Trolling Motor Protection

[495v]

Is it a resetable circuit? I sometimes blow my circuit with a 12 / 24v system if I run on top speed for an extended time. I don't know if the motor works to hard and heats up or what, but after a minute or so, I reset the circuit by pushing in a little button on top and works fine again. Would love to here more on this post, I've been thinking about increasing my elec. motor to a greater thrust. I currently have a motorguide 50lbs thrust on a 21' bass boat. Any suggestions?

 

[Country Cousin]

Trolling Motor Protection

My trolling motor only works on 12V, not 24V. There is some kind of circuit breaker/fuse from the positive side of the second battery. Anyone know what this is called (a brand name to search for on the internet) or where I can find one?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

As far as I can tell, it is not resetable. I run a Brute 756. I only have a 17' Triton. I assume it blew when my son was messing with the wiring, since it worked about 1/2 hour earlier.

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

On mine there is a black box ( circuit breaker ) mounted on the wall inside the engine compartment right by the batteries. I will check it out and get a name, but anyways, mine has a little black button on the very top that really looks like nothing except you can push it in. When the breaker is tripped, it pops back up. I hope some others on this website have some other suggestions.

 

[Ranger354]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

My father had a circut breaker (fuse) on his 24volt greatwhite 50lb thrust. It was an actual 30 metal fuse. Looked kinda strange like the old style flasher for car blinkers. This was square and was 1 inch by 1 inch.<br /><br />I would try looking at the nearest auto parts store. Take the one you have and maybe they can match it up.

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

Thanks - I'll look around here in Virginia. Doesn't look like fishing weather this weekend anyway (course a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work)

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

Country Cousin, how old is your Triton and trolling motor?

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

It's a 1998. Assume the trolling motor is the same. Just got it in November. Had a 1979 Ranger 374V with a 175 Rude that lost a #1 cyllinder. They wanted $2000 to rebuild. Was cheaper to trade. I usually fish alone, since everyone else wanted me to fish on their schedule - and it was my boat! This 17' Triton is easier to load for 1 person than the Ranger was. There is a difference in handling though, but I more than make up for it in gas mileage. I have started trying to fish any tournaments yet - just enjoying the fishing now.

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

I bet your 79' Ranger was still in good shape, except for the engine. Triton's are very nice boats as well. You say there is a difference in handling? Which one did you think handled better and are you comparing 2 similar size boats? Just curious, Triton was one of my choices to. I have a 96' Ranger 495V.<br />Do you have the manual for your trolling motor? I will try and find out some info for you tonight as far as how many fuses there are and were they are located. Maybe someone else will have some more info for us.

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

The Ranger was a 17' 10" , the Triton is a 16' 10". The Ranger was in excellent shape. The motor didn't have head gaskets - just "O" rings, and one of them split and allowed water in. Started knocking. They gave me all but $400 that I paid for the Ranger. The Ranger sat a little closer to the water, so was a little more stable when fishing. The Triton has more storage (2 rod lockers). It is a lighter boat, and doesn't have the hydraulic steering that the Ranger had, but overall, I am pleased with it. The Ranger would run about 70mph, and get me about 1.5 miles to the gallon. The Triton will run about 50mph, but I am probably getting around 8 or more miles to the gallon.<br />I didn't ever catcvh any fish at 70 mph anyway. (kind of hard to catch & release at that speed). The lake I fish in is so low now that anyone that runs that speed will probably wreck anyway.

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

Yeah but if you can't do 70 how will you ever hook those bass and take them water skiing. It's good to hear that your Ranger held it's value so well. If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it and did you buy it new or used?

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

Bought it used - on 05/2001 for $9000. They threw in a full boat cover. I checked NADA prices and it was about $1000 below book (boat-motor-trailer). It had just been re-carpeted, had a lowrance lms-350A and a lowrance x75 on bow. Gel coat looked new - no scratches. There are times I think I should have kept it, but I do still like the Triton. Went from an 1989 to a 1998 , lost 1 foot of fishing space, but got them to throw in an extended 2 year warranty on the motor.<br />Don't feel that I got screwed, but then they fixed the boat and resold it in less than a week. Both boats are sharp , but the Triton weighs less, and is less strain on the tow vehicle (lots of hills around here)

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

good to hear you got a good deal that you are happy with. I wonder what they turned around and sold the Ranger for after fixing it?

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

Not sure - The Triton was on their lot for a couple of months - and being November, they gave me a good deal on it. The book price on both boats was about $1000 to $1500 different, but like I said, the electronics on the Ranger were worth a lot more. Thought of taking them off, but then wouldn't have gotten as much for it. Even though it was November, there hasn't been many weekends that the temperature here hasn't been in the 50's or 60's, so as far as I'm concerened, I didn't have to winterize the boat, since I take it out almost every weekend.<br />Figure they had a buyer in mind for the Ranger when I talked to them. They had someone get in touch with me before the engine went - he had a 2001 Ranger 519 SVS with a 225 that he was asking about $32,500 for. Wanted another Ranger to fish while he tries to sell his. They could have sold it for more with a "Rebuilt" engine, and could have even warranted the engine for a while.<br />I was afraid to ask them what they sold it for - like the wife says - "It's just a big hole in the water" (but I love that hole!)

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

That's funny, my wife say's the same thing. I bet that's pretty common to most people on this website. I still hope we get someone who can solve our problem. I sure would like to know what is causing my circuit to trip.

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

I called a Marine Electronics place down near my lake, that comes highly recommended from a fellow Ranger owner. He says he carries something like I am talking about - in 30 or 40 amp size. Told me to bring mine down this weekend and he would find one like mine. I also have a fishfinder problem I need him to look at. Put a Garmin 100 on the console - and put the transducer in the bilge (after trying it on the transom like the Ranger). It seems to read fish correctly listing them at the depth I think they are at, but the main depth reading ranges to about 580 feet when it is only about 40 to 50 feet deep. I think the transducer is angled correctly, but must not be.

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

I had a problem something like that with my front transducer giving me false readings. I think what it was was that I had a few people in the boat and most were sitting towards the rear, causing the bow to rise. It may have risen enough to come out of the water at certain times because of the wakes. I don't know if this is possible but it's only happened a few times and it happened when there were some big guys with me. Did you install the transducer yourself? There's a post on hear that I was reading the other day regarding proper installation of a thru hull transducer. May want to check it out. Unfortunately I can't remember exactly were it was, but I'm sure you can find it.

 

[Country Cousin]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

OK, thanks. I'll look for it tomorrow. Bout ready to go home now. Will Check the board from home. Have a good evening

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

Hi gents:<br /><br />Something to note....everytime a circuit breaker trips, it gets tired. If it trips several times, it takes alot less current to trip it from when it was new. What you should do is measure the current the motor is drawing while in use.(amp clamp or inline ammeter) This will tell you if indeed you have a problem, or just a tired breaker. There are many resetable breakers available at your nearby electronics supplier. If you can't find a breaker locally, I can give you an e-mail address.<br />

 

[495v]

Re: Trolling Motor Protection

I'll have to check it out. I'm thinking maybe I have something as simple as a loose wire. I bought the boat last year from the original owner and he told me that it's happened to him occasionally ever since the get-go. The only time it trips is when I put it on 24v and run it on speed 5 for an extended period of time. I would say it probably happened to me 2-3 times this summer. What amp should the circuit breaker be? Also, this is a 21' Ranger bassboat (not exactly sure on weight) with a 50lb thrust motor. Is it possible that it's tripping the switch because this motor is to small for my boat?