Grounding a trolling motor

[Westlakedrive]

Here is the setup;
The battery is in front. I ran some wire to some battery terminals which are attatched to the wooden transom in back. The boat is aluminum. What is the best way to to ground this circuit? I just clamp the transom mount clamps on the battery terminals. If I am out and have issues with the transom mount trolling motor clamped to the battery terminals its usually the ground I need to ground it better. Whats acceptable?

[ibthetrout]

I have never heard of doing this. I don't think you want the ground running through the boat. The terminal blocks mounted on the transome are probably just there as a convenience of making connections and I don't think you want the ground running to the boat. If you did do that I would think the battery would then have to be grounded to the boat as well. Maybe you could tell us more about your setup? What else is on the battery circuit? do you have a trolling motor and an outboard? Just a trolling motor? Any electronics?

[Westlakedrive]

So sounds like your are saying it doesnt need to be grounded? If I could techinincally just attach the trolling motor directly to the battery without a ground I probably dont need to ground it at all.
Eletronics are run off a AGM battery so no problem there and motor is not elctronic start.

[Mister ED]

Wes, just run + to + and - to -. No need for a wire going to the hull. If this circut is grounded to the hull and you circut for your other electronics is also grounded to the hull ... you can get interference from the trolling motor to the graphs.

[Westlakedrive]

I forgot my lights are on this circuit as well not that they really draw that much energy.
Do my elecltronics need a ground or just make sure I have a fuse?

[sirslurpee]

Make sure EVERYTHING is fused.

[waterfoul]

Direct connections Wes. And fuse everything.

[pescadero]

So sounds like your are saying it doesnt need to be grounded? If I could techinincally just attach the trolling motor directly to the battery without a ground I probably dont need to ground it at all.


When you attach something to the negative terminal of the battery you ARE grounding it. That is what the negative battery terminal is - ground.

--
lp

[TrekJeff]

Keep it a close system as stated above. Grounding to the boat its self can cause a number of problems including ground fault isolation/battery drain.

[pescadero]

Keep it a close system as stated above. Grounding to the boat its self can cause a number of problems including ground fault isolation/battery drain.

It can also lead to/speed up galvanic corrosion in an aluminum boat hull.

--
lp

[Burksee]

As already stated, run two line/wires 1 for (+) positive & 1 for (-) negitive directly from the battery to the motor. Put an in-line fuse in the + side line near the batter and make sure you use heavy enough gauge wire to provide proper voltage/amperage to the motor. ;)

[TrekJeff]

As already stated, run two line/wires 1 for (+) positive & 1 for (-) negitive directly from the battery to the motor. Put an in-line fuse in the + side line near the batter and make sure you use heavy enough gauge wire to provide proper voltage/amperage to the motor. ;)


HOLY CRAP a trooper with OHMS background....lol Dad's a retired Man in Blue.

[Burksee]

HOLY CRAP a trooper with OHMS background....lol Dad's a retired Man in Blue.LOL! Sorry, not a MSP trooper, I'm one of the guys that helps keep those hemi powered mean blue machines on the road! :D