Topic: Minn-Kota Grounding Problem

This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 8 months ago by Bass Cat Boats.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

Author

Posts
September 21, 2008 at 6:38 pm #315584

bassman3006
Participant

Has anyone had this problem or heard of this problem. I have a Minn-Kota Maxxum 101 36v I just picked up used from a guy on BBC on my 95 Eyra. It needed a little work (wobbly shaft) which was fixed by my local Minn-Kota shop. My guess is that it is searching for a connection to complete the circuit “underwater” or has a major grounding issue. In 1 days fishing with this thing it; etched my SS Tempest a beautiful shade of brown, put corrosion spots all over my jackplate, rusted my screws for lower unit etc. Anything that was underwater was being fed power or some such nonsense. The Minn-Kota guy said I might have to cut the ground on the trolling motor itself (then the unit would be grounded by the boat?) It really has me puzzled. The motor works great, but something is terribly wrong! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 21, 2008 at 7:05 pm #315604

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

You must use the common ground on the main cranking battery to ground the trolling side of a 36 volt. We assume you are using three (3) batteries and that you have not put the ground on the lower side. Swap the leads to make the cranking battery the initial battery in the 36 system, and make the other side the middle and last positive lines. BCB

September 21, 2008 at 7:31 pm #315638

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Okay, just to be sure. The boat was previously wired at the factory for 24/36. Nothing has changed other than the fact that this motor is 36v only. The leads coming from the front intially tie the 2 passenger side batteries together and then jump over to the drivers side to pick up the cranking battery. I should bring the leads from the front directly to the cranking battery and have the two batteries on the passenger side be the “end of the circuit” versus the cranking? Thanks

September 22, 2008 at 12:53 am #315657

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Basically, the loop is to start with the ground on the cranking battery. If it is as we think your wired then you have your wires for 24 volts to the bow and a second pair of leads that completes the circuit. Then put the ground on the negative cranking battery, jumper wire to one troller from positive on the cranking to negative on one trolling. Which would put the positive of that pair of leads on that positive trolling battery. Then the other trolling battery would have the second pair of leads on those two posts. Those leads go to the panel in the front receptacle. If we are right you will have 24 and 12 volts both at the front. The plug for the troller has a strap that makes these 36 volts. If this is not right then contact service tomorrow for a diagram.
Author

Posts

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login Register