Trolling Motor/battery Problem, Help

[MrTexasRigs]

Today was the first day out on the water with our "new" boat. It's only powered by a trolling motor. It is a Motorguide Varimax 24v 75lb thrust motor and I have two EverStart Maxx Marine 29 deep cycle twelve volt batteries. We were out for about 2 hours (first time with batteries and trolling motor, they are all new) and the motor stopped working. The digital display on the trolling motor still worked, but the motor did not function. The circuit was correct and clean. I went home and charged the one battery and once complete I used a multimeter and got a reading of about 13.30 right after charging, the battery that was not charged yet gave a reading of about 12.4 (I thought 12.6 was normal.) When we hooked both of them up to the charger it showed a low battery percentage, but the volts were still "normal" (according to my multimeter), I assume. I am charging the second battery right now. What do you think my problem is the battery or motor, what should I do? We had to be towed back in on our first day on the boat...what fun. Also I'm using a DieHard charger on a fast 10a charge, is this correct or do I need a different charger/setting. Also do Deep Cycle batteries lose there charges and how fast. Do I need something to maintain the battery at all times?

 

Sorry for all of the questions, I'm kind of agitated and freaking out since it had to happen the first time ever out.

 

Thanks,

Zach

[WRB]

Do you have a 12 volt circuit breaker for each battery? Check the trolling motor at the on-off switch, new motor a wire could have fallen off.

12v batteries fully charged are about 13v, your batteries are OK.

Amp hour rating means the number of amps drawn per hour. Look at your trolling motor amp draw at various speeds, divide the amp draw into 50% amp hours and that is about the number you can expect to operate effectively. The trolling motor shouldn't stop, it should run slower before stopping.

Tom

[MrTexasRigs]

Do you have a 12 volt circuit breaker for each battery? Check the trolling motor at the on-off switch, new motor a wire could have fallen off.

12v batteries fully charged are about 13v, your batteries are OK.

Amp hour rating means the number of amps drawn per hour. Look at your trolling motor amp draw at various speeds, divide the amp draw into 50% amp hours and that is about the number you can expect to operate effectively. The trolling motor shouldn't stop, it should run slower before stopping.

Tom

No, I do not have a circuit breaker, it said it wasn't required, I purchased a 50 amp circuit breaker, it was recommended but not installed yet. There is not really an on/off switch, you just turn the and and it "clicks" on or off

[aavery2]

how do you have the batteries setup, are they in a parallel or series circuit. Those batteries should easily last 8hrs without any problems. I recommend an onboard type battery charger as they have programs built in to run your batteries through a proper charging cycle. Good luck.

[MrTexasRigs]

how do you have the batteries setup, are they in a parallel or series circuit. Those batteries should easily last 8hrs without any problems. I recommend an onboard type battery charger as they have programs built in to run your batteries through a proper charging cycle. Good luck.

I'm not too sure of the problem, but it is two batteries, with the + and - crossed with a cable and then the motor cables go to the one positive and negative. Sorry im not too electrical lol

[aavery2]

I'm not too sure of the problem, but it is two batteries, with the + and - crossed with a cable and then the motor cables go to the one positive and negative. Sorry im not too electrical lol

That would be a series circuit and is how it should be setup for a 24V system. Might charge the batteries good with your charger, and then take them and have them load tested, it would eliminate 1 possibility. Also are you using a heavy gauge wire from the batteries to the trolling motor?

[MrTexasRigs]

That would be a series circuit and is how it should be setup for a 24V system. Might charge the batteries good with your charger, and then take them and have them load tested, it would eliminate 1 possibility. Also are you using a heavy gauge wire from the batteries to the trolling motor?

im using the cables already attached to the trolling motor to connect it, and the "series" cable is size 4, not 6 so it's heavier

[aavery2]

im using the cables already attached to the trolling motor to connect it, and the "series" cable is size 4, not 6 so it's heavier

Get those batteries checked so you can eliminate anything bad with them. Do you have anything else connected to the same batteries? If the batteries check good, you got to start thinking about a bad motor.

