Two trolling motors: Four wire and two wire systems

[fishingfrenzy]

Hello! I have a bowmount with four wires (orange, black, red, and black/blue stripe). I have a transom trolling motor with two wires (red, black, yellow). The transom trolling motor needs the batteries hooked up in a series configuration.
My question: Am I able to run my bowmount, four wire system, while the batteries are hooked in a series for the two wire system? I would assume "no", but I need to defer to someone with better knowledge.
If not, what are my options?

Thank you.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial]Aaron[/FONT]

 

[alldodge]

Hello! I have a bowmount with four wires (orange, black, red, and black/blue stripe). I have a transom trolling motor with two wires (red, black, yellow). The transom trolling motor needs the batteries hooked up in a series configuration.
My question: Am I able to run my bowmount, four wire system, while the batteries are hooked in a series for the two wire system? I would assume "no", but I need to defer to someone with better knowledge.
If not, what are my options?

Thank you.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial]Aaron[/FONT]

My question is not so much how any wires but what are the voltage ratings of the trolling motors? I'll guess that the transom is 24 volt and the bow is 12 volt

 

[fishingfrenzy]

Both are 24 volt systems.

 

[alldodge]

Not totally clear but with them being both 24V then there is no issue running them from two 12V batteries connected in series. That said you would need one separate battery for the engine start or run a lead off one of the first 12V cells.

 

[fishingfrenzy]

One converts to 24 volts at the plug, while the two wire system converts at the battery as it is hooked direct. I'm not sure if the four wire system can run, being it is converted to 24 volts at the plug, with the jumper also between the batteries.

 

[Silvertip]

Do either of those motors have a 12/24 selector switch or are they strictly 24 volt motors. What I will describe is the simplest provided your motors are 24 volt ONLY (not combo 12/24 units). The next question is where are the batteries located? At the stern, at the bow, or one up front and one at the stern. Again, for purposes of this discussion I will assume both batteries are located at the stern.

BOW MOUNT WIRING: You need a clearer understanding of how the four wire system works. Two batteries provide two separate 12 volt circuits to the four terminal receptacle. For 24 volt operation, a four terminal plug will have a jumper inside it (not in the receptacle). That jumper creates the 24 volt series connection. So your current configuration is already 24 volts and the troller only has two wires in its power cable. Since it works it must have the jumper in the plug. So your current motor is fine as is.

STERN MOUNT WIRING: You have two options for the stern mount 24 volt motor,. Just like the bow mount, it only has two wires in the power cable. With the batteries at the back, it would be a waste of wire and money to run those two wires all the way to the bow to pick up 24 volts (Option #1). All you need to do is add the jumper between the two batteries and then run BAT #1 positive and BAT #2 negative to the stern troller through a two prong plug.

WARNING: I used BAT 1 and BAT 2 as a source of reference with BAT 1 providing the POSITIVE feed to your bow mount motor and BAT 2 NEGATIVE as the negative feed to the motor.. You need to verify that the jumper in the bow mount troller uses the same BAT #1 and BAT #2 as I just did. If you don't verify this, you may get serious sparks.

 

[fishingfrenzy]

Understood. Everything you say is correct. Currently:

Battery 1: negative -and yellow wire + from stern trolling motor. Black - and red + from bowmount. Jumper on +
Battery 2: red + from stern trolling motor. White on +, orange on - from bowmount. Jumper on -

 

[fishingfrenzy]

Am I okay with this?