Help me figure the AWG wire for my trolling motor

gw216 said:

You will get different gauge sizes depending on the voltage of the system. I believe you mentioned you were going to run three 12-volt batteries to make a 36-volt system. Using the circuit length and amperage you provided with a 36-volt system, the calculator comes up with 8 AWG wire (UL 1426 wire). I would recommend building a margin of safety into the system, so 6 AWG should be more than adequate, according to the calculator.

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Hookup1 said:

Check the max wire size for the trolling motor connector. You may need to drill out the back to accommodate 6 awg wire. I would no go to 4 awg. Given it's a 40 amp circuit 6 arg and the length are adequate. If you do decide to go to 4 awg you should do a short 6awg pigtail into the connector. Use a reducing splice.

For my last project (replaced battery charger cable and 12-to-24 volt conversion for Lingren-Pittman dredge reels) we used Pacer Group for tools and materials. We bought a FTZ crimp tool from Amazon. If you are that concerned about voltage drop make sure you get the best crimp tool for the job. You want perfect crimps. Also make sure you used a tinned marine grade wire (not the untinned welder cable)

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GW, you are right about the wire size. Earlier in this thread the discussion got into recommendations of #4 And even #2. I ordered some supplies including a Marinco Plug-in connector intended specifically for trolling motors. It indicates on the package that 6 gauge is the biggest wire it will accept. I thought WTF? It turns out that RHODAN company is only about 12 miles North of me, so I called the guys there and one of their techs said #6 is fine anywhere I place my battery in a 22 ft boat. The fact that this motor can handle up to a 15,000 pound boat and mine only weighs about 6,000lbs, he said the draw, for the most part will be fairly low. He told me to just feel of the circuit breaker and the plug-in connector for temp as I use it and get familiar with the system. He said to expect them to be warm but if it gets to where I can't hold my hand on either one then some change is in order.

I used #6 ANCOR tinned cable in a casing and after the member Finest Kind suggested I look at a single 36 volt Lithium battery for only about $120 more money, thats the route I went, using the same battery he recommended. I haven't got out to try it yet because I have some other irons in the fire but will soon.