[TorqueConverter]

What do you think my problem is the battery or motor, what should I do? We had to be towed back in on our first day on the boat...what fun. Also I'm using a DieHard charger on a fast 10a charge, is this correct or do I need a different charger/setting. Also do Deep Cycle batteries lose there charges and how fast. Do I need something to maintain the battery at all times?

 

 

At this stage I'd be more likely to think that the problem is battery related rather than motor related.  10a charge should be fine.  What you cannot expect to do is go long periods of time without charging and the expect the batteries to function properly.  Batteries require a maintenance charge or a trickle charge to keep them in operation over long periods of inactivity.

 

You could have an electrical issue with the motor but you'd need to verify that the motor suddenly stopped and did not slowly loose thrust.  I'd hook the motor back up to the batteries and run the motor to see if it spins.  

[quanjig]

Check and see if you have had anything happen to the prop sheer pin as well! Weird that it just completely stopped operating?

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Wire up that circuit breaker before you start running the motor again. I just burnt out my old trusty MotorGuide when I bypassed the fuse due to not having a replacement while on the water. Dumbest thing I've done in a while, and that's no small feat. 

[MrTexasRigs]

Well hooked the motor up in my basement, and no go. It's not the batteries, they are all reading above 12.6 v. Time to call MotorGuide and possibly take it to a service center about 2-3 hours away... Let me just say again, first time out with the motor....

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Well hooked the motor up in my basement, and no go. It's not the batteries, they are all reading above 12.6 v. Time to call MotorGuide and possibly take it to a service center about 2-3 hours away... Let me just say again, first time out with the motor....

Sorry to hear that. I learned that lesson more than once. The fuse/circuit breaker is there to prevent this from happening. Hope they can fix it without any cost to you.

 

On a side note I bought my latest TM at a rather large well known fishing retailer (won't say who.) It was on sale and I got a great deal. I had been using fuses up until that point, but decided I'd like to get a circuit breaker this time around. I asked if they had the 50A and the clerk told me no, then proceeded to recommend that I get a higher rated circuit breaker (100A if I remember correctly.)   I tried to explain to him how this is not sound advice for customers, but it was pointless. Needless to say they wanted $60 for them, so I would've passed either way. Got mine at a marina in Baltimore for $7. Works great and it's 50A. 

 

And for you MinnKota people... I've seen them burn out too.

[MrTexasRigs]

Sorry to hear that. I learned that lesson more than once. The fuse/circuit breaker is there to prevent this from happening. Hope they can fix it without any cost to you.

 

On a side note I bought my latest TM at a rather large well known fishing retailer (won't say who.) It was on sale and I got a great deal. I had been using fuses up until that point, but decided I'd like to get a circuit breaker this time around. I asked if they had the 50A and the clerk told me no, then proceeded to recommend that I get a higher rated circuit breaker (100A if I remember correctly.)   I tried to explain to him how this is not sound advice for customers, but it was pointless. Needless to say they wanted $60 for them, so I would've passed either way. Got mine at a marina in Baltimore for $7. Works great and it's 50A. 

 

And for you MinnKota people... I've seen them burn out too.

The MotorGuide recommends a 50a manual reset. We bought one about $10 except it is automatic, I haven't installed it. I doubt this would fix my problem, and is the automatic one alright, what do you think?

[Snakehead Whisperer]

The MotorGuide recommends a 50a manual reset. We bought one about $10 except it is automatic, I haven't installed it. I doubt this would fix my problem, and is the automatic one alright, what do you think?

Yes, the automatic reset will protect your trolling motor. Although it would be preferable to have a manual reset. If things are functioning properly you should only have to switch a manual breaker on once per outing. Your warranty may be void if you don't have the specified breaker installed, however.

 

The circuit breaker is important to have hooked up at all times as it prevents current overload to your trolling motor, which can fry it. 

 

I'm not too sure of the problem, but it is two batteries, with the + and - crossed with a cable and then the motor cables go to the one positive and negative. Sorry im not too electrical lol

Maybe I read this wrong, but did you literally cross the + and - wires between the terminals? This is not how you hook up batteries in series or in parallel. If so, you're lucky you didn't get shocked or start a fire. At best you've shorted the batteries. 

