How to hookup a Motorguide Brute 756 12/24

[bcspanky]

Hi all Just bought a used Motorguide Brute 756 12/24 trolling motor and need help with hooking it up the right way to get the best performance out of it. I now have only one battery on my 16' tri hull boat to start the 1972 80 Horse Mercury and Lights, Fish Finder, Bilge pump, and Livewell I want to go to a 2 or 3 battery system, 1 battery for just the 80 Horse and the others for all of the other stuff, want to run the trolling motor on the 24 volt side but need some help with hookup on this. Thanks Bob

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How to hookup a Motorguide Brute 756 12/24

There are so many 12/24 volt wiring systems that you need to describe what you really want to do and what your wiring skills are. Some boats with dual voltage trolling motor systems used a four wire system and some used a three wire system. Does your boat have a trolling motor plug up front? If it does is it a two terminal, three terminal, or four terminal style? If it has a trolling motor plug, is there also a 12/24 switch panel near the receptacle. If you don't have a trolling motor plug and there is no switch panel you are free to use any wiring scheme you like. Since you have a 12/24 volt motor, I suggest you wire it and run it for 24 volts ONLY since that is the most efficient. That requires two 12 volt batteries which meets you need for a three battery system. Keep in mind that the diagram below is only MY recommendation and you will likely get other opinions. Opinions are like butts however in that everybody has one. In this system you will have two 6 gauge wires running from the batteries to a THREE terminal receptacle at the bow. That receptacle must match the plug on your troller cable. With this system you will only use the red and black terminals (24 volts) on the receptacle. You can run 12 volt accessories from the left battery. DO NOT connect 12 volt accessories to the right side battery because in the event you get an accidental ground to the boat 12 volt ground you may end up with 24 volts to the accessories and fry them. This is not an issue if you use the left side battery. If you really want to use the 12 volt capability on the motor I can provide another diagram.

 

[bcspanky]

Re: How to hookup a Motorguide Brute 756 12/24

Hi I have no plug so I would have to wire the whole thing from scratch. Now what size wire should I use and what kind of batteries should be used for the least amount of cash. The diagram you sent here is what I would like to do and later on I would like to put in an onboard charging system (would that change the wiring on this. Thanks for your help. Bob

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How to hookup a Motorguide Brute 756 12/24

You should use 6 gauge wire from the batteries to the trolling motor plug. Yes, you can add an on-board charger later without changing any wiring. They hook directly to the batteries. I suggest you buy the largest capacity deep cycle batteries you have room for. The least expensive deep cycle batteries can be found at Walmart and most farm stores that sell auto and marine batteries. I've used farm store batteries for decades and they last as long as I have the boat.