Minn Kota Quest Low Voltage Error

New 36V 72” Terrova Quest keeps shutting off during sustained speeds over 5 or bursts of higher loads (starting prop at 7 or above or attempting to steering when prop is on a higher speed). Motor is throwing error code 1.2 “Battery voltage too low”.


Problem becomes more frequent the longer the trolling motor has been in use after charge.


Battery monitoring still shows 85% battery and 37+ Volts. Motor is hard wired with 12FT of 6 gauge wire to 1 year old group 31 Duracell AGMs using a terminal block (comes with ranger boats).


Checked voltage of each battery at end of day end each read 12.70V +/- .02.


Replaced all wire lugs and the 60AMP breaker.


Any ideas?

Just like the error says low battery voltage. Get your batteries checked and also check all the connections in the troll motor system.

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Originally Posted by Bradrodfish

Just like the error says low battery voltage. Get your batteries checked and also check all the connections in the troll motor system.

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Getting batteries tested is one my my next moves. But, my understanding is that it’s difficult to accurately load test a deep cycle battery. I also doubt this is my issue because these batteries worked fine with my 36V ulterra right before I switched motors.

All connections to the trolling motor are new clean and tight.

Load testing a deep cycle is no different than a regular cranking battery. Just the load is less for alot longer. Just test to mfg specs. Cj

C j is right. There is no difference in checking a deep cycle battery from irregular battery. The fact that you stated that the power issue gets worse as the day goes on. Tells me that you have a bad battery.

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Originally Posted by CJ1

Load testing a deep cycle is no different than a regular cranking battery. Just the load is less for alot longer. Just test to mfg specs. Cj

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OK. Getting batteries load tested is my next move. Any recomendations on where to go. Can autozone or batteries plus be trusted with load testing marine batteries?

I would think so if you ask to be witness as they test. If they refuse then I would find someone who will allow you to witness.

With Ghost trolling motors, you can display the TM voltage on a connected head unit via NMEA. Maybe you can do this with the new MK’s/Birds? This shows you in real time on a screen overlay on your graph what voltage the troller is seeing, would be helpful here.

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Originally Posted by robm_mb

With Ghost trolling motors, you can display the TM voltage on a connected head unit via NMEA. Maybe you can do this with the new MK’s/Birds? This shows you in real time on a screen overlay on your graph what voltage the troller is seeing, would be helpful here.

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Yes, Humminbird has a new Battery Monitor utility in the latest Helix/Solix/Apex software releases.

Did you find a solution to this issue? Mine is doing the same thing. I have Ionic lithium batteries...they are all full...I can see each cell on the app and they are 100%....I trip the breaker and it shows 40v on my Apex at the console...as soon as I hit the throttle it trips and throws the 1.2 low voltage code but based on what I am seeing its not a low volt issue.

Trips? Does the power breaker for the troll motor trip? If so then you have a problem. Low voltage when you apply a load to the batteries will trip a breaker. You have either loose connection, corroded connection or bad battery. Last but not least wire size or undersize breaker.

Breaker doesnt trip.

I will mention this started when I was running my motor on 10 for about 4 minutes straight...it did it once before and I shut everything down and it went back to normal...this time it did not. Everything is pretty much brand new...everything was rigged by Hennessey Outdoors and they are the best...I did not use their wire harness in this boat because the Ikon harness is a seaclear that they use on the HCBs...its plenty big. I was wondering if there was a second fuse somewhere in the head. Idk...stumped

I don't know if the Quest is wired in the head like an Ultrex is, but my Ultrex had the connectors in the head where the wires go down the shaft to the motor had the + partially burnt & the - had gotten hot & started to burn. Also if you haven't already , & if wired to boat wiring this way, check the connections where your cables from boat batteries are connected to troll motor wires . My Ranger uses a covered terminal block under the bow panel for this. A loose/ bad crimp or connection at either of these could cause issues.

My Quest does the same thing. It will say low voltage and shut off, I turn the switch at the foot pedal off and back on and everything works fine then it won't do it again for another 3 or 4 days. Then sometimes it does it 3 times in one day then not again for days, it's so random.

What has Minn Kota said about this problem? Has anybody called?

I am going to take the boat to Hennessey this week...I will also touch base with Minn Kota and circle back.

Follow-up

I should have a new foot pedal board(?) Wednesday...I dont know if that means that are sending a new foot pedal or just something inside the pedal itself...but the part will arrive Wednesday and I will know for sure.

The board in a foot pedal are the foot pedal itself is not repairable. They are probably sending you a new foot pedal.

I have the boat back...They switched out the foot pedal and the issue was still there. They ended up having to replace with, "2774130 Inverter Replacement Kit" The part number was half gone of the part but this is what was on the top of the paperwork, in the main motor.

Hope this helps

I was just checking to see if you had the boat out and if the inverter replacement fixed the low voltage error. Mine does the same thing and minnkota says it's a loose connection somewhere which I checked and there isn't.
Thanks

I have had the boat out and it seems like everything is working fine. I have not run it on 10 for several minutes in a row which I think caused the issue before but I think its good to go. I do still have some issues...with the new board it reset everything and now I can't get the motor to pair with the app so I can fix the orientation when you stow...I also havent been able to set the centerline or get my spot-lock to work. I am assuming when I get everything set back up spot-lock with work. I have cleared everything out of the app etc...I may try and get the remote out and sync it to see if that helps.

You might have to “forget” the old pairing to get it pared again.

Following up I tried everything...I took the motor off and it is back with Hennessey Outdoors...It has been there since last week and they are trying to get Minnkota to warranty replace it. Like they just said we fixed 1 problem and created 3 more so waiting to see what happens.

I am hijacking this thread to point something out. Not trying to be a know it all and not trying to diagnose this problem.
It seems when people talk about low voltage they go right to the battery and test it and say that the battery tested good. The place to test a low voltage issue is at the load...in most cases the trolling motor with it running in the water. If the readings are low, go back to the next connection, etc. A connection might be mechanically tight but not electrically tight. When ( and if) you get to a connection that reads correctly, you then know the problem is somewhere between that connection and the load (trolling motor).
I hope this helps someone with their electrical diagnosis in the future.