Plugged in or pulled out?

Couple weeks ago went to the boat ramp to finally do some fishing. Got boat ready and found out I had Absolutely no power. Trolling motor was completely dead. Nothing, nada, zilch. Checked connections all was fine. Went home and found a wire broken on my OB charger. Within 2 weeks both batteries were dead.
My question is though, do you leave your TM plugged up or do you pull the plug? I started leaving it plugged up after I got an I pilot so I could save a track cause I fish the same lake most of the time. But it did knock 2 batteries dead in 2 weeks. Is it ok to charge batteries while there is a power drain? I guess the memory and GPS drained the batteries.

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On such a small drain it should not matter to the charger. My gps puck in wired to the Master switch on the console. When I put the boat on the trailer the switch gets turned off.

Not sure of the answer for I-Pilot memory --- The Broken wire -- that is something else - It Depends on which one ,, A weak battery going bad can bled through the Transformers in the Charger and drain both in a couple of days all by itself ... That is why I charge separately --- I can tell better what is going on with them by how they take a charge

You have a issue some where to drain your batteries like that. When you say you have ipilot is it on a Terrova or on PDv2. If on PDv2 it needs to be disconnected. When you come in unplug it. On Terrova as soon as you stow motor it breaker the connection to batteries. If your doing it on a PDv2 just to store your track you are asking for trouble. That power going through the GPS and boards eventually is going to burn out something. You would be better off to buy a depth finder with gps to store you tracks. Then go to them and punching record a track once you get on that line every time you go fishing. I leave my charger plugged in if it’s not hooked to back of truck.

Leave my batteries charging also.

So Cray, just so I'm understanding...... it's ok to leave the terrova plugged up? I've always unplugged mine.

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Originally Posted by tlefire

So Cray, just so I'm understanding...... it's ok to leave the terrova plugged up? I've always unplugged mine.

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You can leave it plugged in. There is a switch that cuts power whenever you stow the motor.

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Originally Posted by tlefire

So Cray, just so I'm understanding...... it's ok to leave the terrova plugged up? I've always unplugged mine.

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Yes it is. When you pull it into the locked position it has a cutoff switch that cuts power to the head. It certainly doesn’t hurt anything to unplug it but not necessary. I have only unplugged mine once since I installed it 5 years ago.

Leave them plug up always. The trolling and starting battery.
LittleJohn

Does the Minn-Kota lose its tracks if the trolling motor is unplugged? I don't think they do, there'd be a lot of dissatisfied customers if that were the case.

Mine is wired hot(no plug). If the wires to the charger are deteriating it's a type of electrolysis. Reterminate the wires with good connectors. Use dielectric grease liberally and tighten well. Then watch it closely.

Do you use the frame of the boat as the ground?
This is never a good idea.


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If you have the separate GPS puck for the Terrova it needs to be on a switch to cut power. First thing I would do is charge your batteries check voltage unhook everything let them set for a day or so and see if voltage drops below 12.5 if they do then your batteries are getting to be toast. Many times bad batteries will not show on a load test.

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Originally Posted by tlefire

So Cray, just so I'm understanding...... it's ok to leave the terrova plugged up? I've always unplugged mine.

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I leave mine plugged in. There is a voltage tester on the Motor that show % of charge, It only works when the motor is deployed. I don't use tracks much but I can tell you for sure it saves the anchor points you store.

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Originally Posted by Cray

You have a issue some where to drain your batteries like that. When you say you have ipilot is it on a Terrova or on PDv2. If on PDv2 it needs to be disconnected. When you come in unplug it. On Terrova as soon as you stow motor it breaker the connection to batteries. If your doing it on a PDv2 just to store your track you are asking for trouble. That power going through the GPS and boards eventually is going to burn out something. You would be better off to buy a depth finder with gps to store you tracks. Then go to them and punching record a track once you get on that line every time you go fishing. I leave my charger plugged in if it’s not hooked to back of truck.

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It is a PD2. Batteries are 9 months old with soldered ends. Only thing that could've drained batteries is TM. I will start pulling the plug from now on. Thanks

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Originally Posted by Central Minn

Does the Minn-Kota lose its tracks if the trolling motor is unplugged? I don't think they do, there'd be a lot of dissatisfied customers if that were the case.

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Stowing the motor kills the power anyways....stowing the motor is no different than unplugging it.

PD-V2 with OB charger. Manual reset breaker that gets disconnected every time I’m charging. I leave my charger on unless electric storms are expected, it will take out a charger quick. Charger is about 10 years old and my batteries. last about 4 years. My bird saves my tracks when disconnected. Hope this helps some.