How to hook up 36 volt batteries

A 36-volt Minn Kota trolling motor requires three 12-volt marine batteries wired in a series combination. This will combine the voltage of each battery to create a 36-volt power source for the trolling motor. Setting up such a configuration with your marine batteries is a fairly simple process, and it requires just a couple of basic tools and a few moments of your time.

Items you will need

• 3 12-volt marine batteries

• Wire cutters

• Wire eyelets

• Wire

Position three 12-volt batteries in your boat's battery compartment. Align them so that the negative lead on the first battery is next to the positive lead on the second battery, and the negative lead on the second battery is next to the positive lead on the third battery.

Determine the proper wire gauge needed for your connections, based on the amperage draw of your particular trolling motor (see Resource 1). Connect the appropriate wire from the negative lead on the first battery to the positive lead on the second battery.

Connect another length of wire from the negative lead of the second battery to the positive lead of the third battery. You should be left with the positive lead on the first battery and the negative lead on the third battery. These two terminals will now output 36 volts.

Connect wires to the two remaining terminals and run them to the trolling motor. Add a fuse to the positive wire between the batteries and trolling motor, as recommended by the Minn Kota Service Manual (see Resource 2).

Warnings

• It is important that you choose the proper wire gauge for your application. Check the guidelines from the manufacturer for proper wire-size recommendations.

Tips

• Cover all battery terminals to prevent corrosion and possible shorts.

References

Tips

• Cover all battery terminals to prevent corrosion and possible shorts.

Warnings

• It is important that you choose the proper wire gauge for your application. Check the guidelines from the manufacturer for proper wire-size recommendations.

Writer Bio

Matthew Bores started professionally writing in 2010. He has written for Totalinsanity.net, a website that teaches the technical knowledge needed get started in robotics. Bores holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University.

A 36-volt trolling motor requires special wiring between three 12-volt batteries in order to run properly. Three 12-volt batteries wired in series will put out 36 volts while maintaining the capacity rating of one battery.

Items you will need

• Three 12-volt trolling motor batteries

• Wire cutters

• Wire eyelets

• Wire

Place the three 12-volt batteries in your boat's battery compartment. Orient the batteries so that the negative terminal (-) on battery one is close to the positive terminal (+) on battery two, and the negative terminal (-) on battery two is close to the positive terminal (+) on battery three.

Attach a wire running from the negative (-) terminal of the first battery to the positive (+) terminal of the second battery.

Attach a wire running from the negative (-) terminal of the second battery to the positive (+) terminal of the third battery. The remaining two terminals should be the positive (+) on the first battery and the negative (-) on the third battery. These two terminals will now output 36 volts.

Attach wires to the two remaining terminals and to your 36-volt trolling motor's controls. Incorporate the appropriate fuses in your wiring as recommended by the MotorGuide schematic for your trolling motor.

Warnings

• When choosing wire, it is important to select the proper wire gauge for your application. Check the manufacturer's recommendation for proper wire size for the particular trolling motor you are using.

Tips

• Cover all battery terminals with terminal covers after wiring, to help prevent corrosion and possible shortages.

References

Tips

• Cover all battery terminals with terminal covers after wiring, to help prevent corrosion and possible shortages.

Warnings

• When choosing wire, it is important to select the proper wire gauge for your application. Check the manufacturer's recommendation for proper wire size for the particular trolling motor you are using.

Writer Bio

Matthew Bores started professionally writing in 2010. He has written for Totalinsanity.net, a website that teaches the technical knowledge needed get started in robotics. Bores holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University.

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