36V Trolling Motor Question

[fishizzle]

I thought I'd ask the real experts so here goes.

I am installing a 36v trolling motor but my plug and recepticle are 12/24v. 2 companys told me it was ok but I don't believe them. Anyone know the real answer? Thanks in advance

BTW its a 24v system now

Jim

[Team_Dougherty]

You will be fine. Just make sure you get the polarity right.

[Bass_Fanatic]

The plug and recepticle have nothing to do with the voltage, as long as the wire is big enough for the current, which it is. Just add another battery into the series and you now have a 36v plug and recepticle. Try this, add a 3rd battery in the series and get a volt meter and read the voltage at the plug. If it shows 36 volts then you have nothing to worry about.

DO NOT run the trolling motor on 24v. It WILL tear it up!!

[Way2slow]

As long as the 36 volt is on two lugs that were used for the 24v, it will work.

With that said, I would not run it with the 12/24 plug for a number of reason. First look on the plug/receptical and see the amp rating, most likely its only about 35 amps, that motor is going to be pulling way more than that on high. This will overheat the plug/receptical and after several minutes of max power, you may start seing smoke rising from it.

Another reason is the way it's wire from the factory with the 12/24 volt system, you wiring length is doubled when running in 24 or 36 (in your case) mode.

Also, check you circuit breakers, seriously doubt they are 50 amp, unless someone has upgraded them.

If you look, most likely you have two black cables and two red cable going from the battery to the 12/24 receptical in the bow. I take that factory receptical out and connect both black cables to the negative side of an SB-50 connector and the two red cables to the positive side of the SB-50. You will also need to install a SB-50 on the TM. In the battery box, I connect the two reds to the same positive termnal so they are in parallel and connect the two blacks to the same negative terminal so they are also in parallel. You will need one 50/60 amp ciruit breaker. It can be connected to either the positive or negative but you need it on one of them. Also, I serously doubt you are going to find one of those little breakers in a 50 or 60 amp, so expect to come off a few bucks for the breaker. By connecting the cables in parallel, it's the same as upgrading to the next size larger cable.