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  1. #1
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    Trolling motor wiring issue

    Hey all,

    I'm at my wits end with wiring up my new garmin force. I got the thing mounted and assembled, installed two 12v 50ah Ionic batteries in series, connected to the in place trolling motor wiring that leads to the receptacle at the bow.

    When I plug in the garmin to the receptacle, nothing happens.
    I tested the voltage to the receptacle and it reads 22, but when I plug in the motor it reads 4.

    I rechecked all connections checked the circuit breaker checked the batteries (about 80%, have not even put them on a charger yet) and still reads 4volts when plugged in.

    I even pulled the trolling motor to the back of the boat and directly wired it to the batteries and the voltage read 4 volts.

    Is this a battery issue or a trolling motor issue???

    Thoughts??

  2. Member 1BADAIR's Avatar
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    #2
    Sounds like a bad connection . Can read proper voltage til there is a load then high resistance . Did it have a 12/24 trolling motor before? Receptacle corroded/black?. What circuit breaker? Check voltage before and after circuit breaker
    2011 Ranger z521/2023 250ProXS

  3. Electrical/Wiring/Trolling Motors Moderator CatFan's Avatar
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    #3
    22V indicates at least one dead battery. 4V probably indicates a measurement problem. Measure each of your batteries.
    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
    nothing else matters.​

  4. Member
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    #4
    It's a brand new 2021 boat, I checked all connections multiple times and redid them. I checked voltage before and after the breaker and didn't see any issues there. I think it's batteries or the TM because I directly wired it to the batteries and it dropped to 4 volts. I guess it could the a bad connection on the TM but I checked those too. I guess I could recheck and tighten them at the TM.

  5. Member
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    #5
    I measured each battery at one point I think one of them read 10v and shows 80%.

  6. Electrical/Wiring/Trolling Motors Moderator CatFan's Avatar
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    #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Snowss21 View Post
    I measured each battery at one point I think one of them read 10v and shows 80%.
    That is way beyond dead. More like 0.8%, not 80%.
    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
    nothing else matters.​

  7. Member
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    #7
    Well there we go. I'll have to pull both Batts out and get them charged up. Surprised the bms didn't indicate this.

  8. Member
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    #8
    I just got one on the charger, it's showing 80% charged. Will put them both to full and try again but I'm not sure why the voltage would drop to 4 when the bms says 80%?

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    #9
    Maybe you have one battery installed backward and it's canceling the other battery.

  10. Member MonteSS's Avatar
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    #10
    Have you used the Ionic App? Tells you everything you need to know about battery status.

    series.jpg

  11. Member
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    #11
    Quote Originally Posted by MonteSS View Post
    Have you used the Ionic App? Tells you everything you need to know about battery status.

    series.jpg
    I do have the ionic app, that's how I know the battery was at 80%

  12. Member
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    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by billnorman1 View Post
    Maybe you have one battery installed backward and it's canceling the other battery.
    I don't think so, I was reading 22volts after wiring in series and when I connected the motor it dropped to 4volts

  13. Electrical/Wiring/Trolling Motors Moderator CatFan's Avatar
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    #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Snowss21 View Post
    I don't think so, I was reading 22volts after wiring in series and when I connected the motor it dropped to 4volts
    Even 22V indicates a major problem with at least one battery.
    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
    nothing else matters.​

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    #14
    Quote Originally Posted by CatFan View Post
    Even 22V indicates a major problem with at least one battery.
    I charged both batteries to 100% (per the bms) and both are reading 12v

  15. Electrical/Wiring/Trolling Motors Moderator CatFan's Avatar
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    #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Snowss21 View Post
    I charged both batteries to 100% (per the bms) and both are reading 12v
    12V is too low. Ionic says 14.6V is full charge. Even 12.89V is only 20% charged.
    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
    nothing else matters.​

  16. Member
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    #16
    I just checked bms and both batteries are showing just over 13volts. Sounds like I got defective batteries

  17. Electrical/Wiring/Trolling Motors Moderator CatFan's Avatar
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    #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Snowss21 View Post
    I just checked bms and both batteries are showing just over 13volts. Sounds like I got defective batteries
    What charger are you using?
    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
    nothing else matters.​

  18. Member
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    #18
    It's the batteries. After charging to "100%" I dropped them into the boat and rewired the plug. TM cut on.

  19. Member
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    #19
    Quote Originally Posted by CatFan View Post
    What charger are you using?
    This charger: https://lithiumhub.com/product/12v-lifepo-10a-charger/

  20. Member
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    #20
    Battery one won't go over 13.8 and battery 2 is sitting at 13.3 and 99%

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