What size wire for Trim-N-Troll project?

[simbelle]

I may be getting a little ahead of myself, but I am about to order a set of Minn Kota Trim-N-Troll trolling motors for my 19" Key Largo. The wife is cool with it! I went with the system to because a bow mount would have required me to modify My bow rail, and the boat needs the Tabs anyway to get the bow down.

Anyway, just trying to plan,on expenses. 36 volt system with 2 101lb thrust motors. the batteries will be in a forward hatch with a total wire run of about18 to 20 ft by the time its routed. I have read were a lot of people use 6ga wire for most trolling motor power, I also know that voltage/amp needed drops with wire size and increase in system voltage 36<12 volt, but that I the farther I put the batteries from the motors the bigger the wire should be. So does any one have any idea?

I guess I could wait till I get the system and just call Minn Kota, but I'm excited and scared and read stuff on here all the time, so I thought I'd ask!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: What size wire for Trim-N-Troll project?

What's the maximum current draw of the system? Also, is the wire run 18-20 feet round trip or 18-20 feet from the + battery terminal to the motors and then another 18-20 feet from the motors back to the - battery terminal? Those two details are key.

See: http://www.minnkotamotors.com/what_gauge_wire_for_trolling_motor.aspx?__taxonomyid=977

 

[simbelle]

Re: What size wire for Trim-N-Troll project?

The run is probably about 35 ft or more round trip ( 2, 17 ft wires).

Spoke with Minn Kota today and they said these motors have a 96 amp draw on full speed. Require 2 60 amp circuit breakers.

After talking with battery guys and finding out how fast this would drain my batteries , even with 31 series, I believe I'll just do a bow rail modification, and just put on a 101 lb thrust 60" bow mount Minn Kota auto pilot, and either by trim tabs or smart tabs, This last option is accually more expensive do to the sale price on the trim-n-troll. Guess I'm looking at around 2500 before I get finished.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: What size wire for Trim-N-Troll project?

To be safe, that's going to be a #2 wire. A pair of 6-volt golf cart batteries in series will give you about 90 minutes, but the trolling motor is normally on for a brief time, then off for a few minutes. Unless you're trolling, in which case you'll have to run the mains to charge the batts.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: What size wire for Trim-N-Troll project?

The run is probably about 35 ft or more round trip ( 2, 17 ft wires).

Spoke with Minn Kota today and they said these motors have a 96 amp draw on full speed. Require 2 60 amp circuit breakers.

After talking with battery guys and finding out how fast this would drain my batteries , even with 31 series, I believe I'll just do a bow rail modification, and just put on a 101 lb thrust 60" bow mount Minn Kota auto pilot, and either by trim tabs or smart tabs, This last option is accually more expensive do to the sale price on the trim-n-troll. Guess I'm looking at around 2500 before I get finished.

96 amps at 36 volts? Yikes, that's a lot of power (around 4.5 HP).