24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

[stratos92]

I am new to boating and recently bought my first boat...92 stratos fish/ski. I have searched the board and haven't found my exact situation. Several similar, but not the same. I am replacing the original trolling motor, an evinrude 12/24 volt. My question is how to wire the new one (minn kota 70 lb/24 volt). I have a marinco plug, it is 12/24 with spots for 3 wires inside (neg/12v/24v) and the female end of the plug, also marinco 12/24, has to positives and 2 negatives that run to the back of the boat and connect to 2 batteries wired direct to each pos and neg battery post. I understand that it was setup to run the 12/24 volt motor, but I am not sure what to do now with a 24 volt motor.

I am not sure if I should wire the plug (black to negative and red to 24 v post)? Also, should I cut and cap one of the black and red wires in the back of the boat and then wire the batteries with the remaining 2 wires in a standard 24 volt, 2 battery set up? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I have alot of ideas, just not sure if they are good ones.

Again, this is my first boat and I cannot wait to get it on the water.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

If the boat has a 12/24/RUN/CHARGE swtich you don't need to cut any wires. If it doesn't have such a switch, then disconnect one pair of wires to one of the batteries and tape them up. Then disconnect the ground wire from the remaining battery and connect it to the ground (neg) terminal on the other battery. Connect a jumper between the positive of the battery with the ground connection and the neg of the other battery. You now have 24 volts going forward. Do not mess with anything at the receptacle other than to determine which holes the positive and negative wire from the batteries are connected to. Remove the plug from the old motor and attach it to the new motor so the two wires on the troller cable match with the two at the battery. If there is a jumper in the plug, remove it. Now go boating. The positive terminal at the battery should have a breaker or fuse.

 

[presock]

Re: 24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

:redface:collioz i got a starcraft 16ft got a 25hp on it

 

[stratos92]

Re: 24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

Silvertip,
There is no switch at the bow. The 12/24 switch was on the foot pedal of the old motor. I clipped two of the wires (1 pos/1 neg) at the back and ran one lead to the + post on battery one and the neg lead to the - post on battery two. I then jumped the unused + post and - post from battery 1 and battery 2. I put the probes of my meter into the receptacle and it is reading approx 25 volts.

I found a post that you previously replied to with a 24 v wiring diagram and it made my job much easier. I am no electrical wizard...that is for certain.

Before I wire the plug...is there anything special I need to do to remove the jumper on the plug. There 3 marked screws marked (12/24/-) and one unmarked position. Do I simply remove the metal bar that goes from the spot marked 12 to the unmarked position?

Thank you very much for all of your assistance, you have been very helpful.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

Remove the jumper. Then all you need to do is make sure the two terminals you connect the troller wires to match up with the two in the receptacle. Labeling makes no difference. Electricity doesn't care what the terminal says. If they line up properly that's all that matters.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

I wish (and the next owner does too) that you didn't clip anything. Nothing is more annoying than for a new owner to find someone has butchered a perfectly good wiring system. But since you did, it's now water over the dam.

Remove the jumper. Then all you need to do is make sure the two terminals you connect the troller wires to match up with the two in the receptacle. Labeling makes no difference. Electricity doesn't care what the terminal says. If they line up properly that's all that matters.

 

[stratos92]

Re: 24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

Again, thank you very much for the information. I will remove the jumper from the plug and test the receptacle for the proper terminals tomorrow. Then I am hitting the water next weekend!

No, I didn't really clip anything. I only took the battery terminal ends off of one pair of wires at the back of the boat and capped/taped the two wires. All of the wiring is still in place, just capped, taped and put aside.

I greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge with a newbie and for the quick responses. I was really afraid of messing something up. Thank you.

 

[stratos92]

Re: 24 Volt Trolling Motor wiring

I took the jumper out of the plug, tested the receptacle, wired the plug, plugged it in and the motor runs. THANK YOU!