How do I wire a 12/24v trolling motor

[procraft95]

I have a Motorguide 12/24v trolling motor. There are 4 wires coming from the Trolling motor to the battery compartment. When I hook up the red and black to "battery #1" and the other red and black to "battery #2" the trolling motor doesn't run on 12 or 24v but when I hook up both red and black wires to one battery, it runs in 12v mode. I don't have auto battery chargers and I don't have a "charge/run" switch that I am aware of. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jtexas]

Re: How do I wire a 12/24v trolling motor

Been like this since you got it, or did it just stop working?
Changed anything? (new T/M, battery(s), etc.)
Are you plugged in to a control panel with 12/24 switch? Motor only requires 3 wires for 12/24v operation.
I take it the batteries are in the stern?

You have two dedicated trolling batteries, or is one of these also your cranking batt?

Need to find out exactly what the other end of those red & black wires are attached to.

welcome to the forum.

 

[procraft95]

Re: How do I wire a 12/24v trolling motor

Thanks JTexas.

I bought the boat last summer and my neighbor and I fished in a tournament on Lake Fork in September. That's when we realized the trolling motor wasn't working. We hooked up both red wires and black wires to one battery and it started working. I wanted to figure out why it doesn't work the way it was hooked up originally. I have three batteries, one for cranking and two side by side for the trolling motor. The wires are labeled "batt #1" and "batt #2" so I assumed it was setup like this when the boat was new. I will check the plug and follow the wires from the batteries (under back seat) to the front of the boat. Maybe there's a fuse I don't know about? There is a 12/24v switch on the foot pedal but no switch on the panel where the trolling motor plugs in.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How do I wire a 12/24v trolling motor

You need to check two things. 1) How many wires are in the cable from the motor to the plug. 2) Check the front of the boat in the area of the trolling motor receptacle for a switch labeled RUN/CHARGE OR 12/24. Here is a diagram of what you PROBABLY need. But until you answer the questions, that's a MAYBE. I think you are missing the jumper wire between the two batteries.

 

[jtexas]

Re: How do I wire a 12/24v trolling motor

Alternatively, if the motor itself has just three wires going into the plug, this is what you need:

I'm wondering what that recepticle looks like on the backside.

 

[procraft95]

Re: How do I wire a 12/24v trolling motor

I really appreciate the advice from both of you. It's raining here tonight but I will check the plug and wiring tomorrow and let you know what I find out.

Thanks again.