Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

[kyudizky]

Took my boat to have a helm and bow (or trolling motor) finder wired. When I asked to have wires run up to the bow from the battery to power a TM finder (haven't bought the finder yet), and the guy told me (over the phone, had to drop off after hours) that I didn't need to, I just needed to wire/splice it into the trolling motor plug wires. Is this true??? I am afraid of having interference issues doig it this way. Should the finder run off the cranking battery?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

Every boat I've ever owned with a bow mount trolling motor has also had a bow mounted locator wired to the troller battery and there have been no issues whatsoever. You run more of a risk of the console and bow mount transducers providing interference than from the troller.

 

[kyudizky]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

so just splice the Fish finder wires into the trolling motor chord before it plugs in to the bow receptacle???

 

[seabob4]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

Just make sure your trolling motor is a 12V, not 24. You power up that FF with 24V and it will soon start to smoke...

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

so just splice the Fish finder wires into the trolling motor chord before it plugs in to the bow receptacle???

Yes..and that splice needs to be done properly...shrink sleeve connectors and another shrink over the whole splice..that bow is gonna get a little wet and you will need that splice done properly or intermittent operation will result...

 

[kyudizky]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

Just make sure your trolling motor is a 12V, not 24. You power up that FF with 24V and it will soon start to smoke...

I have a 12/24 Johnson trolling motor that gets run 24V 99% of the time....so does that mean i must find an alternative to using the TM chord to power it???

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

I have a 12/24 Johnson trolling motor that gets run 24V 99% of the time....so does that mean i must find an alternative to using the TM chord to power it???

If you only find one pair of wires running out from that plug at the bow, then yes you will need another pair of wires for your 12v source. Good thing Seabob mentioned that..that could have been a bummer...
It should not be that hard of a run from the console where you hopefully have a fused spare switch. If not you can direct wire it, but still have it fused per rigging instructions...14 gauge, stranded tinned marine wire would be best, just don't use solid wire like romex..it will eventually break.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

The locator wires DO NOT get wired into the troller power plug. It gets wired into the back side of the troller RECEPTACLE. Since you have a 12/24 volt motor the receptacle has either three or four connections. Your installer needs to determine which of those three wires provides 12 volts ONLY and ground. Pick the wrong ones and you have a dead locator as was mentioned.

 

[kyudizky]

Re: Bow Fish Finder Power Source?

The boat is at the shop so I can't check to see if I have a open fuse spot at the moment to see if this is an option. Using the TM power Silvertip, my TM is a 4 wired set-up at the battery, so i should see 4 connections when i pull the bow panel off (where TM plugs into). If this is the case, i should be able to use a multi-meter to find the 12 volt side, but what would i ground to at that point.

so I'm so ignorant- appreciate the help!