Northwest Fishing Reports

I am about to buy a mod-v jon and I am going to be doing the wiring for my bow mount, nav lights etc. My bow mount is a 24 V and all of the other "stuff" is 12 V. Because I'm running linked batteries on the trolling motor, can I not use the same batteries for 12 V gear such as nav lights, livewell, etc?

Also, because I will likely run the batteries from the bow storage, can I get away with 10/2 AWG wire, or should I go heavy duty and get the 6/2 AWG. Likely, It will only be a matter of 3-4 feet of wiring for the bow mount, but up to 16 feet to reach the stern nav lights.

I would never go smaller than 6 for an electric motor regardless of length of the cables.

Use a different battery for all other electronics/electrical use/needs.

For the bow mount motor, I'd follow the advice that AMX provided and go with a heavier, at least 6 gauge, wire. As for using the batteries hooked in series to also power the other 12 stuff on your boat, it can be done, but if you don't have to I'd avoid it. Will the boat have a gas powered engine on it that is capabale of charging a battery? If so, that opens up a few more possibilities. If you really want to go with just the two batteries then you'll need to put the two in series and tap them as shown below. What will end up happening is that one battery will get drained faster than the other.

Do you even need to extend the trolling motor wires? They are 10AWG right? For that short run, you could probably get away with running only 8/2. But since you're going to do it, might as well do it right and do 6/2.

Is there a main gas motor on the back?

FishingFool wrote:Do you even need to extend the trolling motor wires? They are 10AWG right? For that short run, you could probably get away with running only 8/2. But since you're going to do it, might as well do it right and do 6/2.

Is there a main gas motor on the back?

Yeah I have an outboard, but it's older and won't charge a battery. I just don't want to have to buy a third battery and use that in such a small rig. The boat is only a 16 foot, and honestly, I will just be using the nav lights when needed at night. Looking at the diagram that was posted, I think that I will try to just link the nav lights to one of the batteries. For the short time that they will be in use, I don't think that I will need to worry too much about losing significant battery life.

Yeah I think I will go with the 6 AWG. Just need to find some in town now. Everyone stops carrying around 10...

16 foot? No problem with 3 batteries. My first boat was 16 foot long and narrow. A common row boat can carry 3 batteries. BUT in this case I'd use a 12 volt motorcycle battery for the lights and depth finder. Go to a boating store/marina for 6 gauge if your local hardware store doesn't. Or order it from Bass Pro Shops, or Cabella's.

Thanks AMX. I might just get a small one, maybe lawn tractor or go kart or something. I did find some 6 AWG at Home Depot at 1.07 a foot, but I would need double because it's not 6/2. Oh well, I would rather not have to wait for shipping. Thanks for all of your input guys.

aaron42ash wrote:Looking at the diagram that was posted, I think that I will try to just link the nav lights to one of the batteries. For the short time that they will be in use, I don't think that I will need to worry too much about losing significant battery life.

Bingo!

You don't need to buy another battery just for nav lights, especially since your batteries are not connected to your motor.

I run a 24v bow mount trolling motor and have one of the two batteries connected to my kicker, which does produce a modest charge (something like 6amps at WOT). I also have my downriggers wired off that same battery, and soon, I will have my GPS and sonar wired off it as well. If you want to wire a 12v accessory to your trolling motor bank, just add the wires to one battery's pos & neg terminals and you'll be fine. Nav lights draw negligible current, as you stated, so you won't really see any impact from them.

Just my $.02.