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oldtimer57.
Recently replaced my batteries with new Duracell Deep Cycle batteries. Was fishing Friday and we decided to run across Waxahatchee near the mouth. I ran the MK Maxxum 80 up to 100 and off we went. Was touching 3.0 when about 2/3 of the way across, TM quit. Immediately checked the breaker and it had tripped. Reset and ran the rest of the way at 80% and had no further issue. Limited max to 80 the rest of the day and still no more popped breakerI wonder if this means the new batteries are pushing a little extra current, or if the (probably) factory-installed 60a breaker is getting a bit fragile in its old age (like me)??? The plug up front was not hot, nor the head of the TM, nor the connections back at the battery.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Breakers get “weaker” with age/corrosion and each time they pop and are reset. Sounds like it did its job and time to replace with new ones. DwaynePractice Angling CPRCatchPictureRelease2010 PIV 200SHO
Breaker
Yes, replace the breaker before chasing anything else.
Just as you sometimes see a type of corrosion on the outside of the post its on the inside as well. I keep a new set in my boat all the time. Definitly change the breakers2013 PANTERA 2MERCURY 200 PRO XSMINNKOTA 80LB FORTREX25 fury
If you dont already have a battery cut off switch for charging, if you put in a breaker with an on/off switch, you can save yourself from having to unplug your MK while charging.https://www.waytekwire.com/item/46871/E … ace-Mount/
I never unplug my MK while charging. Was not recommended by MK that I can find. I have read the posts about this here and there, but they overlook several important issues. What about stealth chargers that charge the primary battery AND the TM batteries while running the outboard? Do you unplug the TM every time you move? Not anyone I know does that. And the outboard alternator produces those same high voltages to charge 12v batteries. I ran a digital MG and a digital MK for 20+ years with zero problems, zero failures. My current MK has been running since 08. Im not sure unplugging/disconnecting/interrupting the circuit is necessary. I suppose if it is, I will eventually find this out. Just for sanity I am going to hook up my DC Ammeter in the TM circuit to see just what kind of current the thing pulls at full power. MK says 56 amps, which is really seriously close to the 60a breaker limit. Been doing a bit of reading and it seems like a circuit breaker is a bit of voodoo to start with. IE it would seem that a 60a breaker really wont tolerate 56 amps for very long. The higher the current, the faster it should trip. But this is done with a bimetal strip that has to heat up, so it is not instantly opened. But it does get faster as the current rises. Im trying to find a breaker that will really carry anything less than 60 (or some close number) of amps indefinitely, rather than the current breaker that will still trip at less than stated amp limit if run long enough… PITA.Last edited by oldtimer57 on August 14th, 2017, 3:12 am, edited 1 time in total.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Its your breaker boss mine did same thing I put amp meter on it while fishing Took wire temps if you have plastic inline breakers get yourself a new 60 amp manual reset Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
After being an electrician for over forty years, I was always told that you dont want to load a breaker over eighty per cent. I think the National Electric Code even says that. The more current, the more heat which causes failure prematurely. I would just not run the trolling motor at 100 per cent unless absolutely necessary.
I just looked at BCB parts. Biggest breaker I saw was 50a. I am going to look at mine today to be sure it is 60a. I have not eyeballed it personally, other than to clean the connections a few months back. I agree about the load percent. I looked at a ton of PDF files last night discussing breaker performance. They have a significant ramp-type performance, because they need to allow for momentary overloads such as when starting the TM in weeds. So this bi-metal strip has to heat up to trip, and it has a time component to provide the overload for a short period of time without tripping. Which means it will very likely trip at below the rated current if the current sticks for any length of time. I found one mention of “at least two minutes at 90% of rated amps before it will trip”. Given the 6 gauge wire from battery to plug up front, I am going to see if I can scrounge up a 75a breaker, as there have been a few occasions where 100% was needed to combat a 1.5mph river current + a 20mph downstream wind as well.Fixing to poke NAPA to see if they have anything.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
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