Darned hot trolling motor connector

Trolled yesterday from 7am-1pm straight ,
At the end of the fishing I went to unplug the TM and the rubber cable connector was hot, not warm.
So hot I thought it might begin to barely melt the rubber connector.
Cleaned the connection today but it wasn't all that bad but I couldn't see into the connector .
It's a 12 v system


Is it normal to get hot?
TM is maybe pulling too much current? It will not spin on the lowest setting requiring more voltage to get going. Shaft is not bent.

I have a TM breaker I can put on the line if necessary.

Thanks for advice




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Did it run hot before? I'm assuming not. Make sure your connections are good and tight on the wire. Were you running on med-high a lot more than normal, this could be more of a sign of too small of a wire?

If you were running at lower speeds, you would have to have small wire or poor connections to run hot. Take apart the plug and receptacle and verify all connections are tight. Loose equals resistance and heat. If you have the common push in tm connectors, these get a sloppy fit over time, especially if plugged and unplugged often or stepped on.

Just simply replacing yours will often help with the heat, I like a Marinco type twist connector (get the Minn Kota badged set MKR-18, its cheaper), or a Mar-Lan (seem more durable than generic push in's).

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Originally Posted by brettw

<snip> Is it normal to get hot?

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Warm maybe - hot is not good.

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Originally Posted by brettw

TM is maybe pulling too much current? It will not spin on the lowest setting requiring more voltage to get going. Shaft is not bent.

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The TM is pulling current - but what is "too much"? I would pull the prop and make sure the shaft is clear and not binding in the motor. There is a video on how to "Tune a TM" on Youtube.

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Originally Posted by brettw

I have a TM breaker I can put on the line if necessary.

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All TMs should have a circuit breaker or a fuse.

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Originally Posted by okhawg

Did it run hot before? I'm assuming not. Make sure your connections are good and tight on the wire. Were you running on med-high a lot more than normal, this could be more of a sign of too small of a wire?

Thing is I was running roughly 50% power all the time

If you were running at lower speeds, you would have to have small wire or poor connections to run hot. Take apart the plug and receptacle and verify all connections are tight.


Plug is new and one piece

Loose equals resistance and heat. If you have the common push in tm connectors, these get a sloppy fit over time, especially if plugged and unplugged often or stepped on.

Just simply replacing yours will often help with the heat, I like a Marinco type twist connector (get the Minn Kota badged set MKR-18, its cheaper), or a Mar-Lan (seem more durable than generic push in's).

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What tm do you have? What boat?

If it is a new plug, you might verify your connections are good and tight. I would check the receptacle also. Does it feel tight when plugged in?

How far from the receptacle to the battery? Wire gauge and electrical current draw is lost or depleted depending on the distance the current has to travel. Greater distance usually requires a thicker gauge wire. Also, a breaker should be added as others have mentioned. Usually within two feet of the power supply (battery).

Possibles
Loose conection
dirty connection
wire too small
fishing line wound up behind prop

and Yes....you need to have a circuit breaker or a fuse size will be determined by what TM you have.

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Originally Posted by okhawg

What tm do you have? What boat?

If it is a new plug, you might verify your connections are good and tight. I would check the receptacle also. Does it feel tight when plugged in?

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TM is XI5 55 lb thrust
Boat is G3 17' aluminum
Connection seems tight
I'm leaning towards the XI5 issues

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

How far from the receptacle to the battery? Wire gauge and electrical current draw is lost or depleted depending on the distance the current has to travel. Greater distance usually requires a thicker gauge wire. Also, a breaker should be added as others have mentioned. Usually within two feet of the power supply (battery).

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Boat is 2002 original wiring,
6 ga? Never was a problem before
Guessing the run is 20'

You should have a 50 amp fuse installed. Recheck that wiring. Its not normal for a factory to install 6 gauge wire. But they could have.

Put a breaker in ASAP. Breakers need to be sized to the wire.

Not saying this will solve your specific problem, but it is dangerous not to have a breaker.

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

You should have a 50 amp fuse installed. Recheck that wiring. Its not normal for a factory to install 6 gauge wire. But they could have.

