Scared to foul this up, advice needed

[Javelin JD]

I'll try and break this down, it's not as difficult to say what's on my mind when I interpret myself, explaining to others adds a touch more complication.
I will have a new 12v trolling motor, it will replace the current 12v trolling motor. The batteries are wired for 12v. I want to use the batteries in a 24v system by adding a jumper from pos from bat 1 and neg from bat 2. My hopes are that this will give me a greater amount of time to troll the banks. Is this the correct way or am I about to make a big mistake?

Do I also leave the batteries hooked up the way they are pictured with the exception of adding the jumper. Thanks for your help.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

Leave the batteries in parallel (12v) which is + to + and - to -.... to get 24 volts, you wire + to - and from what you describe, you don't want to run your new 12 trolling motor on 24v. Leaving the batteries the way they are will boost amperage not voltage and that's what you want for the trolling motor.
In most applications, you would want to consider a battery switch to isolate the two, one for starting the main motor and one for running your trolling motor/other electronics.
I suggest you check in the frequently asked question section and check the wiring diagrams Don S and others have posted there. They are clear, easy to understand and correct.

 

[Auger01]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

I dont quite understand what you are trying to do, and it sounds like you dont either. I will say that the results of short circuiting a 12 volt battery with large guage wire can be quite spectacular. By all means do a liitle research to understand the concepts involved before starting the modifications.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

Proceed with your plan only if you want to burn out your new 12V trolling motor.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

...I will have a new 12v trolling motor, it will replace the current 12v trolling motor. The batteries are wired for 12v. I want to use the batteries in a 24v system by adding a jumper from POS from bat 1 and Neg from bat 2....am I about to make a big mistake?

Do I also leave the batteries hooked up the way they are pictured with the exception of adding the jumper...

Attaching a 12 volt motor to 24 Volts is going to smoke it! The least of you problem.

Adding in a jumper wire to the Batteries the way they are now pictured is going to cause a huge Arc Flash, Melt that jumper cable in your hand and quicker than you could possibly let go, Send you to the hospital with hand and facial burns, and Ruin the Batteries. :faint2:
If you are having a good day, you will not start a fire on the boat.

Are you about to make a Big Mistake? The understatement of the day!

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

Ok, from what everyone is saying I should just leave everything as is. My thoughts were to increase the life a a battery charge by joining them together with a another wire. The starter battery is on it's own, I have a total of three batteries. I've read in other places about people putting a jumper connecting both trolling motors to give it a 24v battery system which in turn would increase the amount of time they could be used on a single charge. I guess that would only work if you had a 24v trolling motor and the correct wiring up front.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

confussing that this is on 2 threads

lets go back to basics

12v trolling motor is like speeds 1-5 and if two batteries are joined in parrallel it will still make 12v but it will run twice as long as its 2 batteries that are powering it

24v trolling motor is like 3-8 speed so it will go faster than the 12v but it doesnt mean it will last longer when its being used to go faster. If used at speed 5 it will troll just as long as the 12v setting as its burning the same amount of watts but it can go faster if required. 24v is 2 batteries in series making 24v

you have 4 wires that go from the batteries to ??????? so you have no idea if they are linked to 12v or 24v. Most old bassboats have a switch that selects the voltage combinations at the plug. There are lots of diffrent ways this is done on a boat but the trouble is 2 wires at the front will be the same color and if they are mixed up the magic smoke and fire will be expensive which is why no one can tell you what to do unless we can see whats connected to where (even then this may involve using a meter unless you are going 12vdc only)

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

... a 24v battery system which in turn would increase the amount of time they could be used on a single charge. I guess that would only work if you had a 24v trolling motor and the correct wiring up front.

Rewiring to 24 volts correctly and using a 24volt motor would work just fine.

The amount of energy stored in the batteries is determined by the capacity of the batteries,
Not how they are wired.
Raising the voltage would lower the current at the same power level and allow smaller gauge wires.
Or allow more power to be deliver at the same current without the need for larger gauge wires.
But the total Energy would be the same. Don't confuse POWER and ENERGY.

What you proposed was the equivalent of plugging your 120 volt HD TV into 240 volts to get a brighter picture.
The worst part was that you were proposing to wire two 120 volt outlets together in a dead short in the attempt to produce the 240.

The best thing you did was to ask before trying it.
A very smart move on your part! :encouragement:

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: Scared to foul this up, advice needed

Thanks all, I've decided to not try anything crazy and stick with a higher thrust 12 volt trolling motor, so far i'm happy, actually I troll faster than what I really wanted so in the short run, I didn't get hurt, didn't cause any lasting damage and am out fishing.