trolling motor issues

[phoenixgold2100]

I was using my trolling motor on the weekend and when I checked the voltage battery A was at 8 volts and battery B was at 12.5 volts.

I noticed the trolling motor getting weaker during the day.. It looks like it is only using one battery?

It is a motor guide 12/24. I have it wired for 24 volts.

What could be causing this? Both batteries are brand new.

I have used this a few weeks ago and when I got back I checked them and I am pretty sure they were both at 10 volts.

It does have a switch on the pedal but it only works in the 24v position.

The plug is a marinco and has a marinco receptacle. It has two wires coming from the pedal red and black and two wires coming from the batteries.

 

[NYBo]

Re: trolling motor issues

Did you charge the batteries immediately after your last trip? Ten volts is severely discharged, and you shouldn't allow them to get that low as they can be permanently damaged. Charge them up and have them load-tested. Eight volts is severely dead, and that one may not come back.

 

[phoenixgold2100]

Re: trolling motor issues

I didn't charge them right after use maybe the next day...

What should the voltage be after a day of use? 4-6 hours? one was 8volts and the other one was 12.2 or something so 20.2 volts together? is that severely dead?

What would cause the motor to draw on one battery and not both?

When I charged them I just hooked a single 12v charger on one battery at a time and I didn't disconnect the jumper wire.

I know it's wired 24 volts. I just don't get how it could only draw 12...

I have some warranty on these batteries and I am going to have them replaced tomorrow.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: trolling motor issues

the wires on the batteries are connected to? List as battery A and battery B
so red to battery A............where are the other wires connected?

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: trolling motor issues

I didn't charge them right after use maybe the next day...

What should the voltage be after a day of use? 4-6 hours? one was 8volts and the other one was 12.2 or something so 20.2 volts together? is that severely dead?

What would cause the motor to draw on one battery and not both?

When I charged them I just hooked a single 12v charger on one battery at a time and I didn't disconnect the jumper wire.

I know it's wired 24 volts. I just don't get how it could only draw 12...

I have some warranty on these batteries and I am going to have them replaced tomorrow.

i posted before i seen you updated thread

the 8v battery either did not get charged or has a shorted cell get them to test it

 

[phoenixgold2100]

Re: trolling motor issues



They are wired like this. I've checked for 24v at the front of the boat and it was good..

 

[phoenixgold2100]

Re: trolling motor issues

i posted before i seen you updated thread

the 8v battery either did not get charged or has a shorted cell get them to test it

wouldn't the other battery that has 12.2 volts have less after a day of use? The trolling motor barely worked when I put the boat on the trailer today. It's like it was only using the one battery

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trolling motor issues

You need to understand that BOTH batteries need to be charged to provide 24 volts. One battery measuring much lower than the other does not mean the motor was pulling juice from just the weaker battery. It means one battery is better than the other one for any number of reasons. 1) were both batteries "fully" charged. 2) Were voltage measurements made under load (e.g., with the motor operating -- in the water). 3) Because a battery is new does not mean it cannot fail early or be defective the day it was purchased. I suggest you fully charge both batteries and take them both to any store (or wherever you bought them) and have them load tested. If they both test good, then you have a wiring issue. Obviously, if the motor is a 12/24 version and you have the motor wired as you say it is, then moving the 12/24 switch to 12 volt will not work.

 

[phoenixgold2100]

Re: trolling motor issues

Both batteries were bought at the same time. I know they could be defective even though new. I didn't check them after I charged them the last time just assumed they were charged.

the 12.2 battery probably has been drawn on because if it was fully charged it would have more than 12.2 in it.

Voltage wasn't tested under load... Now that I think of it it should have been (good advice).

In the plug the foot control is wired using only the red and black wires. and if it's wired for 24v I don't see how it could only draw 12v so I am thinking either the one battery didn't charge or I hooked the charger to it the wrong way.

How should I charge it with a single 12v charger I mean should I un hook the jumper wire and charge it normally or does the jumper wire not have to be un hooked?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trolling motor issues

Charge each battery as if each was the only battery on the boat. Move BOTH the Pos and Neg charger leads to the battery you wish to charge. No need to remove the jumper.

 

[phoenixgold2100]

Re: trolling motor issues

I am thinking one battery either didn't take a charge or I had the leads on backwards when I was charging it. (it was dark)

Is there any other way this could only be drawing off of one battery? the only way the motor guide 12/24 is wired for 12 and 24 is with the white wire connected.

It is not connected and it gets 24v to the pedal..

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trolling motor issues

It cannot draw off one battery if you have a two wire 24 volt system as you show in your diagram. If you had a three or four wire 12/24 system then yes, it would be possible to suck off one battery.

 

[phoenixgold2100]

Re: trolling motor issues

One thing I forgot to mention is I was using the trolling motor at different speeds so could this cause it to draw off one battery more than the other? thanks again

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: trolling motor issues

One thing I forgot to mention is I was using the trolling motor at different speeds so could this cause it to draw off one battery more than the other? thanks again

when wired in 24v series there is no way that one battery will drain with out the other draining at the same rate.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: trolling motor issues

Charge them both, pull them and get them load tested. the one sounds like it has two shorted cells

When a battery is below 12 volts, its discharged.