Switching 12v trolling motor to 24v

Hey all, I have a 12v tolling motor on my Larson FX1750. I have 2 batteries in parallel, and it works OK, a little weak on power on the windiest days, and it drains the batteries down pretty good after a full day. I had a heat issue last year with the cord, and found a loose connection. I talked to Minn Kota support, and they stated a 24v motor with the same 2 batteries is a much better setup. More power, less amp draw, meaning less heat in the batteries, better all the way around.

My question is – it is currently setup with separate wires from the batteries to the plug socket at the motor, does the parallel connection at the plug. With the lower current draw, would one set of that wiring be enough to handle the 24v batteries in series? I still need to figure out the actual gauge of the wire, that would help, but I think it should be OK?

Just switch the plug out and rewire between the batteries for 24 volt. That may solve the heat problem.

Follow the manufacturer’s specs for your motor located here. You should also make sure you install the recommended breaker.

jp

Thanks JasonP, I searched for that chart from Minn Kota, but could not find it. I already have the 60amp breaker, just need to check the wire gauge now. That chart supports what they told me, the 24v system draws less amps than the existing 12v system, even though it is high power.

Yeah you should be able to use a marinco plug and just wire it differently to get 24 volt instead of just 12 volt. As mentioned you will likely need to update your breaker size. Overall peak amps for like an 80# would be approaching mid to upper 40’s I would think.

toddrun wrote:

Thanks JasonP, I searched for that chart from Minn Kota, but could not find it. I already have the 60amp breaker, just need to check the wire gauge now. That chart supports what they told me, the 24v system draws less amps than the existing 12v system, even though it is high power.

Also if you were overheating at the junction of the 3-wires at the motor it was probably because that way of running a motor in parallel sounds a little funky to me. I think typically you want two wires running from one battery to the other and two wires running from one battery to the plug receptacle. But I’m not an electrician either.

As for the Marinco plugs, I loved the twist-connect, but I used them for a few years and had issues with them. Switched to the Minnkota plugs (MKR-28) and that thing is a brick-house.

jp

I have the same plug as Jason – THe Minnkota MKR -28 . I paid around $140 1.5 years ago.
The dealer installed my trolling motor and the wires (bare) were crossed and it was arcing.
Put the new MKR on in less than a half hour, including the rubber shrink tubes.
Easy peasy!
I love the way the wires go straight down to the floor and no danger of bumping them and loosening the connection. QUICK to plug in and tighten ( my trolling motor comes off every time I leave the water so…) They are built beefy – can’t go wrong