Trolling motor wiring

[shutout31]

I’m thinking about hardwiring my trolling motor. Have any of you done that. My main question is how do you connect the 4 wires on the back of the female plug to only 2 wires on the male plug? Pics anyone?

[SGrem]

There will be positive and negative. Usually a red and a black from the trolling motor. Then the positive and negative from the battery/batteries. Keep the positives with the positive and the negatives with the negative.

Chase the wires to the battery/batteries

[shutout31]

I understand that part of the wiring. I guess my question is how do you physically connect the 4 wires from the female plug to only 2 wires from the male plug? Is there a particular type of fitting to use? It would have to be a 3 way splice of some kind that’s waterproof. Is such a connector made?

[SGrem]

Just get a big enough butt connector. Twist together and terminate.... or use a positive/negative post and put ring terminals..... or put a breaker and use ring terminals.

[shutout31]

Got it, thanks!

[Zone18]

I crimp ring connectors on the cables and then use these to connect. That way if you have to disconnect for service you can.
https://thmarinesupplies.com/product...cable-extender

[SGrem]

Great solution. But will it fit two wires in one side like the OP needs??? Or possibly two wires into one ring connector....

[2014 nitro z7]

Sounds like it is wired for 12/24 instead of 24. If so you will have a red and orange hot wires and two black negative. Easy way is to put a jumper wire between the positive to negative battery terminals. Then disconnect the orange and one black wire, then hard wire to red and black.

[shutout31]

That was my initial thought but it’s all wired thru a dual breaker in the bilge. I don’t want to sacrifice that safety feature.

[Zone18]

Ya if its wired 12/24 I would redo the run.........I would have no use for a 12v TM circuit.

[2014 nitro z7]

All you have to do is add a breaker to the red wire to the bow.

[BMCD]

I have hard wired mine for many years, but alas always had it done by the dealer against there advice too. Of course mine were always 36v. My current boat is the first boat not hard wired, forgot to remind them when rigging. I remember there just being 2 wires that we used that had 36v.

[PatriotAW4]

You need to get rid of the outdated 4 wire system. I just did that in my old ranger. All you have to to is disconnect the white and orange wires, hook the red to the positive on one battery, and black to the negative on the other battery then put a jumper wire between the positive and negative of the two batteries, get a 60 amp breaker to put on the positive running to the front.

[Andrebass]

The 12/24 set up is so you can be quiet with the 12 volt circuit when the wind is calm and switch to 24 when needed for the wind. Might want to keep it this way for that reason. If not, you will always be in 24 volt mode when hardwired as noted above.

[PatriotAW4]

The 12/24 set up is so you can be quiet with the 12 volt circuit when the wind is calm and switch to 24 when needed for the wind. Might want to keep it this way for that reason. If not, you will always be in 24 volt mode when hardwired as noted above.

Only true if he has a 25+ year old trolling motor that actually works like that.

[Andrebass]

True and I think he does. Nitro 190DC were made a few years back. He also doesn't say what brand of trolling motor he has.