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Wiring Question

I need to do a little rewiring and before I do, I would like some feedback from the rest of you.

Do you run all your accessories (livewell pumps, GPS, locators) off the cranking battery, or off the 1st bank of the trolling motor batteries? Or do you split the accessories up?

Thanks,

Scott....

Scott
May 3
2005
A lot depends on how you use your boat. I use my livewell pumps quite a bit and thus, don't want them draining my starting battery. There's little more frustrating than fishing all day, hitting the key to come back to the landing and.....

NOTHING!

On my prior boats, I had removed everything from the starting battery except the outboard itself. Everything else was powered by the trolling motor batteries.

Then, the worst that could happen would be my fishing day was shortened a little bit, but I always knew that I had juice to start the outboard and get home. But with a 24 volt system, that never happened either.

On my current boat, it came with a system that has 4 batteries, three were originally for the trolling motor, one for the outboard. I changed the trolling motor to a 24 volt (the 36v MotorGuide died) and decided that I'd hook the "unused" battery to the starting battery. On this boat, all of the accessories are still on the starting system, but there's two batteries to draw from. And, all 4 batteries get charged by the on-board charger when I'm done fishing anyway.

I'd run all of your high draw items off the trolling motor batteries. You won't be stranded that way.

Steve
May 3
Thanks Steve. I also have 4 batteries, as I have a 36 volt trolling motor. I think your logic sounds too good to ignore. I'll wire the accessories to the 12volt(1st) bank.

Thanks again....

Scott...

Scott
May 3
Most of the guys around here go with three group 31? batteries. (The ones bigger than the group 27s anyway.) They hook everything to the cranking battery, and the ground for the trolling motor goes to the cranking battery. Then they connect the other two up in series with the trolling motor. Every one I have talked to claims they can run hard for two days running a 109 MotorGuide in the main river current for a good part of the day and never have a problem.

Dave Willhide runs a proffessional guide service and that is the way his boat is rigged up. Mac McDermott fishes all the local club tournaments even the ones I don't fish, and thats the way his boat is rigged. My ABA partner Hammer fishes most of the local club circuits and one full pro circuit, and that's the way his boat is rigged up, and my new Bass Cat came rigged that way.

I know it seems risky to me too, but they are running like that and fishing two or three days a week every week.

Bob La Londe www.YumaBassMan.com

Bob
May 3
battery.

What purpose does connecting the ground on the deep cycle to the cranking battery serve? Without a complete circuit I don't see the reason.

Todd
May 4
Todd,

The system Bob described uses the cranking battery as the first bank of the 3 for the 36 volt trolling motor as well. The system starts with the cranking battery. Everything (accesssory wise) is wired to it. Then, in addition to that, a lead is run from the positive cranking battery terminal to the negative terminal of bank two. Another from bank two positive to bank three negative. Then the trolling motor get 36 volts from positive on bank three and ground on cranking battery.

Scott...

Scott
May 4
Exactly. Motorguide actually published a wiring diagram for doing this. I never saw it and I heard it was wrong... LOL, but they don't have a problem with it. I have heard that Minn Kota will void your warranty though if you use the cranking battery as part of your trolling motor circuit. I can't imagine why. Electrically there is nothing wrong with it.

Bob La Londe www.YumaBassMan.com

Bob
May 4
..... <scratches head>.... alright.... this will take me awhile... :) Todd
May 5
   

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