Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Problem!

[Bass2Reds]

I mounted a fishfinder at the front of my boat next to the trolling motor. I was trying to cut corners and just hook the power wire from the fish finder to the power wire of the trolling motor to avoid running separate wires all the way back to the batteries. Well I got my fish finder to turn on just find but there was no action to the trolling motor. Now I have no idea what happened to my trolling motor but the fish finder still runs fine at the spot in the power wire I connected it to. I have a relay on the end of the trolling motor wire that connects to the battery. I don't believe I blew anything on the trolling motor but then again I'm not sure. So can anyone help me get my trolling motor back up and running. I have 2 separate bass tournaments this weekend and I need a quick fix. Any suggestions would be great. Oh and I tried to locate a fuse either on the foot control and on the trolling motor itself. I was unsuccessful! My trolling motor is a minn kota foot control all terrain I believe a 45 lb thrust.

Please Help!

 

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

I don't know what gauge wire you had running to your fish finder but I'd be willing to bet the wire was drastically undersized for the electric motor. For a 45lb thrust trolling motor I would say you should use at least 6 gauge wire (thats what I used on my 40lb thrust motor). First thing I would do is wire the trolling motor separately on 6 or heavier wire.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

Before troubleshooting wiring, fuses and such, have you tried hooking a battery directly to the trolling motor to test if it is still working?

 

[Bass2Reds]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

Before troubleshooting wiring, fuses and such, have you tried hooking a battery directly to the trolling motor to test if it is still working?

you mean like remove the relay?

 

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

What relay ???

 

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

Just reread your first post. Are you sure your "relay" is not a fuse or circuit breaker?

 

[Bass2Reds]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

I'm not sure... I'll check, all it is is a little gold box on the end of the wire that connects to the battery..

 

[Wishiniwuzfishin]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

Couldn't possibly post a pic of it could you ?

 

[Bass2Reds]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

Couldn't possibly post a pic of it could you ?

Yeah not now though, I'm at work..

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

you mean like remove the relay?

Well, I dunno what all you got in the way of fuses, wires, relays, controls and what have you; but what I mean is to disconnect the trolling motor and hook up a short and simple direct run of some Pos and Neg wire (at least 10 AWG) between a battery and the trolling motor, just to determine whether or not your problem is in the motor itself.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

Exactly how and where did you tap into the wiring?

 

[rwidman]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

I mounted a fishfinder at the front of my boat next to the trolling motor. I was trying to cut corners and just hook the power wire from the fish finder to the power wire of the trolling motor to avoid running separate wires all the way back to the batteries. Well I got my fish finder to turn on just find but there was no action to the trolling motor. Now I have no idea what happened to my trolling motor but the fish finder still runs fine at the spot in the power wire I connected it to. I have a relay on the end of the trolling motor wire that connects to the battery. I don't believe I blew anything on the trolling motor but then again I'm not sure. So can anyone help me get my trolling motor back up and running. I have 2 separate bass tournaments this weekend and I need a quick fix. Any suggestions would be great. Oh and I tried to locate a fuse either on the foot control and on the trolling motor itself. I was unsuccessful! My trolling motor is a minn kota foot control all terrain I believe a 45 lb thrust.

Please Help!

Why don't you put everything back the way it was before you worked on it and see if the trolling motor works.

Then, wire the fish finder correctly and all will be good.

 

[Bass2Reds]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

Why don't you put everything back the way it was before you worked on it and see if the trolling motor works.

Then, wire the fish finder correctly and all will be good.

I already tried this and I'm not getting anything out of the trolling motor.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

I already tried this and I'm not getting anything out of the trolling motor.

Let's start at the beginning.

The trolling motor was working, right? If it was working before and is not working now, it has something to do with the work you did. Go back and check everything.

Is the motor getting power (measured at the motor)?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

That little box is most likely a circuit breaker or holds at fuse, at least it should be. Try bypassing it. Never hook electronics to the trolling motor battery, its a good way to ruin the electronics.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Tried to Hook my Fish finder up on the same power wire as my trolling motor! Prob

That little box is most likely a circuit breaker or holds at fuse, at least it should be. Try bypassing it. Never hook electronics to the trolling motor battery, its a good way to ruin the electronics.

I don't think bypassing a fuse or circuit breaker is a good idea. Check it with a meter. If it's a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker, there's a reason. He needs to find the reason, correct it, then reset the circuit breaker or reset the fuse.

But - he says the fishfinder is connected to the same circuit and it's working fine so that rules out a problem with the "little box".