Minn kota edge speed differential

meisterluv

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I have an Minn kota edge 50lb thrust that does not respond to any of the speed setting. Pretty much it stays at one speed despite changing the speed. Does anyone know what the issue might be? I've had this motor for a good 4 years and have used it 5 times just annoyed that this problem has come up.

Thanks!
 

gm280

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Not knowing much about your trolling motor or having a schematic diagram of how it is wired internally or externally, I'd say you have a shorted switch... JMHO!
 

Silvertip

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Not knowing much about your trolling motor or having a schematic diagram of how it is wired internally or externally, I'd say you have a shorted switch... JMHO!

A shorted switch would pop the breaker or at least make a little smoke. Besides, maxums are available in tiller and cable steer as well as 5 speed and variable speed versions. Speed selection issues are rarely the switch or variable speed selector but rather the control board itself. If rotating the speed control back and four to burnish the contacts doesn't fix the issue then the control board is likely the problem. If the motor suddenly comes back to life, you need to take that as a lesson learned. Better to use the product rather than leaving it sit. Just like our bodies, if you don't use it will give you problems of one sort or another.
 

gm280

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

A shorted switch would pop the breaker or at least make a little smoke. Besides, maxums are available in tiller and cable steer as well as 5 speed and variable speed versions. Speed selection issues are rarely the switch or variable speed selector but rather the control board itself. If rotating the speed control back and four to burnish the contacts doesn't fix the issue then the control board is likely the problem. If the motor suddenly comes back to life, you need to take that as a lesson learned. Better to use the product rather than leaving it sit. Just like our bodies, if you don't use it will give you problems of one sort or another.

Basically that is what I was saying. I have no idea how this trolling motor is wires and therefore a circuit board is part of my not knowing. If I had a schematic diagram I could easily spot potential issues and make better suggestions. Back in my days trolling motors were wired for different speeds and some even used shunt resistors to lower the speed while consuming the same current...not a good way to accomplish that. But today’s trolling motor should be controlled via better current saving speed controls as you suggested a circuit board... I even built PWM circuits to control DC motor speeds to save battery power as well. I haven’t seen what the new trolling motors have done on that respect yet...
 
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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Basically that is what I was saying. I have no idea how this trolling motor is wires and therefore a circuit board is part of my not knowing. If I had a schematic diagram I could easily spot potential issues and make better suggestions. Back in my days trolling motors were wired for different speeds and some even used shunt resistors to lower the speed while consuming the same current...not a good way to accomplish that. But today’s trolling motor should be controlled via better current saving speed controls as you suggested a circuit board... I even built PWM circuits to control DC motor speeds to save battery power as well. I haven’t seen what the new trolling motors have done on that respect yet...

my understanding is the modern ones are pwm with the gates mounted in the back of the motor (cooling). i would have thought the speed pot was reading a high resistance due to corrosion over time which would result in one speed. As the gates require a signal to operate i would look at the pot first and test with a meter before i looked at the more expensive control board. If the motor did not run at all then i would be looking at the switch and control board first. Silvertips does know more about trolling motors than most of us but im a cheap git that couldnt stand replacing a expensive control board before testing all the cheap parts first.
 

Silvertip

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

At no time did I suggest that either the switch or potentiometer, or the control be replaced with no further investigation. I merely expressed my opinion. "Shotgunning" (hoping you get lucky) is usually the expensive way to fix things. Unfortunately, unless you trained in electronics and have the necessary schematics, there is little one can even check. You don't need a schematic to check the switch or potentiometer (whichever control your motor has). For all you know, while the motor was layed up, someone messed with the control, stepped on the handle, or any of the other "mysterious" things that happen. But my gut feel is still that the problem is not the speed control but rather the control board. I will not pout if I'm proven wrong. I was wrong once before.
 

gm280

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

At no time did I suggest that either the switch or potentiometer, or the control be replaced with no further investigation. I merely expressed my opinion. "Shotgunning" (hoping you get lucky) is usually the expensive way to fix things. Unfortunately, unless you trained in electronics and have the necessary schematics, there is little one can even check. You don't need a schematic to check the switch or potentiometer (whichever control your motor has). For all you know, while the motor was layed up, someone messed with the control, stepped on the handle, or any of the other "mysterious" things that happen. But my gut feel is still that the problem is not the speed control but rather the control board. I will not pout if I'm proven wrong. I was wrong once before.

