All -

I have any issue and need some advice. I've already gotten some much appreciated advice (thanks Eli) but would like to see what others have to offer before I spend any more money.

So, the last couple times I have gone out on the water the in-line fuse to my battery from my 40lb Minn Kota is melting and blowing. This usually happens when I've got the TM on 5 trying to get from one end of the lake to the other. At first I was using 30Amp fuses and then went to 25 Amp after the guy at West Marine told me to try it. He said if i went up to 40-50A I could cause a fire.

Is this a common occurrence with TM fuses when you run on 5. Aren't they designed to be able to do this? What would you suggest I do so that this doesn't keep happening? I'm tired of buying fuse housings and replacing fuses.

This post was last modified: 04-21-2008 11:33 AM by Kayak_bassin.

My advice was to get a inline circuit breaker like in your house. The breaker just pops and shuts off. Rather then replacing the fuse you just need to click the button. Also to not run your TM on the highest power for extended periods of time.

The fuses will just keep busting and eventually they will melt to your wires and then your really up Seneca Creek without a paddle!!

Alrerady been there and done that. Wasn't fun.

common minnkota problem, the windings are overheating from pulling such a load under high power. the circuit breaker will trip alot, but at least you can reset it. heavier guage wires from battery to trolling motor may help, but running it a 4 will be your best bet. i can trip my breaker anytime i run on high over a grass bed.

Yeah, my thought was to possibly change the wire to a larger guage from the TM to the battery and then go up to a larger fuse or breaker. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.

Whoever said these things were money pits wasn't lying.

Circuit breaker is thirded. Run at slower speed or get a bigger motor.

That is what I have always heard. Never run the trolling motor over 80% for long periods of time or that will happen.

Minn Kota rules!!!

Motorguide blows!

The 40 pound 12 volt Minkota on my first boat came standard with a 40 Amp fuse. I blew that one once in a weed bed. No fire just the need for a new fuse. I replaced it with a 40 amp circuit breaker I found in a local boat store. Just rest and go.

So wait... when I buy a boat I shouldn't use the trolling motor at full speed for long? How the heck do I roll on Little Seneca and Triadelphia? I currently use a Minn Kota Endura 55lb 12 volt transom motor on my inflatable and have never blown a fuse!

I crank my TM on max all the time on LS. I have used both a MinnKota 65 and a MotorGuide 70 with no problems. I melted one receptacle because it was a small cheap one - once I replaced it with a heavy duty one I have had no problems. I have blown up a battery, too which I do not recommend because that is a dangerous situation. I do use a breaker though, just in case.