Hi guys,

Just hooked up a new trolling motor and it wasn't working. I checked the battery and there is a small rectangular module wired into the positive lead coming off the battery. It's about an inch long and has two terminals on it. The wire from the battery connected on one side and then the wire running to the trolling motor plug came off the other side.

I bypassed this module and the motor worked. Obviously this thing is bad, but do I need it? I don't understand is it? Some sort of modulator or inline fuse? How soon before my bote explodes if I don't replace it?

Not sure exactly but it sounds like either a fuse or an inline choke that prevents TM noise from feeding into the DC battery line and interfering with electronics or a stereo.  Either way it sounds like that thing is open and needs replacement;

It's the circuit breaker.  If it's the manual reset there will be a small tab sticking out one end, try pushing it back into see if it will reset.  If it's an older boat it's probably too small anyway, replace it/them  with some 40 or 50 amp breakers.  If it's a 12 volt motor I would go with 50's.

Thanks Ben. That's what it was, and it was pretty rusted up so I picked up a new one at NAPA along with a new battery. It would trip just by dropping it on the countertop so I assume it was bad/ weak/ whatever.