wire extension on t/m

[MisAdventure]

have 6 guage wire, going to run it from front of a 14 foot boat back to t/m on back of boat. Want bat in front to help with weight....

t/m has rings on wire....dont want to cut the t/m wires....
prob put rings on the extension wires I got....then run bolts through both rings to connect....

can I use a block of wood....mount a positive bolt and a negative bolt through the wood....slap another peice of wood on the back of it to keep bolts from touching anything...then screw it into a bench....leaving the two post exposed sticking up in the air.......

then, run wire from bat back to post connecting with ring to post, throw the ring from t.m wire on post...bolt it down tight....

that way it is still easy to take every thing out except for my home made bat post.....

or is this not safe?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: wire extension on t/m

Bad idea. Use a male and female connector so you can disconnect in seconds. If you want to retain the ring terminals, buy another connector and attach ring terminals to it. That leaves you with both options. Exposed electrical terminals represent a hazard in that anything metal that gets across those two terminals creates an instant arc welder.

 

[MisAdventure]

Re: wire extension on t/m

I have been looking and have not been able to find any way to connect the two wires other than putting ring terminals on the new wire I got and bolting the new rings to the existing rings on my T/M leads... then I would have to insulate the hell out of the bolts....

I would end up with a gob of tape or shrink wrap around the area where the t/m leads connext to the wire extensions running to my battery...

looks ugly, and...not easy to take appart. I need a system where I can disconnect the t/m leads from the wire extensions easily. (I do not want to cut the rings off the t/m leads because it would void warranty)

would my original idea work if I built a cover for the whole thing so nothing could come in contact with the post.?

if you have the solution will you post a link....I dont know much about any of this...new to it all.....and helps to see things.....im a visual learner

thanks again....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: wire extension on t/m

I don't know why you are so stuck on keeping the ring terminals! Cut them off, using a butt splice, add a connector. Add the mating half of the connector to the wires going up front. Buy one more connector and use one half of it to crimp ring terminals on. If you need to use the motor where ring terminals are necessary, plug on this adapter and bingo - you have ring terminals again. The switch takes seconds and the male/female connector setup is a lot easier to disconnect and a ton safer. Any store that sells boating supplies (Cabelas, Bass Pro, Dicks, etc) has these connectors. Just a simple two wire male/female connector. They generally have the butt slices attached so the only end you need to attach is the pair from your troller and the pair going up front..

 

[MisAdventure]

Re: wire extension on t/m

I will check those stores out. Thanks for the info. To put it clearly, I don?t want to cut the ring terminals off the trolling motor leads because I don?t want to void the warranty.
I would much rather get rid of them and use the method you are suggesting?.however, I like having a warranty.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: wire extension on t/m

Does the warranty specifically state you cannot remove the ring terminals. I would suspect that if that was true, 90% of the trolling motors sold would have the warranty voided 10 minutes after delivery because they almost always get a plug added. In fact many trollers are not fitted with any terminals. They understand that a plug will be added.

I get the impression you don't know what a butt splice is or what a trolling motor connector connector looks like so here ya go!

This is a simple two wire connector. Attach one end to the troller cable and the other end to the cable going to the bow. But buy two of them. Then on one half, attach ring terminals. You can then plug the troller into this adapter which has ring terminals (should you ever need it). The devices on the ends of the cables are butt splices. You stick the wire into the open end and crimp it with a crimping tool available in the electrical department at Lowes, Home Depot, etc.. Done.

http://www.iboats.com/Rig-Rite-Snap-Lock/dm/*******.337749318--**********.027808478--view_id.259248

 

[MisAdventure]

Re: wire extension on t/m

LOL?thanks for being specific. I actually did not know what they looked like until the post before your last one. I have been looking online at various ways to get the job done. Bass Pro has some nice plugs for T/M as does cabelas?like you said.
I was just sitting here reading my MotorGuide VariMAX operation maintenance and warranty manual. ?it says? ?modifications, use of an accessory or part not manufactured by motor guide or mercury, alteration of any kind, or removal of parts?will void this warranty?
So there you have it. I just got the motor?warranty last for a year. I agree with you, the method you have described sounds like a much better way to go. Quick and easy to install, easy to take out?.very nice.
I may try to get in touch with Motorguide to find out if I can get rid of those ring ends?I don?t need em.

Somewhat unrelated question. ?.how much difference would you see between 45 and 55 pounds of thrust on a trolling motor. Would it be a noticeable difference?

 

[jhebert]

Re: wire extension on t/m

What does "t/m" mean?

 

[Mark42]

Re: wire extension on t/m

Check out this thread for an inexpensive junction box. If I understand your needs correctly, this should work for you.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=445878

 

[MisAdventure]

Re: wire extension on t/m

yep, thats what I had in mind. I was going to build it out of wood, but like the idea of the pvc box.
The one sold on iboats is nice too....very cool to know that this product does exist....

T/M = trolling motor

 

[G-Money-Sunbird]

Re: wire extension on t/m

Very glad that I ran across this thread tonight. Was about to wire my trolling motor and second battery on Sunday and had the same plan (ring terminals connected with nut and bolt) but see thats a bad idea (I had planned to put heat shrink around each connection to insulate them from each other and the elements).

Now that I see thats a bad idea, would this be a good option to use:
http://shop.genuinedealz.com/Quick Connect Plugs/

or should I go with the ones that are listed above in the thread?

Biggest issue is that I have 10ga coming from the trolling motor plug and 6ga running to the battery in the rear of the boat.

Thanks

 

[wire2]

Re: wire extension on t/m

V....

Now that I see thats a bad idea, would this be a good option to use:
http://shop.genuinedealz.com/Quick Connect Plugs/

or should I go with the ones that are listed above in the thread?

....

YES! The Anderson quick connects are excellent for any sustained higher current DC load, like a T/M. Keep the exposed metal parts coated with synthetic or dielectric grease and they'll go together/apart easy, and last forever.

The ones above have small male/female connections, will tend to heat up. They're better suited in a 4-way for low current trailer wiring.

 

[G-Money-Sunbird]

Re: wire extension on t/m

YES! The Anderson quick connects are excellent for any sustained higher current DC load, like a T/M. Keep the exposed metal parts coated with synthetic or dielectric grease and they'll go together/apart easy, and last forever.

The ones above have small male/female connections, will tend to heat up. They're better suited in a 4-way for low current trailer wiring.

Is this a better option:

http://shop.genuinedealz.com/Items/...aTitle=Blue Sea 2017 Power Post 2x3/8in Studs

 

[wire2]

Re: wire extension on t/m

Is this a better option:

http://shop.genuinedealz.com/Items/...aTitle=Blue Sea 2017 Power Post 2x3/8in Studs

That's much better than a block of wood, which will get wet, then conduct DC power, and possibly start a fire.

But with those, you'll need to carry a wrench to tighten/loosen the nuts. Finger tight will allow arcing, heating. The Andersons are much faster, foolproof.

 

[G-Money-Sunbird]

Re: wire extension on t/m

Thanks.....Andersons ordered.......