Dumb question. I have two batteries hooked up for my bow mount 24 volt. Negative to battery 1, Positive to battery 2 and then run a spare cable from positive on battery 1 to negative on battery 2….
Dumb question is can I use the same two batteries in parallel to run a 12 volt transom mount motor? Do I need other equipment? What happens if I just hook up pos and neg to battery 1? Do I already have a parallel connection… 
My 12 volt transom motor is just wired to the positive and negative of one battery in the same setup that you have. Thats how it was rigged when I got it from the dealer. Dont know if thats right but has worked for me 5 years now.
So do you get the same effect as running two batteries in parralel….extended battery life? Thanks for the quick response.
Uggggg, I didn’t read you post very good, truth be told I skimmed it, if you currently have a 24v and you’re going to 12v you will have to change the wiring at the batteries positive to positive, negitive to negitive, and you’ll probably have to change the wiring and plug upfront to the trolling motor, 24v plugs tend to be different than 12v plugs, make sure everything is fused and protected and use a voltage tester to assure everything is corrrect, there may have been some sparks a flying last time I did some TM wiring…. 
U will not get the extra run time on the 12V systen since it is only pulling from one of the batteries. If u want the longer time you will have to pull another run from the other batt and splice it into the leads to the 12V trandsom. It can get complicated with all the wires but it is possible. Make a drawing.
-Mark
You will need to have a positive and negative connection to both batteries going to the transom motor to use both. If you get it wrong there will be a lot of sparks. If you hook to one battery you will only use that battery on the transom motor. Not sure what that would do to performance of the 24 volt if you draw one battery down more.
Thanks for all the replys….I plan on leaving the bow mount 24 volt hooked up….likely just hook the 12 volt to just one battery….I think I can do this, and avoid the sparks….haven’t seen sparks yet….they don’t sound really fun….Generally won’t be using both motors on the same outing….different tactics in my mind, just want a decent troller on the back to do some really slow back trolls….jigging up at everett’s I’ll run the bow mount….Please correct if I’m wrong about that it is possible to hook these up and walk away without sparks…I too have concerns about duration of performance, but generally won’t switch back and forth between motors…
You’re on the right track. Leave your 24V motor wired the way it is, and run the 12V transom motor off of just (1) battery. For simplicitys sake, I’d use the battery that has the 24V gound lead (so that both motors share the same ground terminal) and use that battery for the 12V motor. If you would like me to sketch it up for you, drop me an email addy, and I’ll send something over.
HRG
ps: the bottom line is, you can’t have both a series connection (that creates 24 volts) and a 2 x 12 volt parallel connection (for longer run time) at the same time.
Quote:
ps: the bottom line is, you can’t have both a series connection (that creates 24 volts) and a 2 x 12 volt parallel connection (for longer run time) at the same time.
You can do it, but you would need a 12/24 switch.
-J.
Jon,
If you can find it, send me a shematic of a 12/24 switch, that allows the use of BOTH batteries in a 12V parallel-wired sheme, and then allows the same 2 batteries to be wired in a series configuration to create 24 volts. I’m at a loss as to how the internal switching within the switch could create this.
Thanks, HRG
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