Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

[gary clune]

Silvertip, hope you're listening... I'm helping a friend with the aforementioned. He has a 12v MinnKota hand controlled trolling motor with 2 batteries wired in parallel. There are 2 wires from the batteries (bilge) to the t/motor plug (bow). He wants to replace the existing, worn out, 2 wire plug & install a momentary on-off switch (Big Foot brand) for his hand controlled t/motor. While he has all parts on hand, & they're new, he has no instructions for them. I've searched on line with little success & am very limited on ability regarding electrical work. The plug to be installed is a Marinco 12v 4 prong with 12/24v receptacle (#2018BP-12 & 2018BR-MB). The back of the receptacle has 4 screws marked A-,B-,A+,B+. He has an on-board battery charger, & does not intend to use this receptacle for charging. The Big Foot switch is designed to be installed in the neg t/motor wiring. I know this can all be installed at the plug rather than splicing wires, Ive seen it done. I'm just not sure how. Any help from any & all is appreciated.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

You have a 12 volt motor. Why the four prong plug. Waste of money. You only need a two prong. There are only two wires on a momentary switch. Splice it into the negative wire from the troller receptacle going back to the battery.

 

[gary clune]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

Silvertip... The 4 prong plug is something he had on hand. So if I understand you correctly, when wiring the receptacle, I could run the Pos battery wire to the screw marked A+, & the Neg wire to B+. Now, going to the plug... That would leave A- & B- dead pins. If I put a jumper between A- & B-, I could wire the plug as follows: T/motor Pos to A+, t/motor Neg to A-, momentary switch wires to B+ & B-. That lets me install the momentary switch on the Neg side, & control on-off on the t/motor. Is that how you would do it?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

NO! The A+, A-, B+ and B- signify the battery (A or B) and the polarity (+ and -). At this point I have no idea what you are trying to accomplish since you've not told us WHERE you intend to make the PARALLEL connection between the two batteries. The simple answer here is there are only two connections on the momentary switch. Just break the negative lead (or the positive as either will work). Insert the switch at that point.

 

[gary clune]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

The parallel connection is made at the batteries, in the bilge. A Pos & a Neg wire from one battery, is running from the bilge to the t/motor plug at the bow. I know the 12v system only requires 2 prongs. He wants to use a 4 prong setup because he has one & because he does not want spliced wiring on his deck. He wants all connections at the plug. The 4 terminals on the receptacle are independent of one another, so it does not matter which terminals get battery Pos or Neg, as long as I know which ones they are. Then, by using a jumper to join the other 2 terminals, I should be able to wire it as per example in my previous post. Right?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

Again -- the switch is in series with either the POS or NEG lead from the battery. However you do it is up to you. If you provide a diagram of what you want to do I'll look at it but I don't have time to design circuits for everyone. Very often what is described is misinterpreted and a problem arises.

 

[gary clune]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

I don't recall asking you to design a circuit, I'm well aware that however I do it is up to me. Thank you for your input, albeit condescending. I'm sorry to have bothered you with my trivial matter, rest assured I wont make that mistake again.

 

[gary clune]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

I don't recall asking you to design a circuit, I'm well aware that however I do it is up to me. Thank you for your input, albeit condescending. I'm sorry to have bothered you with my trivial matter, rest assured I wont make that mistake again.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

Trivial Matters are the issues that tend to be major issues because folks don't always do what they say or understand what they say. Designing a circuit means creating a schematic or wiring diagram. You elected not to do that so that leaves me with taking "your word" for what you intend to do. Sorry Pal, I don't work that way. But since you feel I treated you poorly I will create the diagram for you. Now then, wire it like the diagram and it will work. Don't wire it that way and whatever you toast is your problem. Just so you know, I took 45 minutes out of my evening to create this for you. If you would take the time to calculate how much time I would have spent creating diagrams for all of my posts in just this forum you would realize why I said I don't have time.

 

[gary clune]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

Your diagram is pretty much what I described & you rejected. The only exception is that I connected opposite wires to A- & B-, which matters not, because of the jumper. Apparently my ability to describe my thoughts in writing were lacking. Clearly, a diagram would have been better. I did not expect you to provide me with a diagram when I began this thread. But I can see where you would feel that I had, because after all, I did request help from you by name. I apologize to you for allowing my frustration to get the better of me, & I thank you for taking the time to confirm my solution as valid. You have excellent troubleshooting skills & your posts have helped, & continue to help, many of us on this site. We appreciate you & your efforts.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

I don't remember rejecting anything. Not agreeing before seeing a diagram is called covering your arse. As I said, what people "think" they are going to do, what they "wrote", and what they actually "do" are often very different. The point here was that why should any of us have to draw the schematic to agree or disagree with you. You should have done that yourself and then asked is this ok? Simply running someone elses design through your head leaves a lot of room for error.

 

[gary clune]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

I think the emphatic "NO!" you posted constitutes a rejection. I conceded earlier that I should have provided a diagram, & I tried to end this on a positive note. It was a simple 4 pin plug, for heavens sake. Quit trying to act like a little bully & get over yourself. I'm finished discussing this with you.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor plug & momentary on-off switch installation

Bye!