Capt No Fish Posted January 29, 2022 Posted January 29, 2022 I have a 96 1750 Crestiner Sportfisher. It has a 12V Powerdrive trolling motor that came installed from the factory. I feel it is underpowered for this boat when the wind blows or I am on a river. I want to upgrade this spring to the 24V Terrova. Can I use my existing wiring or do I need to replace it. I was reading on some blogs that the 12V requires heavier gauge wire but that effects the amps. If I used the existing wiring will I hurt my trolling motor especially over time? Thanks Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted January 29, 2022 Super User Posted January 29, 2022 Heavier wire reduces the resistance...meaning more power is transmitted. No, you can use the same wiring long as it's large enough for the new motor...check the Minn Kota site - the motor is only gonna draw what it wants...it's if the wiring is too small (motor wants 6 gauge, you got 10 gauge installed) that you have problems. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted January 29, 2022 Super User Posted January 29, 2022 Ok, what ever. https://www.fabhabs.com/dc-cable-sizing-calculator Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted January 29, 2022 Super User Posted January 29, 2022 6 minutes ago, Way2slow said: When looking at that chart and the wire length, you have to figure that length from the battery to the TM connector and back to the battery. What that means is, on an 18' boat with the batteries in the back and TM on the bow, you are looking at a cable length of close to 36 feet. when you do the math for minimum size cable needed. The chart states that the wire extension length is the distance from the battery to the trolling motor not double that distance. Here is the link to the chart which is easier to read. https://www.minnkotamotors.com/sites/minnkotamotors_site/files/min_productmanual_batt-wire-selct-gde1.pdf 1 Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted January 29, 2022 Super User Posted January 29, 2022 Ya, it's just the single distance...they take into account the return trip of the electrons. Quote
Ppennin986 Posted January 30, 2022 Posted January 30, 2022 If the existing wiring is from factory it’s fuse protected if your new trolling motor draws to much amperage youll keep blowing fuses and risk burning the wiring up and burning up boat not something I would wanna take a chance on I would upgrade wiring also Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 30, 2022 Super User Posted January 30, 2022 3 hours ago, Capt No Fish said: I was reading on some blogs that the 12V requires heavier gauge wire but that effects the amps. Joe Rogan is doing electrical wiring now?... 3 Quote
Capt No Fish Posted January 30, 2022 Author Posted January 30, 2022 1 hour ago, Deleted account said: Joe Rogan is doing electrical wiring now?... Who is Joe Rogan? 1 hour ago, Ppennin986 said: If the existing wiring is from factory it’s fuse protected if your new trolling motor draws to much amperage youll keep blowing fuses and risk burning the wiring up and burning up boat not something I would wanna take a chance on I would upgrade wiring also I do have a circuit breaker inline. I wasn't concerned so much about the draw on the battery but rather the what the battery is pushing to the trolling motor. For the other posters, thank you, I saw the chart on the Minn Kota site. If you look the 55lb 12v motor draws more amps then the 70lb 24v motor which is the reason for a heavier gage wire. I was reading another thread on the resistance part and it's effect but it was a little over my head. Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted January 30, 2022 Super User Posted January 30, 2022 21 minutes ago, Capt No Fish said: I do have a circuit breaker inline. I wasn't concerned so much about the draw on the battery but rather the what the battery is pushing to the trolling motor. Batteries don't push power down to something...the something has to pull the power. 21 minutes ago, Capt No Fish said: For the other posters, thank you, I saw the chart on the Minn Kota site. If you look the 55lb 12v motor draws more amps then the 70lb 24v motor which is the reason for a heavier gage wire. I was reading another thread on the resistance part and it's effect but it was a little over my head. Larger diameter wire = less resistance. If the gauge wire already installed is of a lower number than what Minn Kota says you need for the Terranova - you're golden. Remember, the lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Think of it like numbered hooks... a #1 is larger than a #4...by same token, 1 gauge is larger than 4 gauge. Quote
cyclops2 Posted January 30, 2022 Posted January 30, 2022 You need to KNOW what current your present motor pulls at full power on 12 volts ? What THRUST is needed to make you happy in a breeze & current in the same direction ? The web IS not the place for sizing up what you are not sure of yet. Call the well known Trolling companies & get TECHNICAL SUPPORT from a couple of them. They will save you a ton of money & useless trolling motors. CAll them first. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted January 30, 2022 Super User Posted January 30, 2022 I deleted my last post because of too much conflicting information. However, I will say this about the post above. Any information about the current TM really means absolutely nothing, it may not have even had the right size wiring, etc for it. All that matters is what the new motor requires and that the cable, circuit breaker and power connector meet the requirements of the new motor. If not, it needs to be replaced with components that do meet that requirement. 3 1 Quote
Johnbt Posted January 30, 2022 Posted January 30, 2022 The first time I did an install using the Minn Kota chart I measured from the battery in the stern to the motor on the bow. The second time I did an install the Minn Kota repair shop in this area pointed out to me that there is small print under the chart... "Wire Extension Length refers to the distance from the batteries to the trolling motor leads." Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted January 30, 2022 Super User Posted January 30, 2022 15 hours ago, Capt No Fish said: Who is Joe Rogan? He works at Tracker marine... 1 Quote
Super User Bankc Posted February 1, 2022 Super User Posted February 1, 2022 Check the gauge currently in there. Don't assume they did it right last time. Electricity isn't well understood, and a lot of people just play with the wires until it works and then call it good. I'm the fourth owner of my house which was built in 2003. Therefore, it has passed an electrical inspection four times. It was never up to code. I had a closet light that would trip the breaker when I turned on the ceiling fan. None of my fixtures are in junction boxes. I've got a few outlets that were wired in series. They didn't even follow the standard for color coding wire. Often times, the common and hot wires were reversed, and then later down the line, reversed back again. It's been a mess as I've slowly had to rewire it all. Quote
HenryPF Posted February 4, 2022 Posted February 4, 2022 The answer is kinda dead giveaway. Do you have the correct gauge wiring in your boat? NOPE. The age of the boat tells me you most likely have 10 or 12 gauge. Just plan to pull 6 ga wiring to your batteries and call it a day. Don't forget an fuse at the batteries. Minn Kota Style 60 Amp Circuit Breaker or MotorGuide Inline Circuit Breaker 1 Quote
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