Electrolysis Question

  • Dave Mulder
    Posts: 78
    September 19, 2020 at 7:04 am #1973687

    After a week of fishing i noticed some electrolysis on my Vantage trolling motor. (We did a bunch of back trolling that week) Most of my fishing this year has been with my Ulterra with no signs of any electrolysis at all on that unit. Everything appears to be wired correctly with no common grounds between house-starting & trolling motor batteries. Is it possible that my on board charger is carrying current when i am on the water fishing causing my issue? Why just the Vantage and not the Ulterra? (I am going to pull the fuses out of the 4th battery charger leads and check next time i am on the water) Mostly looking for some trouble shooting tips and how to trace if i have stray current. Thanks

    shady5
    Posts: 491
    September 19, 2020 at 7:13 am #1973688

    Prepare for mostly unwanted hair jokes…

    Dave Mulder
    Posts: 78
    September 20, 2020 at 8:08 am #1973850

    Same issue with electrolysis today with fuses out of the charger leads. Any trouble shooting tips of where to start with this one? Again absolutely no issues on the Uterra. Could the vantage have some bad electrical going on inside it to have caused this?

    mark-bruzek
    Two Harbors, MN
    Posts: 3875
    September 20, 2020 at 4:58 pm #1973958

    Electrolysis or corrosion?
    Do you leave your boat in the water plughed into shore power?
    Any pictures?

    There are quite a few articles and videos on how to use a miltimeter to test for electrolysis current.

    munchy
    NULL
    Posts: 4951
    September 21, 2020 at 7:50 am #1974061

    May have a bad seal on the Trolling Motor Lower Unit allowing water in and shorting something out. Pull the prop and check for fishing line around the shaft. And possibly pull the lower unit cover off and see if any water comes out and everything looks good. Check and clean all your electrical connections and maybe go bigger on the wires feeding it.

    Also check your sacrificial anodes on your outboard and make sure they are all in place, snug, and not worn out.

    Otherwise call Minnkota and see if they have any recommendations.

    If you inspect everything and get nowhere it may be a good idea to install a sacrificial anode on the bottom fin of the trolling motor and see if that helps.

    Dave Mulder
    Posts: 78
    September 21, 2020 at 9:51 am #1974094

    Am guessing I found my issue. Seals are gone causing me the issues.

    Attachments:

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    2. CA300AF5-7017-474D-8E85-5A199D39CDB1.jpeg

    munchy
    NULL
    Posts: 4951
    September 21, 2020 at 10:24 am #1974104
    Dave Mulder wrote:

    Am guessing I found my issue. Seals are gone causing me the issues.

    Yesir! I’d start with getting those repaired.

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