Trolling motor wire size

[fod59]

Im instating a minn kota 55 ,12 volt on my pontoon,mounting the battery about 10 feet from the motor,the battery will be under the seat.What size of wire do i need 6 or 8 gauge

 

[Skeeterbait]

Re: Trolling motor wire size

Per the ancor wiring calculator, figuring 10 feet, up to a maximum of 50 amp draw, should be less than that actually, 12 volt device, and figuring a maximum of 3 percent drop in voltage, 8 AWG is plenty heavy enough.

http://www.marinco.com/files/applets/wirecalculator.html

 

[sschefer]

Re: Trolling motor wire size

Agree, I just wired my Powerdrive V2. I probably did mine a little different than you. I put two Optima D31's in as house batteries and changed the 10ga comming up to the console to 6ga and put a couple of buss bars in. I ran 8 from that to the trolling motor. I threw in a Blue Sea add a battery kit with the ACR and now don't have to worry about my starting battering getting sucked down by the electronics and trolling motor. Don't forget to throw in a 60amp breaker between the battery and the motor.

As a side note, bringing the 6ga up to the console and terminating it on the buss bars gives me a really convient place to charge from. I wasn't seeing that when I installed them but it works pretty darn sweet.