24vdc trolling motor wiring question

[txjeff]

Here is my current wiring to my pontoon boat:
http://www.jvcranston.com/files/boat_wiring.jpg

(I bought the boat used.) I don't understand first off why the two 12VDC trolling motors are wired to a socket at the front of the boat with the charger (self regulating) going to one battery? The motor does run with this setup (24VDC Troller). And secondly the LED/Pushbutton battery test circuit on the trolling motor controller isn't working (of course that could be burned out). Does this look right?

Thanks, Jeff

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24vdc trolling motor wiring question

Problem #1: The charger output going to battery #1 should be attached to battery #3. As it is now, battery #3 will never get charged.
Problem #2: The engine will charge battery #3 (related to Problem #1). No need for the charger output there.
Problem #3: This system is way overly complicated because it was originally designed for a 12 volt AND 24 volt system. This topic has been covered over and over and over but I will cover it just one more time. (There are instructions on how to use the "search" function).

1) A 24 volt ONLY system needs just two wires going up front.
2) The trolling motor plug does not require any internal jumpers.
3) Pick one red and one black wire at the batteries. Those will be used to provide 24 volts.
4) Disconnect and tape the other two wires so you don't confuse them in the future.
5) Follow the wiring diagram below.
6) Whatever two terminals the black and red wires connect to on the receptacle are the two terminals the troller plug must match up with.
7) Plug in and go fishing. You now have a standard 24 volt only troller system.

 

[txjeff]

Re: 24vdc trolling motor wiring question

"This topic has been covered over and over and over but I will cover it just one more time. (There are instructions on how to use the "search" function)."

Thanks for the assumed insult, but I know forums and have used them for many years. I figured my situation's wiring (as you stated "overly complicated") is also "unique" so I figure my questions would also be unique. And I already was guessing that the way you show the batteries wired is the way it should be, with the batteries in series and two wires to the controller. That is why it is puzzling to me. I bought the boat used so I don't know if this was the dealer, Godfrey's, wiring, or the previous owner's wiring. That was going to be my next step, to call the dealer.

What bothers me is that it is purposeful that whoever wired it ran 4 wires from the trolling batteries to the 4 pin socket at the front of the boat. You would think that if it was done your way, they would have run just 2 wires. And this begged the question, "How could this ever have worked correctly if it was wired wrong from day one?" And why was a bank of charging power tied to the starter motor? Was this to charge that battery during the boats down time, all winter?

According to the manual for the charger, you can hook up the banks in multiple ways, including the starter battery. I also looked at this link, and it shows converting a 12/24 vdc system to a straight 24 volt system. http://www.kencook.net/12to24.html Notice the socket and jumper in Drawing 1.

Anyway, I plan to bring the boat home tomorrow and ohm out all the wiring to see if I've guessed the logic behind this wiring as shown in my sketch, or is there something else that I'm missing. I probably will wind up rewiring it to the batteries in series and two wire method. The charger self regulates to the sensed voltage, so I should be able to charge the two trolling batteries off of one charging bank with them in series (charger across the two batteries). I can then leave the other charger bank on the starter battery. Per the manual, it doesn't hurt to leave this charger on a battery as it is "smart" and will shut down if the battery is fully charged.

 

[mikphilips]

Re: 24vdc trolling motor wiring question

The four wires (2 red, 2 black) from the batteries to the TM may be for a 12v TM with the two batteries wired in parallel at the TM plug.
And thank you for speaking out on the strident tone of some posts, which seems so unneccesary on this friendly, collaborative site.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24vdc trolling motor wiring question

Thanks for the assumed insult? I thought I had explained that the system was designed for a 12 AND 24 volt motor. This scheme has been used on countless boats to accommodate the dual voltage capability of motors produced during that era. You need four wires going up front to provide selection of 12 volts (batteries in parallel) or 24 volts (batteries in series). You cannot get two batteries in parallel with just two wires going up front. Hence the separate wiring for each battery. Those systems typically used a 12/24/Run/Charge switch at the bow or the motor itself had a 12/24 selector switch. There is nothing wrong with the basic troller system. The boat did not likely get produced with the on-board charger. It was likely added by one of the owners. Some boat owners do very creative things when it comes to electrics. The attempt with yours was to use a two bank charger to charge three batteries which might actually work if the jumpers in the troller plug were correct. But since yours doesn't seem to work, that may be the issue. The system will work just fine as is with the exceptions I indicated. My comment about over complicated is exactly that. The dual voltage motors were a "novelty" back then. If they weren't, they would still be produced today. If you have 24 volt capability, why would you run on 12 volts. Conversely, if you like 12 volts, why buy a 24 volt motor or a dual voltage motor. As for what to do -- follow my instructions in my post and go fishing. If your motor by chance is a dual voltage unit, we need to discuss this some more. As for using the "search function", that was a suggestion -- not a demand. If you actually did that, you would find enough 12/24 volt reading to make your eyes bleed. Just like our fingers bleed (figuratively) from answering the same question over and over. Sorry if you took offense at my comments. You are participating in a forum so "intent" and "tone" may not always be what they seem.

 

[txjeff]

Re: 24vdc trolling motor wiring question

Thanks for the input. Yes, I figured that the wiring of 4 conductors was for versatility of voltages (12 or 24). Ultimately, the batteries were wired in parallel for 12 VDC with the charger setup to charge them in parallel (but only if the trolling motor plug is plugged in to short the positives and negatives together). But, the trolling motor is a 24 VDC model. I'm amazed that it worked at all with the wrong voltage and it explains why the monitoring LEDs for the battery were not lighting when tested. Very bizarre to buy a boat that is setup wrong up front. And I am a novice with trolling motors. Never had one. So, I unhooked one of the pairs and capped off the ends and wired the batteries in series with the remaining pair. I took the charger wire off the starter battery as was suggested and moved it to the other trolling battery. So only the alternator is charging the starter battery. And the test LEDs are now working on the trolling motor. Silvertip, I'm sure you've been at this forum for a long time from your tone and you sound weary of repeat answers and annoyed by people who would dare to ask a repeat question. I used to moderate a forum so I know the inflections. I only ask that if you don't want to repeat an answer, link to another thread that has it and you can save the typing. I am appreciative of the input though, confirming what I figured out on my own. Fishing in the AM! Cheerio. TXjeff