Want to wire your trolling motor but can’t seem to find a quick way? Well, what are we here for? Let’s dive in and see how you or anybody can wire a 24V trolling motor. Wiring boat motors might seem like the most tedious task; Batteries, wires, plus-minus, and whatnot. However, we have decided to make this very simple. So keep reading, and you will be done in no time.
What You Will Require to Wire Your Trolling Motor
First things first, we need all the accessories necessary to proceed with the wiring. You need to have these tools in hand so that the procedure goes smoothly and can be done in one go. Most of these items are included when you purchase a motor, but some you might have to buy separately. Let’s begin!
- Marine deep cycle batteries
Batteries for trolling motors are mostly 12V. Since we have a 24V motor, we would need two batteries of 12V.
- Terminal ends
Terminal ends are installed so that it is easier to connect your battery with the help of a single screw. Terminal ends are seen on the power wires that come out of the motor for connection. There are different terminals in different batteries, so you would have to replace or purchase accordingly.
- Circuit Breaker
A circuit breaker is a must, and you would have to install it in order to protect the motor. It is placed between the motor and the battery.
- Battery jumper cables
Any battery above the capacity of 12V (Like 24V or 36V) needs a jumper cable to connect the batteries in a line. These are usually short.
- Trolling Motor Plug & Receptacle
Anyone who plans to charge the batteries after taking it out of the boat then plug and receptacle would surely be a great help. You can connect and disconnect pretty quickly.
All packed? Let’s untangle this wiring task now!
Wiring a 24V Trolling Motor
Wiring All the Components
When the boat’s motor, all the items, and batteries are ready with you, you can start wiring. But first:
- Measure, test, and run your wire down from the trolling motor to your boat and into your batteries. This will show you so much wire you need since you should keep it as neat as possible. Once the length is measured, keep extra 12 inches of wire to be on the safer side.
- Now strip the wires and install the terminals we got on the battery. Once these connections are made and all parts are ready, we can move to battery wiring. It is a bit more detailed.
- Make sure you zip ties the wires that have been connected for safety.
Setting Up Batteries For a 24V Trolling Motor
The most commonly used types of trolling motors are freshwater trolling motors and engine mount trolling motors, and the process for both of them is pretty much the same.
As we discussed earlier, you would need two 12V batteries to power a 24V trolling motor. It is required that you connect both the batteries in a series and not parallel. You need double voltage power.
You have to test the batteries before you directly install them. Check their functioning and mark the positive and negative side if not mentioned clearly. Batteries need to be charged as well. Negative terminals are black and positive ones are red. Accordingly, arrange your items. Once all the other work is done, wiring can begin.
CAUTION
Please make sure you turn off the motor before you start wiring.
Wear proper clothing with rubber gloves if necessary. Safety is key here.
After the wiring is done, carefully check all of it again.
Wiring the Battery to Trolling Motor
Note: If you are using a circuit breaker, you need to skip step 4.
- Place the batteries beside each other. One battery’s positive would sit beside the other’s negative.
- The jumper wire comes in handy now. Use it to connect the batteries with each other. Ensure you join Battery 1’s positive terminal to Battery 2’s negative terminal.
- See the negative terminal of the motor cable? Connect it to Battery 1’s negative terminal.
- Similarly, connect the positive terminal of the trolling motor cable to Battery 2’s positive terminal.
For circuit breaker users:
- After the last step, 3, connect the positive terminal of the motor cable to the output terminal of the circuit breaker.
- You would now need to connect the output terminal of the circuit breaker to the positive terminal of battery 2.
- Done? Reset the circuit breaker now so that power can flow through to the motor.
You are done already!
Conclusion
Wiring a 24V Trolling Motor is not difficult, but you need to be very careful at all times. Double-checking is a must because one mistake could lead to heavy damage to the battery and the motor. The battery could explode too. This is why circuit breakers are highly recommended as well. Safety should be ensured at all times. Hope this was of help.
