Wiring in a switch for 12/24 volt trollers

[PACERll]

I need to know where I can get a schematic for wiring in a switch on the bow of my boat so I can put the batteries on charge without having to disconnect them all the time. Ifn you know where I can get this it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PACERll]

Re: Wiring in a switch for 12/24 volt trollers

Whoops forgot to put the troller is a 12/24 thats why I need the schematic. LOL

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring in a switch for 12/24 volt trollers

There are several ways to accomplish what you want to do but to avoid a real long response, tell us how the batteries are wired. Do you have two, three, or four wires running from the batteries to the trolling motor socket. Also tell us what type of charger you have (on-board or portable, 12V only, or 12/24V capable.)

 

[PACERll]

Re: Wiring in a switch for 12/24 volt trollers

Right now the batteries are wired in a 24v configuration direct to the troller which has three wires coming out of it. 1 black,1 red, 1 orange.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring in a switch for 12/24 volt trollers

Are you saying all three wires from the troller run all the way to the batteries, or is one troller wire not used? It makes a difference. If only two wires run from the batteries to the troller, 24 volts will be measured across those two wires. If there are three wires from the batteries, you will measure only 12V on two pairs (one wire of the three is gnd.). In that installation, the batteries are paralleled and 12/24 switching is done at the motor. So to help you, I need to know how many wires run from the batteries. Apparently it will be either 2 or 3 and I'm going to guess three. Another check is to see if the NEG terminal on both batteries are connected together. Sorry if this is confusing but as I said, it makes a difference as to what my recommendation will be.

 

[PACERll]

Re: Wiring in a switch for 12/24 volt trollers

Ok lets eee if this helps. Three wires coming out of troller. 1 red,1orange,1black. I do undertsand thatthe black is ground and the other 2 (the red and orange have to be wired to the batteries. Right now I have thered wire going to the first battery on the pos. side. the oragnge wire is on the neg side of first batterie that also has a jumper wire going from that post(neg) to the second battery pos. Then the black wire is wired to the neg of the second battery. Hope I explained this well enough for you. I do know the switchinf is in the foot pedal of the troller.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring in a switch for 12/24 volt trollers

OK -- this is as I expected. The way this works is that on 12V, the motor gets power from the red and orange wires. For 24V it gets power from the red and black wires. With this wiring set up, you do not need to disconnect anything on the batteries to charge them using a conventional 12V charger. But, you will need to charge just one at a time. Make sure the troller is turned off, then hook the charger to battery #1 (observe polarity) and charge that battery. Repeat the process for the other battery, again observing polarily. There are a couple of options for charging both batteries at the same time 1) add a switch and use a standard charger, or 2) use a dual bank, 24V capable on-board charger. For option #1, all you need is a simple single-pole/single-throw switch (like a marine battery ON/OFF switch. You would break the jumper wire that connects the NEG post on Battery #1 and the POS post on Battery #2 and install the switch between them. For normal running you would set the switch to ON. For charging, set the switch to off which separates the two batteries. Now -- you need to add a second aligator clip to your POS charger line. This would allow you to connect to and charge both batteries at the same time. Remember that it will take twice as long to charge two batteries as the charger thinks these are one "big" battery. Also remember that the switch must be OFF for charging. If you install a two bank charger, no switch is needed but the charger must be 24V capable.