Melting battery posts

[B-Dozer]

  On 7/27/2018 at 7:41 PM, BeardedBassGuy said:

Yeah that's what is is, an everstart. 

 

The TM is connected right to the battery. Just a little 10 ft jon, 

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Everstart are good batteries. Made by Exide 

[BeardedBassGuy]

  On 7/28/2018 at 2:53 AM, haggard said:

 

Do you have an inline fuse or circuit breaker between the TM and the battery? Preferably as close to the battery as possible. This is a must have, not optional. Alternative: fire.

 

If inline fuse clears or circuit breaker flips, there may be a short upstream towards (or in) the TM.

 

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I have no idea about the inline fuse or circuit breaker. What do they normally go for, and how do you install it?

[haggard]

  On 7/31/2018 at 12:23 AM, BeardedBassGuy said:

I have no idea about the inline fuse or circuit breaker. What do they normally go for, and how do you install it?

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The basic idea is that instead of connecting the device (trolling motor etc) directly to the battery, you want to insert a fuse that will break and cut off power before the cable overheats and catches fire. You just want to essentially cut the positive cable to (between battery and trolling motor) say a foot from the battery terminal, and insert a fuse between the two cut ends. Right in line, in series. Various ways to make the connections - solder them, crimp them, bolt them down, etc. Depends on the fuse housing. There are lots of different models out there. If you go to your marine shop and tell them you need an inline fuse to mount near the battery, that should be enough for them to steer you in the right direction.

 

You will need to the recommended fuse rating for your TM. You should be able to get this from your TM specs. Once you've put the appropriate fuse holder inline, just make sure you use the recommended fuse rating. If your TM says use a 20 amp fuse, don't use a 30 (cable could overheat).

 

Connecting any power hungry device directly to a battery without a fuse is Not Good. All fine until something goes wrong, and then it goes very wrong, very fast.

 

I'll dig up the info on the circuit breaker I installed for my TM. I just bought the breaker at my local marine shop - probably cost $30+ or so, and I just had to solder ring lugs on each of the cut cable ends (you could also just crim them), then bolted those ring logs to the circuit breaker, and installed the breaker through the sheet metal on the boat. I might have photos somewhere... will check.

 

 

[BeardedBassGuy]

  On 7/31/2018 at 12:38 AM, haggard said:

The basic idea is that instead of connecting the device (trolling motor etc) directly to the battery, you want to insert a fuse that will break and cut off power before the cable overheats and catches fire. You just want to essentially cut the positive cable to (between battery and trolling motor) say a foot from the battery terminal, and insert a fuse between the two cut ends. Right in line, in series. Various ways to make the connections - solder them, crimp them, bolt them down, etc. Depends on the fuse housing. There are lots of different models out there. If you go to your marine shop and tell them you need an inline fuse to mount near the battery, that should be enough for them to steer you in the right direction.

 

You will need to the recommended fuse rating for your TM. You should be able to get this from your TM specs. Once you've put the appropriate fuse holder inline, just make sure you use the recommended fuse rating. If your TM says use a 20 amp fuse, don't use a 30 (cable could overheat).

 

Connecting any power hungry device directly to a battery without a fuse is Not Good. All fine until something goes wrong, and then it goes very wrong, very fast.

 

I'll dig up the info on the circuit breaker I installed for my TM. I just bought the breaker at my local marine shop - probably cost $30+ or so, and I just had to solder ring lugs on each of the cut cable ends (you could also just crim them), then bolted those ring logs to the circuit breaker, and installed the breaker through the sheet metal on the boat. I might have photos somewhere... will check.

 

 

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Alright thanks, appreciate the answer I'll have to look into that.