Circuit breaker on trolling motor battery

[Jeremy M]

Newbie here so please forgive my ignorance. I just bought a trolling motor and the seller gave me a battery as well. The battery (lead acid) has a small device on the positive terminal which I believe is a circuit breaker. (The seller didn't know what it was as he said he never used the motor.) I'm wondering how does this work? I don't see any switches on it. Do I attach the trolling motor positive wire to this device? Thanks for your help.

[gulfcaptain]

So hard to tell in that picture.  If it is a breaker  should have a reset on it as well. Yes you would attach the positive wire to it. It is to keep your wires from overheating and a break in the circuit to not burn up the wires or motor.  But hard to tell from your angle. 

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, gulfcaptain said:

So hard to tell in that picture.  If it is a breaker  should have a reset on it as well. Yes you would attach the positive wire to it. It is to keep your wires from overheating and a break in the circuit to not burn up the wires or motor.  But hard to tell from your angle. 

Looks like an auto-reset breaker...those will self trip back to closed when the condition that caused them to trip open is 'fixed'.

 

I prefer manual re-set breakers myself.

 

23 minutes ago, Jeremy M said:

Do I attach the trolling motor positive wire to this device? Thanks for your help.

I would check the model number and make sure that the breaker is rated for the TM. Should be 'imprinted' on the breaker case...they might even have the AMP rating there.

[gulfcaptain]

Have the manual one on mine as well. 

[Jeremy M]

It reads SHORTSTOP 12V Z45 50A. No brand nor model #.

 

Here is the picture of the other side. The copper screw is labeled BAT which has the plate connector that was connected to the positive terminal on the battery. The silver screw is labeled AUX. I'm assuming I connect the trolling motor positive wire to this AUX connection.

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, Jeremy M said:

It reads SHORTSTOP 12V Z45 50A. No brand nor model #.

 

Here is the picture of the other side. The copper screw is labeled BAT which has the plate connector that was connected to the positive terminal on the battery. The silver screw is labeled AUX. I'm assuming I connect the trolling motor positive wire to this AUX connection.

 

Ya, the Shortstops are auto-rest breakers

 

Personally,  I would replace it with a manual. Added benefit of a manual is you can use it as your cut-off switch as well

[Jeremy M]

58 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya, the Shortstops are auto-rest breakers

 

Personally,  I would replace it with a manual. Added benefit of a manual is you can use it as your cut-off switch as well

 

Many thanks for your advice!

[Deleted account]

I hate to be negative, but the current state of electrical know how is shocking, I'm positive that we should conduct some sort of training,  but I'm sure that idea will meet with resistance...

[Bankc]

14 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I hate to be negative, but the current state of electrical know how is shocking, I'm positive that we should conduct some sort of training,  but I'm sure that idea will meet with resistance...

I don't have the capacitance to sit through a lengthy training session.  

[WRB]

That is automotive not marine 50 amp circuit breaker.

The battery doesn’t appear to be a marine deep cycle 12V to me. Load test the battery to determine if it’s worth fooling around with.

Tom

[Maggiesmaster]

I’ve got a t0 amp fuse instead of a circuit battery on my system.  Seems to work ok.

Just now, Maggiesmaster said:

I’ve got a t0 amp fuse instead of a circuit battery on my system.  Seems to work ok.

‘60’ amp!

[MN Fisher]

16 minutes ago, Maggiesmaster said:

I’ve got a t0 amp fuse instead of a circuit battery on my system.  Seems to work ok.

‘60’ amp!

Reason I installed breakers on the F-9 - manually tripping them means they function as my cut-off switches as well. With a fuse, I'd have to install another component in the chain.

[GRiver]

Erayco

Erayco 50 Amp Circuit Breaker with Manual Reset for Car Marine Trolling Motors Boat ATV Manual Power Protect for Audio System Fuse, 12V-48VDC, Waterproof (50A)Erayco 50 Amp Circuit Breaker with Manual Reset for Car Marine Trolling Motors Boat ATV Manual
Amazon has these for $20.00 it’s what I put on mine.

[Jeremy M]

On 5/16/2022 at 5:54 PM, WRB said:

That is automotive not marine 50 amp circuit breaker.

The battery doesn’t appear to be a marine deep cycle 12V to me. Load test the battery to determine if it’s worth fooling around with.

Tom

The battery is a marine deep cycle 12v 100ah.

 

On 5/26/2022 at 6:27 AM, GRiver said:

Erayco

Erayco 50 Amp Circuit Breaker with Manual Reset for Car Marine Trolling Motors Boat ATV Manual Power Protect for Audio System Fuse, 12V-48VDC, Waterproof (50A)Erayco 50 Amp Circuit Breaker with Manual Reset for Car Marine Trolling Motors Boat ATV Manual
Amazon has these for $20.00 it’s what I put on mine.

I think I will get this. Thanks!

