Trolling motor wire?

[JohnOD]

I have a 24 volt, 65# thrust bow mount Minn Kota on my boat. The batteries for the TM are currently located in a foreword mounted seat box; the leads from the TM to the batteries are 9' long. There is a 50 amp breaker hooked up to it. I'm going to move the batteries to the back of the boat and need to lengthen the wires another 10' for a total length on 19' from the TM to the batteries.

My question is can I stay with the 6 gauge copper? If so what?s the best way to splice it?

Thanks, John

 

[drewpster]

Re: Trolling motor wire?

Remember the total circuit must be considered in terms of length. So if it is 19 feet from here to there the total circuit length is 38 feet. (pos.and neg.)
According to my little wiresizer program 105c MARINE GRADE cable #6 gauge is good for about 120amps at 34 feet with about .5 volt voltage drop. The 50 amp breaker you have is rated for half of that which is good. So you should be fine given derating factors. As long as you are not running the cables in real hot areas and all that is going to be using the circuit is the troller. Personally I would not use a splice. I would get new cables. But if you are going to splice use MARINE GRADE crimp butt connectors, properly crimped and high grade heat shrink tubing to cover the splice. (heat shrink with glue in it) see below

http://www.delcity.net/delcity/servlet/catalog?parentid=330&page=1

http://www.delcity.net/delcity/servlet/catalog?parentid=1010&page=1