Low voltage on Ultrex

[JeffD]

I purchased a new Ultrex and 3 Duracell AGM group 31 batteries. I rewired the boat to Minn Kota specs and everything seems correct. I put the boat in the water only to find out that I can't the foot pedal to do anything. When I switch the motor on, I have power there. I emailed Russell Marine Products, where I purchased it, and they said it sounded like a voltage problem. I put a volt meter on the leads up front to the motor and I'm only getting 29.2 volts.

I then checked the leads coming off the batteries on the back and got the same reading, so I'm not losing anything from back to front. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be?

[Tennessee Boy]

Sounds like the problem is in the back of the boat.  Check the voltage on each battery independently.  If one is low it could be a bad battery or something is wrong with one bank on your charger.  It they’re all low then I would charge them again and if they’re still low then you have a bad charger.

[Heartland]

Measure your AGM Batteries individually and see how much difference there is between them.  Almost sounds like 1 of them is bad if you have everything wired correctly.   I learned the hard way, I plug the trolling motor in and hit the button, I want to see it spin before I leave the house.  

[JeffD]

I really don't know anything about how batteries work. I hate to admit that, but it's true. I know everything is hooked up correctly and it's wired with 6 ga. wire as Minn Kota recommends. Here is my dumb question. Do the batteries lose voltage as they are used up? If that's the case, will the trolling motor not work once it gets to 29 volts like I have now? I'm sorry for the ignorance here, but I just don't understand electronics. 

[nmatthes]

7 minutes ago, JeffD said:

I really don't know anything about how batteries work. I hate to admit that, but it's true. I know everything is hooked up correctly and it's wired with 6 ga. wire as Minn Kota recommends. Here is my dumb question. Do the batteries lose voltage as they are used up? If that's the case, will the trolling motor not work once it gets to 29 volts like I have now? I'm sorry for the ignorance here, but I just don't understand electronics. 

Yes you lose voltage as the battery is used. You need to charge your batteries as soon as possible after you stop using your batteries. Do you think your batteries are fully charged? If you think they are fully charged but you only have 29 volts, you have a problem with your charger. 

[Tennessee Boy]

7 minutes ago, JeffD said:

I really don't know anything about how batteries work. I hate to admit that, but it's true. I know everything is hooked up correctly and it's wired with 6 ga. wire as Minn Kota recommends. Here is my dumb question. Do the batteries lose voltage as they are used up? If that's the case, will the trolling motor not work once it gets to 29 volts like I have now? I'm sorry for the ignorance here, but I just don't understand electronics. 

Yes that is correct.  What type of charger are you using?

[JeffD]

I just assumed they were fully charged. Bad assumption. I also just installed a new Minn Kota 4 bank Precision charger, but never plugged it in, because I assumed...

dummy!

[JeffD]

I just assumed they were fully charged. Bad assumption. I also just installed a new Minn Kota 4 bank Precision charger, but never plugged it in, because I assumed...

dummy!

Ok, I charged the batteries overnight and I'm getting 10.63 amps on each of the three batteries. 31.7 both front and back. The charger is saying they're full. Any videos I've seen say I should have 36 volts +/-.

Any ideas? 

[nmatthes]

2 hours ago, JeffD said:

I just assumed they were fully charged. Bad assumption. I also just installed a new Minn Kota 4 bank Precision charger, but never plugged it in, because I assumed...

dummy!

Ok, I charged the batteries overnight and I'm getting 10.63 amps on each of the three batteries. 31.7 both front and back. The charger is saying they're full. Any videos I've seen say I should have 36 volts +/-.

Any ideas? 

You had 10.63 directly at the battery?

[JeffD]

Yes

[nmatthes]

3 hours ago, JeffD said:

Yes

Not charged correctly. That tells me the batteries are almost fully depleted. Something is funky. Hard to pinpoint what it is without being there and seeing the setup, etc. 

[Heartland]

30 minutes ago, nmatthes said:

Not charged correctly. That tells me the batteries are almost fully depleted. Something is funky. Hard to pinpoint what it is without being there and seeing the setup, etc. 

 sealed AGM and gel cell battery voltage (fully charged) will be slightly higher in the 12.8 to 12.9 range.  So yes a minimum of 36 but actually more like 38-39 volts.   Check your charger instructions and make sure there is not a plug that needs removed or installed so your charger will realize you are using AGM's, they have a different charge sequence than reqular flooded cell batteries do.   You could check the motor itself by plugging in your battery charger, then quickly depress the foot switch to see if you get any blade rotation.   