 

[Jeremy M]

I have another question for you fine folks. Using the battery I have been describing (12v 100ah lead acid) with a 55lb Minn Kota Endura Max transom motor on a jon/row boat, how long will the battery last? I know there are various factors, but in general, should it last for an all day fishing outing as I won’t be running the motor constantly?

[padlin]

In short, yes if the battery is in good condition. You might be able to get it load tested at an auto parts store.

 

Can you tell how old the battery is, and is it a Deep Cycle? Average life is somewhere around 5 years, I've gotten up to 7 or 8 on a deep cycle.

 

There is an battery level indicator on the Minn Kota, but I've not paid any attn to it so don't know how valid it is.

 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Jeremy M said:

I have another question for you fine folks. Using the battery I have been describing (12v 100ah lead acid) with a 55lb Minn Kota Endura Max transom motor on a jon/row boat, how long will the battery last? I know there are various factors, but in general, should it last for an all day fishing outing as I won’t be running the motor constantly?

This isn't a full answer - but something to give you an idea.

 

My old canoe I had a 75ah battery in that ran my 30# Endura, my Garmin Striker 7cv, my Galaxy Tab and two action cameras. While I did occasionally do full-speed runs to get to spots, mostly it was tooting around at 2 or 3 to a spot to anchor. I be out for 4-5 hours, come home, and my charger would show 60%-75% full - all depending on how many/long my 5-speed runs were.

[Bankc]

4 hours ago, Jeremy M said:

I have another question for you fine folks. Using the battery I have been describing (12v 100ah lead acid) with a 55lb Minn Kota Endura Max transom motor on a jon/row boat, how long will the battery last? I know there are various factors, but in general, should it last for an all day fishing outing as I won’t be running the motor constantly?

That motor draws about 52 amps at full speed.  So with a 100 amp hour battery, you'll get just under two hours of full speed.  At speed setting 4, it should draw about 26 amps per hour.  Basically, every step down on the speed dial will cut the previous speed setting's amp draw in half, or there abouts.  So 2 hours on 5, 4 hours on 4, 8 hours on 3, 16 hours on 2, and 32 hours on 1... approximately.  

 

If the battery is old, it won't hold as much charge.  Also, how well it was maintained will effect it's life and how much charge it can carry.  And on a lead acid, you're not supposed to drain it past half way (because it'll significantly shorten it's life), so it would be wise to cut all of those times in half, and not drain the battery too far.   Plus if it's sat for long periods of time with a low charge, it'll sulfate and loose capacity, as well as if the water and acid ratio hasn't been maintained.  

 

As you can tell, how long the battery lasts largely depends on how fast you run it and what the battery's history is.  In general, most people can get a full day's fishing out of a100ah battery in good shape.  But if you're making a long run at full speed to get to your spot, that'll have a huge impact.  And if the battery is pretty beat up inside, that too will have a huge impact.  So there's just no telling until you try yourself.  Always have a backup plan in place incase the battery dies.  

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, Bankc said:

Always have a backup plan in place incase the battery dies.  

Seachoice 71090 Emergency Multi-Purpose Telescoping Boat Hook and Paddle,

[Jeremy M]

Thanks guys - all of your responses are much appreciated! I was told the battery is a couple years old and was never used. When I first got it, I tried to charge it but nothing was happening so I was initially worried. But I hooked it up to the trolling motor in my garage and it worked fine. I will be taking them out next week on the water for the first time so we'll see what happens. Won't be going to a large body so no problem to paddle back if needed ? 

[padlin]

If you own a multimeter you can check to DC voltage before and after your trip to determine how much juice you used. Need to check it when you are NOT underway, let it sit for a bit before testing.

 

 

[Jeremy M]

On 6/17/2022 at 2:03 PM, padlin said:

If you own a multimeter you can check to DC voltage before and after your trip to determine how much juice you used. Need to check it when you are NOT underway, let it sit for a bit before testing.

 

 

Thanks for the tip! I ordered one and it’s on the way…

[MN Fisher]

55 minutes ago, Jeremy M said:

Thanks for the tip! I ordered one and it’s on the way…

Something cheap or something worth the money?

 

Multimeters are precision instruments - you definitely get what you pay for there.

 

I've got a Victor VC-97 that I've had for 20 years - still works like a champ and does everything I could ask of it (I have done hobby electronics, reason I got it)

Klein also makes a good VC-97

 

Around $30-$50 depending on where you get it.

[Jeremy M]

53 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Something cheap or something worth the money?

 

Multimeters are precision instruments - you definitely get what you pay for there.

 

I've got a Victor VC-97 that I've had for 20 years - still works like a champ and does everything I could ask of it (I have done hobby electronics, reason I got it)

Klein also makes a good VC-97

 

Around $30-$50 depending on where you get it.

Oh yikes. I bought a cheap one from Amazon but I can return it. The reviews were pretty good though.

[padlin]

For what you are checking, if it works the cheap one should be fine.