Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

[breasons]

The last 3 times I've been fishing this year this has happened.I have a T46 foot controlled motor guide trolling motor.I have took the battery which is an Interstate size 27 750 amp battery.Battery has checked good both times.I have a on board pro mariner 12 2 bank charger.My boat is 17 ft 4inches fisher marine bass boat. I have checked the charger per pro marnier instructions it checks good.The wind has been blowing no more than 7 or 10 miles per hr.The only thing that I can think of is maybe the trolling motor may be going bad.Wondering if anybody else has had this problem.I think it should last all day what do you think? The boat and battery and trolling motor is a 2007 model........................Thanks Bobby.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

Was the battery load tested?

 

[breasons]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

Yes the Load was tested both times.

 

[Nobody]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

What is the current draw of trolling motor at the setting your using it at? Also what is the amp hour or reserve capacity rating of the battery?

Was the load test a CCA (Starting) type load test or a duration load test at the batteries specified discharge rate?

 

[breasons]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

THE RESERVE CAP IS 160.I do not know the amp draw,but I was useing speed 4 and 5,mostly 4. the load tester was hand held I would say putting a load useing resistors.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

Pull the prop off and check for fishing line wrapped around the shaft.

 

[breasons]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

I took the prop off found nothing.

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

AM i wrong? 4-5 hours sounds pretty good to me..What were you used to getting?

 

[nimmor]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

On a setting of 4 or 5 you probaly would not get any better than 5-6 hours. Now on say 1 you can get 12-13.

 

[breasons]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

Thanks guys looks Like I'll have to get a bigger battery,I need one that will last at least 8 or 9 hrs.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

You never want to run down a deep dischrage battery below 50%(around 12.0V) If you do, the capacity of the battery starts going down severely.

 

[hubes58]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

I would generally get 5-6 hrs on my 1 battery system, the guy we fish with got a bit less.... we never could make it all day, if it was windy, 3-4 hrs...

New batteries and dual batteries, hopefully we can make it most of the day now.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Problem with trolling motor pulling battery down in about 4 or 5 hrs

160 RC (reserve capacity in minutes) is measured with a 23 amp load (typically). So 160 minutes is about 2.5 hours. Your 46# motor will draw roughly 40 amps on the fastest setting which is almost twice the load the battery reserve minutes is measured at. A group 31 would be in 200 - 215 range. So you really need two very large batteries to get the 8 - 9 hours run time you are looking for. Depending on the construction of the motor, if it uses speed coils for speed control, these are battery eaters. The newer digital motors (Maximizers from Minnkota and whatever MotorGuide terminology is) will provide much longer run times at slower speeds but are no better when running wide open. I just returned from a week long fishing trip where we had very windy conditions and worked my 55# Power Drive hard. I never ran out of power and we were on the water from early morning until noon. Plugged into shore power over lunch and back out again late afternoon until dark. I run a group 27 deep cycle and troller is tugging an 18 foot pontoon which is like a sail going with or against the wind.