RamblinWreck
Senior Member
I have a Newport 46 lb trolling motor I run on lakes with my NuCanoe F12 'yak. It has 5 forward speeds and 3 reverse. The speed is controlled internally by a "speed coil" which is just a tapped wirewound resistor, so any speed under full is wasting energy as heat. Also the slow speed isn't really slow enough for trolling. I'm not big into trolling, but when moving from spot to spot I throw out a shad rap and sometimes catch one.
I bought a 60 Amp PWM speed control on evilbay, a Chinese circuit, for $13. The circuit is a rather amateurish design using a cheap timer chip (555) with relays to control direction (instead of a full "H-bridge" for ye geeks), but it works. I disconnected the switch inside the TM head and straight wired the motor red & black to the power red & black (why don't they use white and gold haha) with 2 red wire nuts. The handle is for steering only now. I use Anderson Powerpole 45A connectors for hookup.
I bought a cheap ($6) waterproof plastic box at WM (a Pelican knock-off in camping section) The module is inside with the speed knob and direction switch mounted in the lid, with #10 AWG wires in (from battery) and out (to trolling motor). 40A circuit breaker at the battery end. I'm using a 35 AH deep cycle wheelchair/scooter battery, which is just enough to run around a small lake like HG Lathem (I have a huge marine deep cycle size 31 Duracell platimum, but that brute weighs more than the kayak). Eventually I plan to get a lithium ion battery, but they are $$$.
Now I can control speed perfectly without wasting energy. Minn-Kota used to sell a version of this called a "maximizer" but they are no longer made. Eventually I will make a more permanent version with a remote control in a smaller box you can mount to the track.
I am happy to report it works quite well, and I only have about $35 in it, not counting the wire. I was going to upload a youtube on how to do it, but since they are censoring the right, that is not going to happen. I will, however, help any fellow fishermen/fisherwomen who want to make one, just send a PM.
I bought a 60 Amp PWM speed control on evilbay, a Chinese circuit, for $13. The circuit is a rather amateurish design using a cheap timer chip (555) with relays to control direction (instead of a full "H-bridge" for ye geeks), but it works. I disconnected the switch inside the TM head and straight wired the motor red & black to the power red & black (why don't they use white and gold haha) with 2 red wire nuts. The handle is for steering only now. I use Anderson Powerpole 45A connectors for hookup.
I bought a cheap ($6) waterproof plastic box at WM (a Pelican knock-off in camping section) The module is inside with the speed knob and direction switch mounted in the lid, with #10 AWG wires in (from battery) and out (to trolling motor). 40A circuit breaker at the battery end. I'm using a 35 AH deep cycle wheelchair/scooter battery, which is just enough to run around a small lake like HG Lathem (I have a huge marine deep cycle size 31 Duracell platimum, but that brute weighs more than the kayak). Eventually I plan to get a lithium ion battery, but they are $$$.
Now I can control speed perfectly without wasting energy. Minn-Kota used to sell a version of this called a "maximizer" but they are no longer made. Eventually I will make a more permanent version with a remote control in a smaller box you can mount to the track.
I am happy to report it works quite well, and I only have about $35 in it, not counting the wire. I was going to upload a youtube on how to do it, but since they are censoring the right, that is not going to happen. I will, however, help any fellow fishermen/fisherwomen who want to make one, just send a PM.
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