Silvertip, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you suggested anything incorrectly! I was just saying I can't make an educated guess without actually being there and doing my trouble-shooting procedures or having a good schematic to suggest a better possibility... That is what I done my entire career is electronics and mechanical device problems and new solutions or redesigns... Give me a schematic a variable power supply and a good VOM and let me at it. However, sometimes you have to work without a schematic and see how things are built and work (or not work properly in this case). Your suggestion is just as valid as any...
 
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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

educated guess is the best anyone can do on a forum. Take a small amount of info from the po and rule out what it shouldnt be then take a guess on whats left on the list of things it can be. On this one we can rule out motor windings-gates (bottom of the trolling motor). We have to consider that if the motor runs at least part of the control card is working to send the pulses to the gates (it can be started and stopped). so that leaves speed pot, connections on card that are not protected by epoxy, and cheap made in china capacitors on the control board.
Then again if the trolling motor was not tested in water i wouldnt be surprissed to find that theres nothing wrong with it. I had to use a rpm meter to see if i had rewired a motor that i was testing on land as i could not see the diffrence ( i could hear a pitch change but not see the speed change).
im married so im use to being wrong 50% of the time which is why its important that the PO posts what he finds so in the future we can refrence this thread to help other people that may have a simular problem.
 

Silvertip

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

I had Maxum on my mind when this started so I apologize for the Edge/Maxum confusion. However the Edge is a switch selectable motor anyway so no harm done. After reading this thread several times, there is a phenomenon called "infant mortality" involving electronics. This term means that if a new product fails very early in life it was likely due to a manufacturing defect in a certain aspect of assembly or with an individual component used in that product. As a result, products can fail very early in life. Even though your motor is four years old, it has only been used a very few times. Therefore IF, a failed component is the result, blame it on infant mortality. Those failures typically occur just as yours did -- worked fine when put away then failure happens at the next power up. Again, pure speculation on my part but IF this is the cause of the failure, the failed component is not likely the switch as it is not a likely early failure component. A potentimeter has a higher possibility of failure but one is not used on this motor. Since the motor is four years old and ignoring it's low usage, there is still the possibility that something "physically" happened to the motor during these long periods of inactivity. As I said, the switch is easily checked. If it is ok then the control board is the suspect. That's was, and still is my "guess".
 

meisterluv

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Thanks all. Does testing it out of water make a difference. I would assume I could easily see the rpm difference between a 1 and a 5 correct?
 

Silvertip

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

I don't mean testing it by running it. Test the switch with an ohm meter. It is either good or bad in each position.
 
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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Thanks all. Does testing it out of water make a difference. I would assume I could easily see the rpm difference between a 1 and a 5 correct?

seeing it is more dificult on land as the air adds very little resistance to the prop so at lower voltages it free spins. you should be able to sense the speed change by sound and the fact it seems to blow more air.
the best way to test is with a meter but there are a few things to check first. if its a foot pedal model then the first thing to check is the plastic speed dial is turning the switch they like to sieze up and then the plastic once forced will turn with out turning the switch.
Is the battery fully charged as a flat battery will not realy show any diffrence in speed.
Is the pin ok behind the prop because if its broken it will affect the prop in air and not work at all in water.
After checking the easy things including rotating the switch back and forth like silvertips surgest if it still doesnt work then its time to get a meter and start testing until you find the bad connection/component
 

meisterluv

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Just wanted to update everyone. I was finally to get my battery out of storage and hooked up the motor to it. I can say with happiness that I was able to hear the difference between the speeds so I am assuming that speed variance is no longer an issue, or never was an issue. I am confused now more than ever though. Thanks everyone.
 

Silvertip

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

So what were you running it on up to now?
 

meisterluv

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Originally it was tested using a portable 12v battery (very small battery made by Cabelas).
 

Silvertip

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Re: Minn kota edge speed differential

Since the motor can draw up to 46 amps worst case it is no wonder it didn't develop full power.
 
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