 

If this is what happened the circuit breaker would've protected the trolling motor, but not the batteries. 

 

Sorry, but the wording is ambiguous. Please disregard if this doesn't apply.

 

Either way I am glad that nobody was hurt and hope you get it sorted out quickly.

[MrTexasRigs]

Yes, the automatic reset will protect your trolling motor. Although it would be preferable to have a manual reset. If things are functioning properly you should only have to switch it on once per outing. 

 

The circuit breaker is an important to have hooked up at all times as it prevents current overload to your trolling motor, which can fry it. 

 

Did you literally cross the + and - wires between the terminals? This is not how you hook up batteries in series or in parallel. If so, you're lucky you didn't get shocked or start a fire. 

 

If this is what happened the circuit breaker would've protected the trolling motor. 

No, it is a correct circuit. The guy at the Marine shop told me how, and when we got towed in that guy said it was right, and I found a diagram lol

[MrTexasRigs]

it's a positive from one battery crossed to the negative on the other.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

it's a positive from one battery crossed to the negative on the other.

Ok, that's correct. I have an active imagination, and I've seen some pretty crazy stuff in my life.

 

MotorGuide makes a good trolling motor. My last one lasted me forever and had been abused since day one. I hope you can resurrect yours.

[aavery2]

Yes, the automatic reset will protect your trolling motor. Although it would be preferable to have a manual reset. If things are functioning properly you should only have to switch a manual breaker on once per outing. Your warranty may be void if you don't have the specified breaker installed, however.

 

The circuit breaker is important to have hooked up at all times as it prevents current overload to your trolling motor, which can fry it. 

 

Maybe I read this wrong, but did you literally cross the + and - wires between the terminals? This is not how you hook up batteries in series or in parallel. If so, you're lucky you didn't get shocked or start a fire. At best you've shorted the batteries. 

 

If this is what happened the circuit breaker would've protected the trolling motor, but not the batteries. 

 

Sorry, but the wording is ambiguous. Please disregard if this doesn't apply.

 

Either way I am glad that nobody was hurt and hope you get it sorted out quickly.

This is exactly how you hook up a series circuit.  It's how you get 24V from two 12V batteries, much the same as when you stack batteries in a flashlight they are + to -.  A parallel circuit is when you hook + to + and - to - , your voltage stays the same but available amperage increases.   

[Snakehead Whisperer]

This is exactly how you hook up a series circuit.  It's how you get 24V from two 12V batteries, much the same as when you stack batteries in a flashlight they are + to -.  A parallel circuit is when you hook + to + and - to - , your voltage stays the same but available amperage increases.    Sorry but your off base here.

I read it as he crossed the negative terminal with the positive terminal of the same battery, thus shorting it. Just trying to cover every conceivable scenario. Apparently my reading comprehension isn't what it used to be.

[aavery2]

I read it as he crossed the negative terminal with the positive terminal of the same battery, thus shorting it. Just trying to cover every conceivable scenario. Apparently my reading comprehension isn't what it used to be.

It happens to the best of us, no harm no foul.

[MrTexasRigs]

Yeah I can see how you read that wrong lol. Talked to MotorGuide, they said it's covered by warranty and to take it to a certified repair shop, too bad it is about 2 hours away. Hopefully if i do take it, I get it back quickly as well.

[aavery2]

Yeah I can see how you read that wrong lol. Talked to MotorGuide, they said it's covered by warranty and to take it to a certified repair shop, too bad it is about 2 hours away. Hopefully if i do take it, I get it back quickly as well.

Man I hate that for you, but a least your not going to be out a bunch of money.  Kind of sounds like there may have been a short in the armature windings, but could have been a bunch of things I guess.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Yeah I can see how you read that wrong lol. Talked to MotorGuide, they said it's covered by warranty and to take it to a certified repair shop, too bad it is about 2 hours away. Hopefully if i do take it, I get it back quickly as well.

I'm glad they're taking care of it. Too bad they're not closer, but at least they're willing to fix it.

[Ratherbfishing]

Quick thought:  Is the motor turning freely?  Perhaps you got into some fishing line that is jamming up the works.