trolling motor / charging system ?

[dak847]

I OWN A 1986 ASTROGLASS 175 WITH A 150 HORSE MERC.<br />THE TROLLING MOTOR IS 12 VOLTS AND HAS A THREE PRONG PLUG THAT PLUGS INTO THE FRONT OF THE BOAT. WERE IT PLUGS IN AT THERE IS A SWITCH TO THE RIGHT THAT SAYS RUN ABOVE IT AND CHARGE BELOW IT. EVERY THING LOOKS ORIGINAL. THE FEMALE END IN THE BOAT WERE THE PLUG PLUGS INTO IS LABELED +12, -12, AND +24 AND CHARGER. MY QUESTION IS CAN I PLUG A BATTERY CHARGER WITH A THREE PRONG PLUG INTO THE BOAT AND CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE SECOND BATTERY IS NOT IN THE BOAT, AND WAS NOT WHEN I BOUGHT THE BOAT LAST FALL. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THE WAY THIS SYSTEM IS SUPPOSE TO WORK. AND WHAT IS THE SWITCH FOR. <br /><br />THANK,

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trolling motor / charging system ?

Your boat is set up to use one of the following types of trolling motors: 1) 12 volt only, 2) 24 volt only, or 3) 12 or 24 volt. #3 is why the switch is there and why the plug has three wires. The switch allowed charging the batteries through the connector. The wires +12, -12, and +24 were used when you had two batteries wired in series to provide 24 volts. For your installation with one battery, run the BAT POS to the +12V terminal. Run BAT NEG to the -12V terminal. Set the switch to RUN and you should be good to go. Unless your trolling motor is a 12/24V type, you will not need the third wire. Make sure there is a fuse or circuit breaker in the +12V line at the battery.

 

[dak847]

Re: trolling motor / charging system ?

UPINSMOKE, THANKS FOR THE INFO. THE WIRES ARE ALLREADY WIRED AND THE TROLLING MOTOR IS A 12 VOLT AND ALL WORKS FINE AND HAS SINSE I BOUGHT THE BOAT LAST FALL. I ALSO HAVE A BATTERY CHARGER THAT I USE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY, BUT I WANT TO PUT THE THREE PRONG PLUG ON IT TO MAKE IT EASY TO CHARGE. THERE IS ALSO WIRING FOR THE SECOND BATTERY ALREADY, ITS JUST NOT BEING USED. AND I BELEAVE IT IS ALL FACTORY INSTALLED WHEN THE BOAT WAS NEW IN 86. I DONT THINK ANYTHING IS WRONG. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY IT WORKS. SO, IF I PUT THE OTHER BATTERY IN TO RUN A 24V MOTOR ALL I NEED TO DO IS WIRE THE PLUG UP TO THE +24V ? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY CHARGER. BECAUSE I CAN'T CHARGE 24V. THEN DO I WIRE THE CHARGER PLUG TO THE 12V- AND 12V+ TO CHARGE THE BATTERIES. I DO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF DC WIRING. IM JUST NOT SURE HOW THE BOAT SYSTEM WAS MENT TO WORK. THANKS FOR THE HELP

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trolling motor / charging system ?

Since I can't see that switch, I would need to see a schematic (or since you know DC circuits you can draw it out) to figure out how the CHARGE/RUN switch is wired. I think it will be set up so in the CHARGE position the series connection is broken and the batteries are paralleled so you can charge both from a single 12V charger. At this point you need to forget the +12, -12, and 24V labels because -12 implies ground and 24V doesn't exist in a parallel mode. In the end your charger needs to feed both POS terminals and both NEG terminals with the switch in th e CHARGE position. So the switch in effect is a SERIES/PARALLEL switch.