Trolling motor batteries Hot

[mav6759]

Hello everyone,
ok took the boat out for the first time this year. I'm on the water all of a sudden my trolling motor stopped working. I fooled around with the cables and foot peddle trying to see if there was a short. I could not find anything. So I paddle from across the lake back to the dock and figure it had to be my batteries. (I had bought a used battery from a guy that reconditions batteries) I knew that had to be the problem. Because the cables were super clean. (Learned my lesson the hard way) and 6 gauge wiring..So once at the dock, I took all 3 batteries out of the boat 2 were brand new and one was used. I just knew it had the be the used battery, so I put the 2 new ones together (24v) to see if the trolling motor would work, nothing,..then I looked at the braker on the positive wire, and when I went to touch it the nut was so hot it burned the skin off my finger tips. And I notice that it tripped the braker. So i reset the braker and thought I could go on fishing but it kept tripping the braker and getting hot.. does anyone know what would cause this besides corrosion on the cables and undersize wire.

 

[gm280]

How about that actual Trolling Motor got a short? If the batteries are not the issue, and the cables are good with the connectors checking good also, it is either the TM is shorted, or you have a totally defective breaker... Nothing else left to check... JMHO

 

[mav6759]

Thank you for your response, I was thinking the samething.the braker looks like its been in there since Moses parted the red sea..there is a test to check the braker. I'll check that it's simple. But my next question to that would be, I have been boating for over 30 years, never used a braker in any of my boats, do I really need the braker...
.

 

[gm280]

The subject of your thread should be your answer about using a breaker. YES, you either need a circuit breaker OR a fused circuit. Remember, when you are on the water and something gets hot and starts a fire, there is no place to run to, to get away. Absolutely need a breaker or fuse. I would buy a new breaker that exceeds your TM requirements and install it. That way you are always protected from something shorting and causing a fire... JMHO

 

[dingbat]

I was thinking the samething.the braker looks like its been in there since Moses parted the red sea..there is a test to check the braker.
.

By pass the breaker and wire battery directly to TM. If it works it’s the breaker