Upgrading to a 24 volt motor -97' Lund

[Hoovey]

I am replacing my 12V bow mount motor with a 24v model on a 97 Lund Pro V. I plan on running two 12V batteries in series for power, but I am curious if I can use the existing wire and plug adaptor for the 24 volt system? I'm not sure if I need different gauge wire and/or a different adaptor. Also, do I connect my on board charger to the batteries the same as I would connect the motor wires (red wire to positive of one battery and black to negative on the other battery)? Thanks.

[JIM PAYNE]

DOES YOUR CURRENT PLUG ON THE BOW HAVE FOUR WIRES OR THREE. IF IT HAS FOUR (WHICH IT SHOULD)THEN YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUT THE BATTERIES IN SERIES BECAUSE THE TROLLING MOTOR PLUG WILL DO IT FOR YOU. WHEN YOU HOOK UP YOUR CHARGER YOU PUT ONE BANK TO ONE BATTERY AND THE OTHER BANK TO THE OTHER BATTERY. PLUS TO PLUS NEG TO NEG ON EACH. DO NOT PUT PLUS TO NEG. GOOD LUCK.

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JIM PAYNE

[mobydick]

I am in the same situation!
my boat was pre-rigged with a trolling motor plug and it only has 1 red and 1 black-10ga wire and were it plugs into it has 1red and 1black running to the trolling motor batt

i don't have my 24v trolling motor yet but it is being shipped. Do they have 4 wires or just two?
can i use the pre-rigged plug??

what do i do

thanks
moby

[JIM PAYNE]

IF YOU ONLY HAVE TWO WIRES YOU ARE STILL OK. THE TWO BATTERIES WILL HAVE TO BE WIRED IN SERIES AT THE BATTERIES. RED WIRE FROM BATTERY ONE IS THE RED WIRE TO THE TROLLING MOTOR PLUG, BLACK WIRE FROM BATTERY TWO WILL GO TO THE TROLLING MOTOR PLUG, THE NEG FROM BATTERY ONE AND THE POS OF BATTERY TWO WILL NEED TO BE CONNECTED TOGETHER WITH A BATTERY JUMPER WHICH YOU CAN GET AT ANY AUTO PARTS STORE.YOU WILL THEN BE IN BUSINESS. GOOD LUCK

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JIM PAYNE

[GAR]

Jim; I have some ? for you. I just replaced my Motor Guide 24 volt to a Minn Kota Auto Pilot OK they have different pulgs for the bow plug? where can I get the pulg for the MN Kota ? and will it just plug into my wiring? Now that my batterys are not really in a series will my 12 volt stay N, Charge work, If I hook to both batterys up. Thanks Jim you really KNOW what your talking about. GAR

[Deemo]

JIM ALL CAPS IS YELLIN!! IT IS HARD ON THE EYE'S. Good to see you helping out tho.

[JIM PAYNE]

Sorry about the yelling but I am not good at typing. My kids are on ridlin for a reason. As far as switching from a motor guide and minkota motors the plug from the motor guide should be able to be used on the minkota. There are only a black and a red wire on each. if that does not look correct call me and i will get the answer for you. good luck jim 612-590-5833

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JIM PAYNE

[mobydick]

Thanks for the reply
Now if i have to connect my batteries in a series how do i go about charging them with a regular 6amp single bank charger??

can it be charged with the stayNcharge without the gorilla?
thanks
moby

[JIM PAYNE]

You still do not have to hook them up in series. It depends on were your batteries are. If you want to stay away from buying a 2 bank system then you can run two more wires to the front (red and black) and install a four wire plug which only cost about $8.00. Every four prong plug has red charging plug made four them. the charging plug would go to the stayncharge harness and the plug for the trolling motor would automatically make it a 12 or 24 depending how you hook it up. the trolling motor plugs will have one black one red and one orange wire on it. the black is neg, the red is for 12 volt pos and the orange is 24 pos. This sounds like alot of work but it really is not. If you do it this way then you can use it with the stayncharge and you will be able to use it with a standard 12 volt charger. if i can help with this call me or give me a number and i will call you and give you all the help i can. good luck. jim 612-590-5833

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JIM PAYNE

[Blaze]

Jim - great info here. Speaking for all the rookies on fm.com - "Thanks".

One additional Q for ya - I'm wiring my boat from scratch for a 24v trolling motor and I'm wondering which is better for power and battery life: in series or wiring each battery direct?

[JIM PAYNE]

It really has nothing to do with battery life either way. If you are going to wire from scratch you need to run good wire and if you are not wanting to go out and buy a pricey on board charger then run two wires for each battery to the trolling plug because the trolling motor plug will put them in series for you and you will have more options on charging. every type of trolling motor plugs have a charging plug that can be installed on our products the stayncharge or you can even use the battery charger in your garage by putting a chargeing plug on the charger and use it through your trolling motor plug. remember good wire. good luck

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JIM PAYNE

[Hoovey]

Jim,

Great info...Thanks!