What size batteries does he have
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My neighbor has a new MK Powerdrive 24 volt ipilot
he has 2 new Interstate batteries, and a new MK battery charger.
He is only getting about 4 hours of run time on a full charge, trolling a 17' deep V Tracker, at 1.3 to 1.6, minimum wind (8 or less mph), not on main KY Lake, side creek, very little current.
Batteries have been checked, they are both good, charger is good.
How do check a new MK trolling motor, or do you just "call it bad" and return to MK to check?
i think his run time should be 8 hours, maybe more.
Thanks for any ideas.
What size batteries does he have
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you can check to see how much amperage draw it has. but if its drawing too much the breaker would be kicking out. how did you test the charger? maybe its not charging the batteries to full charge.
Steve
Were the batteries load tested? Are all connections squeaky clean and tight?
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Bill H. PTC USN Ret
Chesapeake, Va
After he charged batteries overnight, I then checked each one, they were fully charged, this tells me the charger is fine.
Battery size, the rating is 660 cca, 780 total, deep cycle, I think they are type 31, but will need to verify that tomorrow.
i think his circuit has fuse, not breaker, but could be wrong
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Yes to clean and tight
i rode with him today to Mathis battery, they did a quick check, and did not think the batteries were bad, a true load test is expensive, at least at Mathis.
About $ 20-25 for a load tester is about usual.Every body should own one to test their batteries.The value you need to know about your batteries is reserve capacity(RC).
RC is the # of minutes a fully charged battery @80 degrees will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 amps.A standardized rating for a batteries storage ability.....
There is 16 pages,152 posts under "Fishing Electronics and Photography","Who makes the the best deep cycle battery?" on CDC.Lot and lots of battery info.Take a look.
I would bet the trolling motor is fine and the batteries RC is too low.JMO
As far as checking current draw on the motor all you would need is a DC amp meter connected in series with the motor or a DC clamp-on amp meter over one cable.I doubt reading current draw will help you very much.
Last edited by Snagged again; 08-15-2018 at 07:32 AM.
RC is the number of minutes a fully charged battery@80 degrees will discharge 25 amps until the battery drops below 10.5 volts (not amps as above-sorry).
I just went through this myself, what I learned was my battery charger was lying when it said the batteries were good, secondly learned my batteries were not holding the charge, I’d replace the batteries before you buy a new trolling motor, I’d even test your charger to make sure it’s sending voltage
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