modify trolling motor

[toddr5516]

I have a foot steer trolling motor and I would like to eliminate the power switchs on the foot control and locate it to the side of the boat.Locate the proper rheostat and install it so that my foot does'nt have to be on the foot control to give it power .I'd like to know what type of rheostat I'd need to do this. I want to be able to set the power setting by hand and use foot to steer with.
can you help?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: modify trolling motor

Take the controls out of the foot control and mount them wherever you like/however you like. The parts that are in the foot control are probably proprietary and you won't find generic equivalents. You realize there is considerable wiring involved so you will have another harness to contend with.

 

[toddr5516]

Re: modify trolling motor

Take the controls out of the foot control and mount them wherever you like/however you like. The parts that are in the foot control are probably proprietary and you won't find generic equivalents. You realize there is considerable wiring involved so you will have another harness to contend with.

 

[toddr5516]

Re: modify trolling motor

I figure i could splice in the wiring and locate them elsewhere i just need to find marine grade rheostats with correct wattage .Trolling motor has 3 speeds and then there is the on/off . I'd like to tie in all these to one rheostat .

 

[jtexas]

Re: modify trolling motor

trolling motor isn't on a rheostat...it has sets of coils in the motor to give it three speeds. You could use a multimeter or a 12volt test light to find out which wire(s) are hot at the various settings, and find a switch design you like to accomplish it, one with an "off" setting so you could eliminate the on/off.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: modify trolling motor

You can use a rheostat but you would eliminate the speed coils. What you need to do is measure the maximum resistance of the speed coils (that would be the slowest speed setting). That provides the range you would need in a rheostat. You then need to measure maximum current draw with the motor on high speed. From that you can determine the wattage you need. That rheostat would likely be found at a military surplus or electonic surplus store. It would get hot and it will be rather large. It might also be pricey.

 

[Tom Scully]

Re: modify trolling motor

" It would get hot and it will be rather large. It might also be pricey."
Not only that but it would be quite inefficeint. All of that heat is energy wasted!