[iabass8]

It sounds like you have a weak battery. The 36v series will only run as strong as its weakest battery even if the other 2 are perfect. Here's how to find the culprit....

 

Charge to full and take everything off the posts and let them sit overnight with nothing on them. Measure the voltage on all 3. Fully charged AGM should be 12.9 =/- .1 after sitting without use. They'll be 13+ right after you take them off the charger.

 

Buy a 20$ load tester from harbor freight. Test each battery. with a load on it. Simply just charging a bad battery doesn't anything for a bad battery. They have to be load tested. 

[JeffD]

I'm puzzled because the 4th battery, my starter, is the same exact battery and it is also reading the same 10.63.

Because that battery is not part of the 36 volt circuit. I'm wondering if it is indeed a charger problem. I'm at a loss as to what to do.

[Russ E]

3 minutes ago, JeffD said:

I'm puzzled because the 4th battery, my starter, is the same exact battery and it is also reading the same 10.63.

Because that battery is not part of the 36 volt circuit. I'm wondering if it is indeed a charger problem. I'm at a loss as to what to do.

are you sure your tester is accurate. if your starting battery was at 10.63. the electronics would not work and the outboard would not start.

[JeffD]

That's what I'm wondering. I've disconnected all the batteries for the night and I'm going to try and get another voltmeter tomorrow. I hope that's what it is because I'm really scrambling.

[Ski213]

I’m not real familiar with those batteries or that particular charger. Just throwing this out there in case, are you selecting agm mode on the charger? It’s my understanding that you have to make the selection on those. 

[JeffD]

Yes, all 4 are set for AGM. I have to check with a new voltmeter tomorrow and then if that's not the problem I'll have to check the charger.

Thanks for all your help guys.

I'll keep you posted as to what I find.

[Ski213]

Just another thought. Before I bought another meter I would check a known good battery (truck, mower, whatever) with the one you have. If it seems off then maybe time for a new meter.
 

Don’t know what electronics you have but most graphs you can navigate to a screen that will display voltage they’re getting. If that agrees with the meter then it’s something other than the meter I would think.  Based on what you’ve said I would think it’s something else. For sure keep

us updated. 

[JeffD]

Ok boys, here's what I have today. Checked the batteries with another voltmeter and low and behold, all four batteries are at 12.9 and show fully charged. So my original problem was I couldn't get the foot pedal on my Ultrex to respond and Minn Kota said it sounded like a voltage problem. Hence, the fiasco began. 

So, with the batteries full I still can't get the foot control to work. I did try the remote and it works. Has anyone else has foot control problems with the Ultrex and if so, what was the remedy?

And, thanks again for all the help yesterday. 

[Ski213]

Hopefully somebody will be along with some help. I don’t have an Ultrex so I’ve got nothing there. If MK didn’t know that it will work with the remote but not the pedal I’d hit them up again with the updated info. Sounds like you have eliminated the batteries and charger as the issue though so that’s progress. 

[JeffD]

Got in touch with Minn Kota customer service this morning and explained the situation. I also told them I'm in a tournament in less than 2 weeks. The nice young lady told me it sounded like a circuit board in the pedal. She said it should be a quick fix and have me the warranty station in my area to get it repaired. The repair place told me the repair wouldn't take any time, but they are out 3 months and that's only if they can get the part. Unbelievable!

I then sent an email to Minn Kota explaining my situation and dismay, but crickets so far.

If I was fishing tournaments with a Minn Kota shirt I would think they would take care of this immediately!

Really disappointed with Minn Kota.

[Heartland]

They are have having big problems with Ultrex. Lots of posts online with similar stories.

[Ski213]

Hopefully they’ll make it right. I’ve heard generally good things about their customer service. 
 

Did you purchase it from a store where you could just exchange it given that it’s brand new and non functional?

[Russ E]

bought mine 3 years ago at the local Cabelas,

2 weeks after I purchased it, my ultrex went bonkers on spotlock and overtavelled. it broke the steering cable and the pedal went limp.  it was fixed within a week. Cabelas replaced the cable and a sensor on the head and It has worked fine ever since.

Haven't heard of many problems lately. Most online posts I have seen with Ultrex issues, are over 2 years old. The first year it came out was hit and miss.

if you have a cabelas close by, most of their boat shops are Minn Kota warranty repair shops.

Like @Ski213 mentioned, I would try to take it back to where you purchased it for an exchange.