22 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

There's these

https://www.boatwireusa.com/products/22-18-awg-heat-shrink-ring-terminal-5-16-hole-25-pack

 

5/16 is standard post size - the supplied power cord for the sonar is normally 18awg.

Heat shrink like this is a two-part process...insert wire so bare part is in the narrower part of the insulating neck...crimp it closed...then apply heat (hair dryer on high will work) and the insulation shrinks down with a bit of internal glue to make the connection waterproof.

So what's it gonna take to get you to fly down to Alabama and just do it for me....JUST KIDDING lmao

 

Truly, thanks for the help brother, very much needed and appreciated!

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

So what's it gonna take to get you to fly down to Alabama and just do it for me....JUST KIDDING lmao

 

Truly, thanks for the help brother, very much needed and appreciated!

Well,, as someone who's done hobby electronics for about 50 years, and does all the house wiring adds/changes (apprentice electrician way back when), I feel it's my duty to help those with wiring issues.

It should be noted that the voltage readings on the screen of a fish finder with power wires that small in gauge are generally about half a volt low than if read at the battery with a meter.  So, if your Garmin is showing 12.3 v on a fresh charged battery, that's normal, as it's probably 12.7-12.8 at the battery.

Alabama,

     If your running new wires or changing the connectors in between your trolling motor and battery.  The link MNfisher posted shows to some ring eye connectors. Those 18-22awg connectors are way too small to be used for a trolling motor.

     You want bigger connectors for 6AWG - 12AWG. The larger size the wire (better the flow is through the bigger pipe) gauge the better it conducts, it makes for less resistance. Too small a connection will generate heat at the connection when used especially heavily used (high speed setting).  Take a look at the size of wire going to the trolling motor. Your wire connectors or additional wire need to be at least the size of the wire or a size or two BIGGER!

     Minn Kota makes a product called the Maximizer. This allows you to have infinite speed control over your trolling motor. Might be worth looking into and can be very helpful in getting the perfect speed.  It would eliminate that huge jump between speeds 3, 4 and 5 on your trolling motor.

FM

 

6 ga stranded copper wire from the battery to the bow TM. Use a 60 amp circuit breaker near the battery. 

16 ga stranded copper wire to the terminal block that powers your instruments and sonar units. Use inline 3 amp or whatever is required fuse for the sonar.

House 12vDC battery to operate your electronics.

What are you using to start the OB, if you have one?

Tom

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

16 ga stranded copper wire to the terminal block that powers your instruments and sonar units. Use inline 3 amp or whatever is required fuse for the sonar.

I'd rather be safe than sorry - I ran 12awg Ancor from house battery to circuit breaker, then from there to the fuse box.

 

16awg is what I used from the fuse box to...where-ever (pumps, sonar, lights, etc)

2 hours ago, WRB said:

6 ga stranded copper wire from the battery to the bow TM. Use a 60 amp circuit breaker near the battery. 

16 ga stranded copper wire to the terminal block that powers your instruments and sonar units. Use inline 3 amp or whatever is required fuse for the sonar.

House 12vDC battery to operate your electronics.

What are you using to start the OB, if you have ne?

Tom

No OB, this is just a jon boat setup, and ultimately, I hope to buy an old bass boat, or decked jon boat with stern trolling motor mount as this is a V hulled high side jon boat, and I can't imagine a worse boat to fish out of.

 

Great info though, and I'll draw back on it when I get the dedicated fishin boat.   

11 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

No OB, this is just a jon boat setup, and ultimately, I hope to buy an old bass boat, or decked jon boat with stern trolling motor mount as this is a V hulled high side jon boat, and I can't imagine a worse boat to fish out of.

 

Great info though, and I'll draw back on it when I get the dedicated fishin boat.   

You could always rebuild that V-hull....that's what I did.

 

20 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

You could always rebuild that V-hull....that's what I did.

 

Wow you did an awesome job on that.    It's my neighbors boat, so I figured I better get a dedicated boat to trick out.    That thing would be so perfect though in my lake.    Replace the OB with a 55lb thrust, and that would slay them in my lake