Electric Steer Trolling Motors - Battery Consumption

[BassnChris]

does the electric steer trolling motors like terrova with ipilot/ MG xi5 with gps, consume much more battery power than a comparable cable steer TM? (assuming both are 24volt)

 

do they consume much battery power when spot locked ?

 

Basically, can I expect to fish a full day (8+ hrs) with fully charged batteries in proper working order.......on a windy day (15 mph winds) ?

 

I understand there are alot of variables....but trying to determine if electric steer is for me and battery consumptions is the only thing holding me back.

[Brian Needham]

1. consume equal or less amount of battery compared to cable steer

 

2. no, when spotlocked the prop is only generally doing 1 or 2 if anything....... even in a high wind or current I have only seen mine do 4

 

3. a full day and then some based on my experiecne..... I fish a TM only lake run on high for 30 minutes.....fish all day on spot lock or cruise control 2 or 3.... 30 minutes on high back to the ramp and I got plenty left. That is 36v though, but I cant see how a 24v would give you any issue.

[00 mod]

I have never run mine down past half charge on my 24v, even fishing in the river.

Jeff

[slonezp]

I ran out of juice once in 9 years of electric steer TM's(Terrova, Powerdrive, and Powerdrive V2). It was on Sturgeon Bay in 30mph winds. Even then it took 4hrs to drain the batteries on speed "10" constant on an 80lb Terrova with 3000lbs+ of boat motor fuel and fatassfishermen like myself.    

[B@ssCrzy]

Had my all last summer and never ran out of juice.  Best investment I have made so far!!!  Will never go back.  I don't even have i-pilot yet, just auto pilot and it is still that good.  Love it.

[slonezp]

Had my all last summer and never ran out of juice.  Best investment I have made so far!!!  Will never go back.  I don't even have i-pilot yet, just auto pilot and it is still that good.  Love it.

If you have a Terrova, I have a new ipilot module and controller for sale

[BassnChris]

Thank you all.........now I must convince myself to part with the money.

[WIGuide]

1. consume equal or less amount of battery compared to cable steer

 

2. no, when spotlocked the prop is only generally doing 1 or 2 if anything....... even in a high wind or current I have only seen mine do 4

 

3. a full day and then some based on my experiecne..... I fish a TM only lake run on high for 30 minutes.....fish all day on spot lock or cruise control 2 or 3.... 30 minutes on high back to the ramp and I got plenty left. That is 36v though, but I cant see how a 24v would give you any issue.

 

Not quite sure how you figure it'd use less power than a cable steer. The motor themselves are identical and draw the same amount of power, plus it has to run the electric steering motor which even if it's a very little draw, it's still more than a cable steer. Also, it has to run the electronics for auto pilot. All of that may even be fairly negligible, but to say it uses less power just doesn't make logical sense.  

[Hi Salenity]

Thank you all.........now I must convince myself to part with the money.

That's easy, go fishing with someone that has one.

[Brian Needham]

Not quite sure how you figure it'd use less power than a cable steer. The motor themselves are identical and draw the same amount of power, plus it has to run the electric steering motor which even if it's a very little draw, it's still more than a cable steer. Also, it has to run the electronics for auto pilot. All of that may even be fairly negligible, but to say it uses less power just doesn't make logical sense.  

 

since the quote was equal to or less power.... I will explain.

 

many of the electric steers (terrova, whatever MG calls their's) are newer and having the new technogly in them.... digital maximazers and all that, there is a possibilty that they use less power, or use it in such a way that a charged battery last longer on the water.

 

I dont know for sure, which is why I used the vocabulary I did.

[basscatcher8]

^{It will be nice to wory less about the trolling motor and more about fishing.}