Thanks Steve... I was hoping that you'd pipe in. I know you change trolling
motors more than you do your socks, so your advice is always welcome. I've
already got an offer to buy my old motor and charger, so I guess I can go
with a three bank and leave everything the way it is wired now.

I'm going to check again in the morning to see what size wire is running
through there now, but I was just going to tie new wire to the old and pull
it through as I remove the old. I'm going to add a smaller ground wire and
connect to the battery jumper wire to use as the ground for the finder. I
think the wire there now is either 10 gauge or 8 gauge. If it's 10, then
it'll be replaced with 6. If it's 8, then I'll just leave it alone to see
how it works.


"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
message ...

"Charles B. Summers" wrote in message
. ..
This time next weekend, I'll be installing my new trolling motor on my
Nitro. Currently, it has the Motorguide 43lb 12v, and I'm going to
finally
get a 24v. I haven't yet decided on which one will be the replacement,
but
I'm looking very hard at the Minn Kota Maxxum 70lb, 24v. This one is
about
$700.00 at BPS, and the one with the universal sonar is $80.00 more.
(figure
in 9.75% for taxes and about $20.00 shipping)

Would you feel the universal sonar is worth the $80.00 difference?

***It all depends on how clean you want your front end to be and if you
plan
on using the temperature function on your locator.

What am I going to need to convert the 12v system to 24v? I already have
the
battery installed, so how are the two connected at that end, as well as
the
plug end? I'm thinking that all I need to do is install a small
connector
between the positive terminal to battery A, to the negative terminal to
battery B, then connect the trolling wires to the other terminals. At
the
female plug, I should just has a single 24v, and that's where I should
connect the wires inside the male connector. Sound right, or am I
missing
something?

***Sounds right.


Now for the battery charger... I have a Pro Mariner two bank charger.
How
do
I connect it to a 24v system? As of now, I have one bank feeding one
trolling battery, and the other feeding the starting battery. I'll move
the
ones feeding the starting battery over to my spare trolling battery
whenever
it needs I think I need to charge it, but it's usually connected to the
starting battery. Would I need to purchase a three bank charger now, or
buy
a single bank charger for the starting battery? I get really confused at
this point... LOL

***If you don't have the $$$ for a three bank charger, just do what I did
on
my ProCraft. I took everything off the starting battery and ran it from
one
of the trolling motor batteries. This way, the starting battery was kept
charged (the little that starting drained it) and the trolling motor
batteries were topped off every night when I got done fishing. I knew
that
it took a little off the trolling motor life, but with a 24 volt system,
that was never a problem. NOW, there had been times when the livewell
aerators did pull the starting battery down enough that I couldn't get the
outboard started......

I don't have a clue as what the breaker size is on the 12v motor... what
rating should I look for if I think I can use it on the 24v system?

***Check with the trolling motor installation instructions. They should
have a recommendation for breaker size. I have 50 amp breakers on my TM
circuit.


The only other problem that I can think of now is the power connections
to
my bow depth finder. I've got it hooked to the trolling system, so I
guess
I'll have to re-route the wires to the 12v system under the console. Not
a
big problem, but maybe you've got a secret that I haven't thought of
yet.

***Why don't you snake some HEAVY wires up front for the TM and leave the
ones that are there for the locator?
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com