Newbie question – Trolling motor circuit breaker

  • Kapok
    Posts: 2
    #1239411

    I’ve never had a boat before and have a 16′ aluminum with a transom-mount trolling motor (40lb. thrust). I am going to buy a deep cycle marine battery but am told I need a circuit breaker. How do I install this inline? Do I cut the wire leading from the motor, splice in the breaker, and then have a short piece of wire with the alligator clamp to connect to the battery? Here’s the breaker I’m looking at. Circuit Breaker

    Hard to believe there’s not more instructions about this out there. Thanks for patient answers!

    Huntindave
    Shell Rock Iowa
    Posts: 3088
    #1180613

    Quote:


    I’ve never had a boat before and have a 16′ aluminum with a transom-mount trolling motor (40lb. thrust). I am going to buy a deep cycle marine battery but am told I need a circuit breaker. How do I install this inline? Do I cut the wire leading from the motor, splice in the breaker, and then have a short piece of wire with the alligator clamp to connect to the battery? Here’s the breaker I’m looking at. Circuit Breaker
    Hard to believe there’s not more instructions about this out there. Thanks for patient answers!


    What you describe is correct. The only thing I would do different is not use the alligator clips. I’d cut those off and crimp on the proper size ring terminal. The ring terminals will make a much better electrical connection.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    #1180620

    12 volt – 40lb set up. I would skip the breaker.

    -J.

    Kapok
    Posts: 2
    #1180805

    So skip the breaker? Maybe I’m overthinking it?

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    #1180816

    Never had an issue with a 12 votl trolling motor. Skip the breaker. But go ahead and re-do the connection to the battery. Change the clips to rings. Solder them on and you will be good to go.

    -J.

    brucea
    Maplewood,MN
    Posts: 431
    #1180843

    Quote:


    Never had an issue with a 12 votl trolling motor. Skip the breaker. But go ahead and re-do the connection to the battery. Change the clips to rings. Solder them on and you will be good to go.

    -J.


    Sorry Jon I disagree. I would install a circuit breaker and I would feel much safer. I am not worried about protecting the motor as much as protecting against a fire. If the leads for some reason became shorted or some thing inside the motor shorted out the breaker would trip and there would be no arcing or sparking. There is a lot of power stored up in a battery of this size. We need to control that power with a manual reset circuit breaker.
    Bruce

    Charles Moss
    Posts: 1
    #1879134

    The original question was how to wire the breaker. There are many answers out there but none explain it simply and completely. I also would like to fully understand how to.

    munchy
    NULL
    Posts: 4931
    #1879135

    The original question was how to wire the breaker. There are many answers out there but none explain it simply and completely. I also would like to fully understand how to.

    If you’re using the breaker that is in the link above. First get the appropriate sized crimp ring terminals for the breaker. Make a cut on the positive[Red] wire about 2 inches from the battery end of the trolling motor cable, this is where the breaker will be placed. Strip each end and crimp a ring terminal onto each. Now if you notice in the picture linked above there is a copper post and silver colored post, the copper post connects to the ring terminal nearest the battery, the silver post connects to the ring terminal going to the trolling motor.

    Personally I would get one that mounts directly to either the battery post or boat instead of loose like the one linked. Less chance of short circuits.

    BTW, DO NOT do as someone mentioned above and solder any connection that carries a heavy load like a trolling motor. They have a tendency to heat up and will loosen over time causing more heat that can eventually cause a fire. Only solder these types of connections if it is crimped as well. The solder will help protect the connection against corrosion

    SuperDave1959
    Harrisville, UT
    Posts: 2816
    #1879153

    At 40A, there are also a couple different types. The self resetting as Dave posted above and the spade fuse type.

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