Trolling Motor Wire Size, get this!?

**bigfish5** · 03-03-2008, 04:08 PM

well i suggested 6 gauge wire because of a couple of reasons. 1 years ago a friend that owns a trolling motor repair shop suggested it to me. he said you get less voltage drop. when you get less voltage drop your wires do not get as hot so you dont trip your breaker. 2 my uncle is a retired union electrician (30 years) and my brother has been a union electrician for 18 years. both swear that it is worth the cost . my uncle has 2 bass boats, my brother has 1 , my dad has 1, i have 2 all have been rewired with 6 gauge wire. we never have a problem with any of them. i have fished in several new boats or nearly new, that have problems with the wiring from the factory. remember the factory is trying to make things as cheaply as possible to make profit. i am suggesting you wire yours with a little over kill to save you head aches on the water. the few dollars you save now may haunt you later at the worst time on the water. just look at it this way. you spend money on a boat , trailer, motor ,trolling motor, batteries, rods reels, jigs, minnows, and what ever else you think you need to catch fish. why not make a one time investment in the peace of mind. so you wont have to worry about wiring issues in the future. thats just my opinion, but its your money and your boat you should do what ever will make you happy. you only live once. good luck and good fishing

**Barnacle Bill** · 03-03-2008, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

Good calculator Bill.

Rule of the thumb: destination voltage (volts at motor) should never go below more than 5 percent of the source voltage (battery). This applies to any electrical ckt.

Yeah, that 5% is one of those things I knew in my before life.

**bella** · 03-03-2008, 04:59 PM

I bought a Manco plug set up that 6 gauge worked in at BPS. At least I think it was Manco . I'll ck

**Barnacle Bill** · 03-03-2008, 05:00 PM

You got some good advice Bigfish.

**bella** · 03-03-2008, 05:06 PM

Marinco has recepticles for 6 gauge wire at BPS website under trolling accesories. Good luck

**joewildlife** · 03-03-2008, 05:45 PM

Guys,
thanks a bunch for taking the time to post. Excellent info.

What is finally dawning on me is that it is not that 10 ga wire can't carry the amps, it can, the motor's own wiring is 10 ga. Of course there is only a few feet of it. The problem is that a 20 foot run of 10 ga wire causes a big voltage drop. Gotcha.

'course I'm talking about two different boats here. My '79 polarkraft 1452 is getting a new 40lb Minnkota, with 6 ga wire going through a breaker, then the lenght of the boat, to a plug/receptable that is wired with 10 ga wire, into a motor that runs 10 ga wire. So, in my installation, I am using less than a foot of 10 ga wire, which won't be a problem. right?

On my 17' Xpress, it has 10 ga 12V wiring now. I will upgrade to 6 ga wire and the existing plug and receptacle also use 10 ga wire, again no more than about a foot of it. And the new motor probably uses 10 ga wire from the terminals into the guts.

It is the voltage drop stupid! I'm telling myself that again so I'll finally get it.

thanks again,
Joe

**Cane Pole** · 03-03-2008, 06:08 PM

**klight1122** · 03-03-2008, 07:34 PM

Man, there is some good info on this site. I copied the charts to use at work.

Thread: Trolling Motor Wire Size, get this!?

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