Wiring for my trolling motor

[Small Water Pro]

Hi all
Can someone help me with a question? I have one 55 lb elec trolling motor I want to run from the transom most of the time, but want to keep the battery in the back and sometimes run the motor from the bow. how can I wire to the bow with the battery still in the back. want to disconnect it when trolling again from the transom. What would I need to do that? thanks. I hope this was understandable

 

[Captain Ahab]

Run the correct gauge wires to a junction in the bow - I have my boat set up withe batteries in the middle and junctions in the bow and stern (and under the helm)

BTW - Made my junctions with some 1/2' cutting board plastic and SS nuts and bots - wing nuts on top

 

[richg99]

wire gauge calculator

https://boatstuff.awardspace.com/awgcalc.html

rich

 

[Captain Ahab]

Here are some photos of what we did - used 2 pieces of the plastic - added studs then attached the 2 parts so everything is insulted - mount wherever you need

 

[richg99]

crabby....are those two terminals live all of the time?

 

[Captain Ahab]

crabby....are those two terminals live all of the time?

They are - it is only one terminal a neg and positive - wire runs from the battery to those and then I the TM wires to that using the wing nuts

I can also use that as a charge point as the battery is stored below deck and not as easy to reach

That one is in the bow and i have one under the steering console and one in the stern

 

[richg99]

I guess old-conservative-me would have to rig up a cover to keep them from ever getting shorted out. Probably NEVER happen, but live terminal ends give me pictures of sparks and burnt wires.

I guarantee I've done some things on a boat that wouldn't pass a boat surveyor's inspection sheet. regards, Rich

 

[Captain Ahab]

I guess old-conservative-me would have to rig up a cover to keep them from ever getting shorted out. Probably NEVER happen, but live terminal ends give me pictures of sparks and burnt wires.

I guarantee I've done some things on a boat that wouldn't pass a boat surveyor's inspection sheet. regards, Rich

They are about 10" apart and mounted vertically to the support for the TM in the tip of the bow


I could not short them out if I tried


Same as connecting to your battery - you do not have a special cover for the battery terminals do you?

 

[richg99]

re cover....your boat.... Not my place to tell you what is best for you. sorry if it came off that way.

I do have a battery cover. I think it is required equipment in some States.
Rich

 

[Captain Ahab]

oh - the batteries are all out of the boat and they have shut offs

 

[Charger25]

What about a female plug at the bow and stern with a male plug on the T/M ?

 

[richg99]

Charger...perfect! rich

 

[russ010]

re cover....your boat.... Not my place to tell you what is best for you. sorry if it came off that way.

I do have a battery cover. I think it is required equipment in some States.
Rich

I thought about the same thing as having those exposed - not so much for the elements, but I've been known to lay down a piece of aluminum angle - talk about sparks flying!!!

I would think I would put something like this over them.


But Capt- you gave me an idea for something else in my electrical box that I will definitely put to use- thanks!

 

[RivRunR]

Or some Terminal Insulators

 

[Charger25]

"I thought about the same thing as having those exposed - not so much for the elements, but I've been known to lay down a piece of aluminum angle - talk about sparks flying!!!"


LMAO Had a '74 Vega with the battery held in with a coat hanger................ rounded a curve , hit a bump, hanger crossed the posts and all hell broke loose :shock:

sry to go OT, but it was funny as hell...........now.

 

[nlester]

What about a female plug at the bow and stern with a male plug on the T/M ?

I've got that, now I am thinking about paying the price for an other set, so I can plug my charger into the battery instead of using the clamps. I store my boat in the garage and it would make the battery easier to charge when I don't pull it out of the boat.

Using the cutting block as the base for your electrical connections was thinking out of the box and leads to more possibilities. I also like using the outdoor receptical cover.