Trolling Motor Problem

Rolling Tide · 03-19-10, 06:51 AM

My trolling motor seems to be doing something strange. It seems to drain one battery down very fast and the other battery doesn't lose the charge at all. It is like it is only pulling power from one side. Any ideas?

bassintom · 03-19-10, 08:05 AM

Sounds like you have a dead cell in the one battery. Have it fully charged and put a load test on it. If it loses it's charge, the battery is bad..And check the battery connections. A bad connection won't let the battery charge. It's not your trolling motor that's the problem. How old are the batteries?

Rolling Tide · 03-19-10, 08:48 AM

That is what i thought as well. However I have replaced all batteries with optima batteries and still doing the same thing. Here is the kicker though. I can take the boat out today and may not have the problem. Then get home charge everything up check the voltage and amps on each battery before I leave and this trip I will have the problem.

Captmikestarrett · 03-19-10, 09:20 AM

Do you have one of those gauges that can test the batterys built into the boat?

If so then one of the connections are bad.

Or if you have a four prong locking male plug on the trolling motor.....the plug is the connection between the two batteries that creates 24 volts. Those plugs will heat up and stop working at times.

On 24 volt systems some boats have two wires running to trolling motor (crossover is at battery compartment)
Some boats have four wires to the trolling motor ( if you have a 12/24 switch on peddle )
crossover is at plug..same with a three wire connector.

You most likely have a bad connector.

Now with that thought in mind I have seen some boat that will have a blue fusable link in the battery wires. No fuse just connectors and many times they are culprit.. Do not replace them just cut them out if possible.

Capt Mike

Rolling Tide · 03-19-10, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captmikestarrett

Do you have one of those gauges that can test the batterys built into the boat?

If so then one of the connections are bad.

Or if you have a four prong locking male plug on the trolling motor.....the plug is the connection between the two batteries that creates 24 volts. Those plugs will heat up and stop working at times.

On 24 volt systems some boats have two wires running to trolling motor (crossover is at battery compartment)
Some boats have four wires to the trolling motor ( if you have a 12/24 switch on peddle )
crossover is at plug..same with a three wire connector.

You most likely have a bad connector.

Now with that thought in mind I have seen some boat that will have a blue fusable link in the battery wires. No fuse just connectors and many times they are culprit.. Do not replace them just cut them out if possible.

Capt Mike

I will check that out this weekend. I may just replace that plug just to make sure it is good.

Rolling Tide · 03-24-10, 10:23 AM

well I went this past weekend and stayed out fight the rivers current and the wind and the batteries never had a problem. Got home and they all had 12 volts left. I just dont get it.

03-19-10, 06:51 AM	#1
Rolling Tide BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 48	Trolling Motor Problem My trolling motor seems to be doing something strange. It seems to drain one battery down very fast and the other battery doesn't lose the charge at all. It is like it is only pulling power from one side. Any ideas?

03-19-10, 08:05 AM	#2
bassintom BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: washington(northwest) N.J. Posts: 3,958	Sounds like you have a dead cell in the one battery. Have it fully charged and put a load test on it. If it loses it's charge, the battery is bad..And check the battery connections. A bad connection won't let the battery charge. It's not your trolling motor that's the problem. How old are the batteries? __________________ A man's gotta believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing.

03-19-10, 09:20 AM	#4
Captmikestarrett BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accokeek MD Posts: 3,315	Do you have one of those gauges that can test the batterys built into the boat? If so then one of the connections are bad. Or if you have a four prong locking male plug on the trolling motor.....the plug is the connection between the two batteries that creates 24 volts. Those plugs will heat up and stop working at times. On 24 volt systems some boats have two wires running to trolling motor (crossover is at battery compartment) Some boats have four wires to the trolling motor ( if you have a 12/24 switch on peddle ) crossover is at plug..same with a three wire connector. You most likely have a bad connector. Now with that thought in mind I have seen some boat that will have a blue fusable link in the battery wires. No fuse just connectors and many times they are culprit.. Do not replace them just cut them out if possible. Capt Mike __________________ Capt Mike Starrett light tackle guide Potomac River http://www.indianheadcharters.com

03-19-10, 08:48 AM	#3
Rolling Tide BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 48	That is what i thought as well. However I have replaced all batteries with optima batteries and still doing the same thing. Here is the kicker though. I can take the boat out today and may not have the problem. Then get home charge everything up check the voltage and amps on each battery before I leave and this trip I will have the problem.

03-24-10, 10:23 AM	#6
Rolling Tide BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 48	well I went this past weekend and stayed out fight the rivers current and the wind and the batteries never had a problem. Got home and they all had 12 volts left. I just dont get it.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)