Short Stop fuse issues

[Arkman]

I know these have been covered a few times on here but I'm having an issue I can't seem to solve.

My breaker keeps tripping. I don't think its a bad connection. It seems like no matter what I do with the connections it works off an on. I checked all the connections on the wires and there doesn't seem to be damaged. The battery sits about a foot under the TM so there isn't much wire there. I just added a quick plug like this. Thats the only reason there is any wire other than the factory wire in the system.

Any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this. Its a new breaker I might just exchange it and see if that helps.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Short Stop fuse issues

what size trolling motor and what size breaker. does it trim instant or after a while?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Short Stop fuse issues

If you have a 40 - 45 pound thrust motor you need a 50 amp breaker or fuse minimum. If you have a 50 - 55 pound thrust motor you need a 60 amp fuse or breaker. The fuse/breaker is popping because too much current is being drawn through it. Why?? Because it is too small.

 

[Arkman]

Re: Short Stop fuse issues

I suppose I should have mentioned that. It's a minnkota powerdrive 55. I have a 50 amp breaker. Maybe it is too small. I actually called minnkota and that is what the guy told me. I'll look for a 60 amp breaker.

If it makes any difference I never run it more that the #4 setting. Also it hasn't ever tripped on me until the last trip out, then it did it continuously. While testing it at home as soon as I plug my motor in it would trip. I actually exchanged it tonight and the old one I think one of the bolts was pulled out of the fuse somehow. Its hard to explain but it was clearly different than the new version I got. I hooked that up it worked fine. That being said, I'm still going to get a bigger fuse if you say a 55lb thrust requires a 60 amp.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Short Stop fuse issues

A 55# Minnkota draws 46 amps at maximum draw. That is very close to 50 amps so a 60 is recommended. If you NEVER or RARELY use the fastest speed a 50 amp will work (as it obviously has previously). Loose connections create resistance and resistance creates heat. Electrical connections need to be clean and tight.

 

[Arkman]

Re: Short Stop fuse issues

That makes sense silvertip. I do very rarely use it at full power but I might, so I will go get the 60 amp. Not sure why that minnkota person told me 50amp was good. Maybe he misunderstood the motor i had.

As I inspected the old breaker and compared it to the new one there was a definite problem there. Like I said, the old one had one post pulled out. Basically on the new one all you can see is the threaded bolt portion sticking out of that breaker. On the old one there was about 1/8 to 1/4" of a splined head of sorts sticking out. It must have gotten pulled out somehow and was causing issues. When you wiggled that around it would work intermittently.

I installed the new version for now, but Like I said, I'll go out and find me a 60 amp fuse. The one I have right now is an auto reset
and from what I've been reading many people don't like those, because it makes trouble shooting that much harder. So I'm going to see if I can find one with a manual reset button. Shouldn't be too hard.

Thanks!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Short Stop fuse issues

The biggest danger with an auto-reset breaker is it resetting while you are trying to figure out why the motor stopped and have your hand near the prop.

 

[Star]

Re: Short Stop fuse issues

I have been running a 50amp breaker for 5 years. You have a problem with your system!!! Breaker may be bad. The trolling motor should not pop the breaker at low speed setting. When I first got my motor I had a 30amp on my exsisting battery. It worked fine unless I ran it at full speed. It would trip after 2 or 3 minutes. I would replace the motor guide plug with a 50amp anderson plug from the auto store.