Thread: Darned hot trolling motor connector

Found this, looks like I'll be ordering no. 4 wire unless the factory says the xi5 is doing some voltage regulating internally





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Will I need no. 4 ground wire too?


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Originally Posted by brettw

Will I need no. 4 ground wire too?


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Yes ....Thats why they said measure from source to device and back again

Originally Posted by brettw

Guys
Thanks for your help.
Could the unified ground wire have anything to do with it?
Boat has starting , and 2 deep cycle batts. All grounds tied together .

Thanks again


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I might have missed it but is this a 12V or 24V system? I do not understand the "All grounds tied together" What type of charger is on this type battery pairing. Dont sound right to me. May not be related.

Originally Posted by catchNgrease

I might have missed it but is this a 12V or 24V system? I do not understand the "All grounds tied together" What type of charger is on this type battery pairing. Dont sound right to me. May not be related.

All grounds tied together means all neg terminals on all batts are connected to create a common ground on the boat.
Helps with ele interferon and other issues.
Boat TM is 12 v

That makes sense with a 12V system. I would check all hot side connections. Then I would apply a dielectric grease. The trouble with 8 gauge wires is the connections it takes to accept them. It would be a tough choice on which is worse a loose connection or a oxidized one. I am not an electrician. My best guess the trouble is where the TM plugs in. It is not designed for an 8Ga wire.

4 ga and connectors on the way,
thanks to all
suggestions on how to pull it through a crowed cable channel? buy some cable grease?

more than likely you just have something in the plug that is causing resistance. Too small of wire will create a voltage drop and loss of power to the motor....but the heat generated by undersized wire will be distributed over the length of the wire. So it should feel warm over the length of the wire. A hot spot is indication of something (loose -corroded) causing a high resistance connection and generating heat in that specific area. Plugs can do this within the molded part. Not that uncommon to have to change one. You will benefit from a larger wire so it will behoove you to upgrade....but when it is hot in a specific spot....that spot is the problem.

They have wire pull lube in the electrical section of Lowes or Home Depot. Shot of silicon spray in the pipe and a little on the wire as you pull will also do it if its not to tight a fit.