Trolling motor wire gauge question

[grimpy]

Hello everyone...

I recently picked up a Motorguide Wireless 55lb thrust 12V. I bought some 10 gauge wires to connect it to my battery... I planned to use it to extend the equipped cable about 4'... I also picked up 10 gauge receptacle & plug...

So..... I open all the packages... start connecting the 50 amp circuit breaker, liquid tape all the connections... and I grab the end of the equipped cable and it says that Motorguide recommends 6 gauge wires...

My question now is... Can I just use the 10 gauge crap for the 4' extension? If not, can use 6 gauge wires but still use the 10 gauge receptacle/plug? Can I use stereo wire? I have some nice 0 gauge wires sitting in my garage.. I may also have some 6 gauge stereo wires as well...

Just curious before I go spend more money on the 6 gauge marine stuff....

Lastly, I got 20' of 8 gauge primary wire to connect the ground of my trolling motor battery to the main battery ground... Is this wire gauge sufficient?

TIA
Darrin

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling motor wire gauge question

If you are pulling around 40 amps with your motor and your 10 awg wire was 4 feet you would have around 0.16V drop in that section of your wire.

For the 20' ground, if you are comparing 8 with 6 guage, you would have 0.5V drop with the 8 and 0.3V drop with the 6 awg wire.

Can you live with that voltage drop?

I guess the bigger question is can the motor take the drop. You have to add the number from the positive cable with that of the ground.

When the manufacturer reccomends 6 awg, what length wire are they specifying that at?

Personally, i would buy some marine wire. It is tinned, has smaller strands so it is more flexible, has thicker insulation,...

There is a guy on ebay that sells marine wire at a pretty good price...$0.93/ft for 6 AWG. He can also install ends on your cable pretty inexpensively.

His ebay name is genuinedealz.

I am not associated with him. I have bought from him before though.

 

[grimpy]

Re: Trolling motor wire gauge question

thanks for the info... What if I just get say 6' of regular battery cables?

Also does the volt drop really matter for grounding my trolling motor battery to my main battery? I'm just using the 8 gauge to connect the grounds for both... My trolling motor will still be grounded to the trolling motor battery ground.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Trolling motor wire gauge question

I just put a new Minn Kota 55 lb thrust on my trolling motor on my boat. I had the same question about the gage of the wiring till a frind had me temperarlly wire the motor with 10ga wire (20'). It took about three minutes of running wide open with no load on the motor for the wires to become quite warm. Now think of how hot those 10ga wires will get with a load on the motor. After seeing that little demonstration, I bit the bullet and bought 2 25' rolls of 4ga wire (cable) to do the job. The cost wasn't as bad ($1.48 per foot x 20 x 2 (20' for + and 20' for -) as trying to find some place that sold 6ga wire in bulk.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling motor wire gauge question

OK..i didn't catch what you said regarding the ground wire. The voltage drop in the grounds between the two batterries will effect the charging of the trolling motor but as the the current drops it shouldn't be a problem. You are probably ok there.

thanks for the info... What if I just get say 6' of regular battery cables?

Also does the volt drop really matter for grounding my trolling motor battery to my main battery? I'm just using the 8 gauge to connect the grounds for both... My trolling motor will still be grounded to the trolling motor battery ground.

 

[grimpy]

Re: Trolling motor wire gauge question

thanks again bruce...

I ended up going with 6' of 4 gauge wires...

Glad to hear the 8 gauge is sufficient... Really didn't want to get more line... I'll be disconnecting all connections on the trolling motor battery when recharging at home.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Trolling motor wire gauge question

Like I said before: Forrest Wood, ala Ranger Boats, Bass Master's Classic boat of choice for a lot of years, uses 6 AWG for the front mount trolling motor with the batteries in the stern.

Nuf said,

Mark

 

[--GQ--]

Re: Trolling motor wire gauge question

I have some nice 0 gauge wires sitting in my garage..

Darrin

"0 gauge wires" <------- zero gauge wire.... LOL, you kids are funny.

NO, you may not use # 10 wire.
NO, you may not use "speaker wires" <------ W T H?
NO, you may not use barbed wire or any "wire" other than a 6 gauge wire which is rated at 50 amps. I recommend 4 gauge wire if distance is over 10 feet. 8)