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Any suggestions as to how to check the size ? 6 was an assumption on my part. It's a beefy red wire. I see nothing printed on it.
Thanks

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Originally Posted by speckfinder

Put a breaker in ASAP. Breakers need to be sized to the wire.

Not saying this will solve your specific problem, but it is dangerous not to have a breaker.

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I'll definitely have a 50 amp breaker next time
Thanks

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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Originally Posted by brettw

Any suggestions as to how to check the size ? 6 was an assumption on my part. It's a beefy red wire. I see nothing printed on it.
Thanks

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Dug around and found wire size,
It's 8

Its probably in the plug. Hard wire with a switchable breaker at the battery.

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Originally Posted by wilbur

Its probably in the plug. Hard wire with a switchable breaker at the battery.

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Interesting idea
I can use the breaker like a switch for recharging
That wire is always in the way anyway

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Originally Posted by "G"

Possibles
Loose conection
dirty connection
wire too small
fishing line wound up behind prop

and Yes....you need to have a circuit breaker or a fuse size will be determined by what TM you have.

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I would add my comments along as "G" posted.
Remove the prop to check for possible line or plant residue behind the prop.
Sounds like the prop shaft is bound an requiring extra current to operate.

10gauge should do it, but I believe your plug in is to light. 2cts

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Originally Posted by brettw

Dug around and found wire size,
It's 8

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Do not use a 50 amp breaker, it is too big for 8 ga. Use a 40.

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Originally Posted by speckfinder

Do not use a 50 amp breaker, it is too big for 8 ga. Use a 40.

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Owners manual says 50 amp but doesn't discuss boat wire size

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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Quote:

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Tie your new wire to the end of the old wire and tape good......then as you pull he old wire out you will be pulling the new wire in.

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Sorry I didn't see this earlier, but you don't need 4 gauge wire. Motorguide recommends 6AWG for your motor and the 4 will be very difficult to attach to a connector. Your 50A breaker on 8AWG wire is perfectly fine as far as safety, but the 8 may be too small for your motor.

Heat comes from a bad connection. If the connector is hot and the wire isn't hot a foot away on either side, the problem is the connector. I recommend this one Amazon.com: Battery Tender 027-0004-BK Black Power Connect Trolling Motor D/C Connector: Automotive

I appreciate all the kind assistance.
Trying to switch order to 6 awg. I'll replace wire as its old and not tinned. 15 yr old
Going to try direct connection also

Hate to even ask this but are large wire nuts , taped closed , ok for connecting 6 awg to TM?

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I agree number 4 is over kill. I would order new plug connectors though instead of wiring direct. I always unplug my TM especially when charging the batterys.



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Quote:

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Originally Posted by brettw

I appreciate all the kind assistance.
Trying to switch order to 6 awg. I'll replace wire as its old and not tinned. 15 yr old
Going to try direct connection also

Hate to even ask this but are large wire nuts , taped closed , ok for connecting 6 awg to TM?

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I'd say, before spending any money. I would just shorten the length of the power wires coming from the trolling motor, on the receptacle end.then give that a try. Probably, will take care of the over heating issue. :crazy:( unplug trolling motor before charging is a good ideal also)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brettw

I appreciate all the kind assistance.
Trying to switch order to 6 awg. I'll replace wire as its old and not tinned. 15 yr old
Going to try direct connection also

Hate to even ask this but are large wire nuts , taped closed , ok for connecting 6 awg to TM?

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Not wire nuts. If you direct wire, use bus bars to make the connections at the bow.

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Originally Posted by "G"

I agree number 4 is over kill. I would order new plug connectors though instead of wiring direct. I always unplug my TM especially when charging the batterys.



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any specific reason why? I don't because I'm lazzzzzzze!

On the xi5 TM , it may mess something up so I've read, GPS?


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Tal.....on a MK Terrova you can ruin the circuit board

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Originally Posted by "G"

Tal.....on a MK Terrova you can ruin the circuit board

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Ok... Well i'm safe then. No circuit brds here. :)

NO to the wire nuts.