Minn Kota Digital Maximizer

[esox07]

So, I have a question. I understand that the Minn Kota Endura Max is more energy efficient than the Endura C2 line of trolling motors. But, what I am unsure of is how much exactly. From what I understand, the C2 basically uses the same amount of power regardless of what speed it is running at. So, it uses the same amount of juice if it is in F1 as it does in F5. The change in actual speed is simply done by means of resistors which change the speed of the motor, but doesn't cut back on the power being used. As apposed to the Endura Max which has digital technology and uses only the power necessary to run the motor at the speed selected. So, with the C2 if I had to make a long trip, it would be best to run the whole time in F5 to maximize distance traveled before the battery died. Is that assumption correct? Am I correct in my initial understanding that the C2 motor uses the same amount of power regardless of the speed it is being run in?

 

[gm280]

esox07, I just researched both trolling motors and I don't believe you have your assumptions correct. Yes the Minn Kota Endura Max does use a digital Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) circuit to help extend battery life. But the Endura C2 doesn't use the same amount of current on the lower speed as opposed to the highest speed. Those speed are accomplished in the motor windings and therefore the current draw changes when you change the speed. That being less current draw on the lowest speed verses the higher current draw on the highest speed. JMHO

 

[esox07]

Yes GM280, after further research, it does seem that the C2 does step down power draw on the lower speeds. However, due to the digital PWM, the Max seems to shine even more in the lower speeds over that of the C2. From what I understand, if I wanted to run in full speed on both motors, there would be little to no difference in battery life between the two. But if doing some low speed trolling in speeds one or two, is where the Max line of motors would really shine for lower power consumption.

 

[gm280]

Yes GM280, after further research, it does seem that the C2 does step down power draw on the lower speeds. However, due to the digital PWM, the Max seems to shine even more in the lower speeds over that of the C2. From what I understand, if I wanted to run in full speed on both motors, there would be little to no difference in battery life between the two. But if doing some low speed trolling in speeds one or two, is where the Max line of motors would really shine for lower power consumption.

Yes, I think you have it figured out correctly. The only time PWM shines is in the lower speeds because PWM acts like a switch. If you were to turn on and off the switch fast enough and in equal amounts of "on" to "off" times, you would effectively see about mid-range speed from a motor. And varying the "on" to "off" times changes the motor speed. However, it doesn't effect the current the motor can see because when the PWM is in one of the "on" states, the motor can use whatever it needs from the battery. So the motor isn't starving for current. And that helps keep the motor from a premature death.

You could always look for an aftermarket PWM circuit to use on whatever Trolling Motor you want. Just an idea. I just make my own, but they are too involved to explain how to build them unless you are very familiar about electronics and circuit board building. JMHO.

 

[esox07]

It would be great to understand electronics to the extent that you do. I was in the IT field for many years, but my understanding of electronics is on a much lower level that yours. PWM = Pulse Width Modulation. I guess it took me until now to realize what that acronym actually represented. hahaha.
I am probably going to go with the Endura Max over the Endura C2. The price tag is less than $60 more, and I think overall, it will be worth it in the long run. Just being able to get more time out of a single battery charge is a big plus for me.

 

[fishrdan]

The old style TM's like the C2 use "speed coils" to shunt power around the motor, so the motor turns slower at it's different speeds. While they may not use the exact same amount of power at speed 1 and speed 5, it's close, as the excess power is being diverted around the motor through the speed coils. With the digital TM's, they only use the power they need to make the motor turn (no lost power in the speed coils) and are much more efficient at lower speeds.

On the top speed setting, the old speed coil and new digital motors will use the same amount of power, but step down in speed, and the digital motors will run farther, slow speeds = much farther. I used to run speed coil TM's and they would eat through batteries while trolling, maybe 2.5-3 hours on a single group 29 battery. The digital TM's will easily double that run time at the speed I troll, 1 to 1.5 MPH, or speed 4-5 on a 1-10 scale. Just recently I trolled 10+ hours straight on 2 group 29 batteries, and still had power to spare when I returned to the dock.

The only gripe I have about digital TM's is, the motor can emit a growling noise from the digital pulses, most notably at the mid range speeds, not as stealthy as a speed coil TM. But, I can fish twice as long...