentially am running a 20x2 = 40 jumper and losing voltage the whole way.... Any advice, tips, explanation, would be greatly appreciated!Thanks, MarkLast edited by WMFisher on June 5th, 2014, 6:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 11 months ago by Jones TrollingMotor.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

Author

Posts
June 5, 2014 at 7:19 pm #448986

dbasketman
Participant

50 Amp. b reaker will fix that.Do not jump in the rear if it has the jumper plug from the factory, it has a parallel in the plug, and converts to 24v there at the plug , I think. You have wiring that is designed to hold ample amperage to the front of the boat.

June 5, 2014 at 7:21 pm #448987

GRR884
Participant

I have the same trolling and I have 50 amp breakers. Im wondering if the 40 isnt slightly undersized? Every time you trip that breaker you lose capacity and after a couple trips they should be replaced. Depending on many times yours tripped its not close to 40 amps now and itll seem like your problem is getting worse.Last edited by GRR884 on June 5th, 2014, 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

June 5, 2014 at 7:23 pm #448988

GRR884
Participant

Ah..Doug was quicker on the trigger. lol

June 5, 2014 at 7:34 pm #448989

WMFisher
Participant

Thanks Gentlemen! Yeah it happened probably 5-8 times now, as it can be a long way back to the ramp on electric only ramps, so I was pushing it as close as I could as the storm was coming. Funny as other boats had the same idea, and kept watching me start coasting with no juice, run to the back, reset the breaker, start up, and repeat.I will definitely replace both with 50Amp breakers and be done with it.Figured the plug was jumping them together at the plug. Guess I could take a voltmeter to the wires on the deck side of the plug and I should see 24volts. Figured the factory has the best setup even back in 93. Not much has changed in the volt/amp/ electric world since then, although these breakers may need to be replaced.Very happy to be in Cat. 1st glass boat, and cant see myself in another brand… Bought it in Oct 2011, and been great to me!

June 5, 2014 at 8:44 pm #448990

billius
Participant

It probably is the breaker. I kept having a breaker trip on the Baycat I had for a while. I found it was corrosion in the wire, right where it attached to the battery. I put new wire on and solved the problem. I always carry spare new breakers in my boat, just in case.

June 5, 2014 at 10:05 pm #448991

pchapin
Participant

My 99 Classic had the same thing occur when I had a 24 V. If I used max to move, it would trip the breaker. The wire was pretty warm the times it happened. I use the same breaker with my 36 V and it no longer trips. Not sure the amp. They are the stock that came with the boat as far as I know.

June 6, 2014 at 7:28 pm #448992

BIGCATTER
Participant

Deck side of plug will have 2 grounds and 2 hots . — 12 volts each set . — T/M side of plug is where the bus bar is .

June 6, 2014 at 8:52 pm #448993

Jones TrollingMotor
Participant

If it has 6ga wire, you need a 50 or 60A breaker on each of the positive wires feeding the trolling motor. Your system is designed to make the series connection (not parallel as mentioned above) in the plug. You need to check the plug and make sure ALL the screws are tight — that includes the ones holding the jumper strip. These were designed before onboard chargers, and with this system, purchasing a red charge plug and attaching the charger to it would allow the external charger to charge both batteries by simply plugging in the trolling motor plug.JohnJones Trolling Motor Services870 773 3474Motorguide/MinnKota/PowerPole/Lowrance/Humminbird
Author

Posts

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login Register