Wanting to go from 12v to 24 volt system

[Little Skeeter]

Anyone ever change the electrical system on their boat? I am wanting to go to at least a 24 volt setup. Going to get a 24 volt trolling motor and also to ensure I have enough to run new electronics.

Is there a electrical system wire diagram out there for a do it your selfer? Would I have to change out my fuse box setup as well? Anything that I need to think of or ensure I dont forget?

Thanks guys.

[rumrunner]

i don't know what you've got but here goes.....
the old boats just used circuit breakers at the batteries so no fuse box.the wires (and amps) are big enough the breakers are needed.plus they can be reset.you need 8 ga wire but 6 is better.depending on how big yout tm is of course.the simplest is to run one wire to the pos post of one battery,run another wire to the neg of the other battery.then hook a jumper between the remaining posts.yes that means pos to neg.that gives a straight 24 volts.you can wire straight to your tm or use a plug.
it's not recommended to run your electronics off the tm batteries.they go on the cranker and will need fuses.i would run the wiring back to the battery but you can hook it up thru a fuse box .
i haven't worked on newer boats and things do change but hopefully this helps.

[Kit Papermouth]

12Vto24V.pdf
Connect one of the negative sides of the battery to the positive side of the other battery. This puts them in series. There will now be 24V between the unconnected sides.

G.

[Little Skeeter]

Yes I understand not to hook electronics directly to batteries. I have a fuse box for that, but I am wondering if I need to upgrade the fuse box as well? The new electronics I am adding to the boat requires more than my old electronics did, and I just dont want to run batteries dead while trying to fish.

Going to run tm batteries in a series yes, and my current set up has breakers on them as well as inline fuses.

I have a 2002 Skeeter SX 180 with 115 v4 yamaha and a 12v motorguide tm.

[Jigging15]

You will love the 24vt trolling motor. Have you decided which one you are going to get? Variable speed is a HUGE plus. Don't think I could ever go back to one with out it.

[beagle man]

if you run wire from the 24 volt batteries to the trolling motor, dedecated run that is, put 60 amp fuse in line and leave the fuse box alone, no way should you run 24 volts to the fuse box you will fry everything. I used braided welding wire for mine. zero problems it about 4 /0 I think, good current draw

[rumrunner]

[QUOTE=Little Skeeter;1732890]Yes I understand not to hook electronics directly to batteries. I have a fuse box for that, but I am wondering if I need to upgrade the fuse box as well? The new electronics I am adding to the boat requires more than my old electronics did, and I just dont want to run batteries dead while trying to fish.

Going to run tm batteries in a series yes, and my current set up has breakers on them as well as inline fuses.

I have a 2002 Skeeter SX 180 with 115 v4 yamaha and a 12v motorguide tm.[/QUOTE

i run mine directly to the cranker and install inline fuses at the battery.changing the fusebox won't help your battery last longer, only give you room for more fuses.only a stronger battery would help it last longer.you don't want to tie into an existing circuit at the fuse box unless you're sure it has the wiring and fuse to handle the extra load.i do have the front graph's fuse in the wiring under the front panel, but there is also a fuse back at the battery to protect the wiring.

[rumrunner]

if you run wire from the 24 volt batteries to the trolling motor, dedecated run that is, put 60 amp fuse in line and leave the fuse box alone, no way should you run 24 volts to the fuse box you will fry everything. I used braided welding wire for mine. zero problems it about 4 /0 I think, good current draw

you buy welding wire in different sizes, just like other wire.way bigger than what's needed, but the advantage is it's much more flexible than regular 6 ga wire.probably more expensive,tho.the owners manual with the tm will recommend a circuit breaker size according to the amp draw.

[Speck]

DO NOT run 24 volt through your fuse panel!!!!!! It is not the same as a/c!!!!!!
Run a dedicated lead from your trolling batteries with an inline breaker on the hot wire to the trolling motor.

[vic n]

DO NOT run 24 volt through your fuse panel!!!!!! It is not the same as a/c!!!!!!
Run a dedicated lead from your trolling batteries with an inline breaker on the hot wire to the trolling motor.

^ Agree with Speck. The fuse box is only for your 12 V equipment. If the TM is there now, it won't be with your new set up. And if any of the existing equipment is currently running off the TM battery, you will need to run them from the cranking battery from now on.