Very hot charger wire coming off of the batttery

[Stratos286]

My 2005 Stratos 286 has the built-in 2x10 amp MinnKota charger for the trolling motor batteries. After reinstalling the batteries after winter storage, I went to charge the batteries and I noticed the charger wire/connector from the positive post of battery #1 was very hot. Too hot touch for more than a second or two.

I double checked all of my connections and they were correct (main red to the positve terminal on battery #1, black main to the negative of battery #2 and the jumper going from the negative on battery #1 to the positive on battery #2). Is this common for the one wire/connector that goes from the positive terminal to the charger to get very hot?

[stratos284]

I would check and make sure the connections are clean and TIGHT.

[bear21211]

Ummmmm It sounds to me like you have it wired for 24 Volt!
That is a 12 volt charger. you need red and black from bank one on battery one red and black bank 2 on battery 2!

Your batterys are 12 volt regardless to if you are running a 24 V TM or not your charger has to be hooked up 12 VOLT!!!




Modified by bear21211 at 7:53 PM 5/11/2008

[BuzzB8]

I agree. The TM is wired correctly, but the charger isn't.

[Ohirolina]

You should have two sets of wires coming from your battery charger, each should have a red and a black wire. Run one set to each battery. Red to + Black to - It won't matter if the batteries are hooked up together @ 12V or 24 V.

[Stratos286]

Thanks for the information. I double checked the charger leads and they are correct (red to positive and black to negative). I called Johnson Outdoors and they said the charger may have gone bad while in winter storage. I'll need to take it off the boat and send it in to be checked.

I'll have to use my portable charger until I get the on-board charger back.

[Donthelegend]

Too mush resistance in a pos. wire will cause it to heat up / overheat. Check for damage to the wire and check resistance

[Stratos286]

Don, thanks for the info. I'll clean all connections again and just connect the charger wires (no trolling motor wires) to see if that makes a difference.