Trolling motor problems/need help

Bottzz

Recruit
Joined
Aug 12, 2015
Messages
4
I just bought a used boat and it has a 24v motorguide trolling motor... Took it out twice and the second time I used it it died like the batteries were dieing so I charged the batteries and nothing. I've replaced the plug and outlet because the 1 prong was burnt on the end...still nothing....I've tested the batteries and have 12v....tested at the breakers they seemed good....I test at the plug and there's nothing but I used a jumper to test each wire strait to the batteries and get 12v off each wire...don't know if the trolling motor burnt out or a wire....I'm not much of an electrician so I need help big time
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Measuring voltage on a battery with no load on it means nothing so the first step is to charge the batteries and then take them to an auto store to have them load tested. If they are ok, then you need to start troubleshooting. But before we can offer helpful information you need to help us understand what you have. You said the motor is a 24 volt unit. That means you need two 12 volt batteries but the "gotcha" is that there are number of wiring schemes for 24 volt systems, and since this is a used boat, the prior owner(s) may have butchered the wiring. So here's what we need.



1) Are there two, three, or four wires running from the batteries to the bow of the boat.

2) Does the trolling motor connector have two, three, or four pins

3) Does the panel on which the trolling motor connector is mounted have a switch labeled 12/24/Run/Charge or something similar.

4) Describe in detail which wire and color connect to which battery post and do the same for the connector at the bow as well as the wire colors in the trolling motor power cable.

Do you have and know how to use a voltmeter?​
 

Bottzz

Recruit
Joined
Aug 12, 2015
Messages
4
4 wires from batteries to the bow....

4 pins on trolling motor connector....

No switch on panel...switch on foot pedal 12v, 24v, off.....

2 black off - terminal on battery 1 to the bow...
Black jumper from + terminal on battery 1 to
- terminal on battery 2.....
1 orange and 1 red wire off + terminal on battery 2 to the bow.....

At the outlet its labeled...red goes to A+, orange goes to B+, and the 2 blacks go to A- and B-.....

I have a volt meter....I know how to use it a bit....like I said I'm far from an electrician lol
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
You have a four wire system but your wiring is wrong. With a four wire system you do not use a jumper between the two batteries. There are two totally separate circuits going to the front of the boat. A+ and A- at the bow connector goes to one battery. B+ and B- goes to the second battery. You need to make sure the two black (A- and B-) are paired properly with the A+ and B+. Why not label them now so you don't have to worry about this in the future. If the trolling motor plug is wired accordingly, the motor should then run on 12 volts or 24 which ever is selected on the foot pedal. So you see-- your first post was misleading in that you said your motor was a 24 volt type. It is indeed a 12 OR 24 volt version or else it would not have the 12/24 selector switch. This is why I asked about the wiring.
 

Bottzz

Recruit
Joined
Aug 12, 2015
Messages
4
Big thanks to Silvertip.....changed my wiring to how u said and the trolling motor came alive....thanks again u saved me a lot of money and aggravation
 
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