rewiring 24 volt system

[Boone Caudill]

The 24 volt system in my 2000 Warrior 1890 is not working properly. I've blown the fuse heads in the electric motor connector heads, and I keep popping relays in the battery compartment.

I run electric motors both on the bow and the stern. Warrior has an onboard charger. I've had numerous boat repair shops work on the system - they all claim it is fixed, but it never works for very long.

I'm thinking about ripping out the whole system myself and starting over this winter, including replacement of the on-board charger and all wiring. Has anybody ever done this, and would you have some advice for me? Any recommendations of on-board chargers? Some of the units sold in Cabelas seem to have pretty strong recommendations.

[REW]

Boone,
Don't overthink this issue.
If you have issues with your 24 volt system and don't like what you have, sure - rip it out and start over.

But this is not a winter project, it is a 1 hour project for this evening.

All that you are talking about is two sets of wires from a pair of batteries to two trolling motor batteries.
Then, 4 wires connected from an on board charger to two batteries.

Add one circuit breaker at the + terminal on the 24 volt battery for each trolling motor battery. Do, not have any other fuses, or circuit breakers anywhere else.

Use a pair of 6 gauge wire for the run from the 24 volt battery to each trolling motor battery and you will be good to go.

---------------
When, it comes time to do the job, just use your current wire to pull your new wire into the boat. Strip off about 4 inches of insulation on the old wire and on the new wire, Then, do an over wrap of the new wires onto the old wire. Then, do an over wrap of the old wire onto the new wire. Tape up the splice and the splice will not pull apart. Go ahead and pull the wire through the boat where you need to. If you find that you start to encounter problems, then go ahead and pull the old wire back, and coat the end of the old wires and the new wire with wire pulling compound. This will make the wire slippery and easy to pull through the boat. If you don't encounter problems, you should be done in an hour. If you encounter problems you might take two hours to complete the task.

REW

p.s. Here is a picture of the lineman's splice that you can use to splice the old and new wire when making the connection to pull the wires through the boat.

By the way and pull the wire pair - through the boat at the same time.

[Hot Runr Guy]

Boone,
Good idea to take everything out and start over. The Warrior system may be great, but in all my time here, I've yet to see a schematic of it, and what makes it work.
Here's a simple diagram of (2) batteries for the TM(s), and a 3 bank charger. The leads shown at the top should be #6AWG, a pair run to each TM, with each TM having it's own circuit breater at the battery.
http://www.walleyeworkshop.com/sites...20set%20up.pdf

HRG

[copperdog]

The warrior wiring system is quite simple do not put a jumper at the batteries there are two singe runs of twelve volts running too each outlet the jumper comes into play at the plug you can see the jumper in the inside of the plug if its bad you can see it here it will look like its been hot a good volt meter and testing jumper is all you need, changing out breakers is always a good idea.

[REW]

Copperdog,
I understand that the "stock" warrior wiring consists of a pair of 12 volt wires running to the trolling motor socket.

But, unless you actually use 12 volts from your trolling motor batteries, there is no need to run a pair of 12 volt wires to your trolling motor connector.

The simpler way, and the more trouble free way is to run a pair of 6 gauge wires from your trolling motor battery area to your 24 volt trolling motor connector. Install a new connector at both the trolling motor socket side, as well as on the trolling motor itself, using only two conductors.

Then, back at the batteries, use a 6 gauge jumper to jump the + terminal of the first 12 volt battery to the negative of the 2nd 12 volt battery. Bolt a circuit breaker to the + terminal of the 2nd 12 volt battery for 24 volts, and connect the negative 6 gauge wire to the negative of the first 12 volt battery for the -24 volt connection.

Very simple -
One jumper wire,
One circuit breaker
One pair of 6 gauge wires
One - 2 conductor trolling motor socket
One - 2 conductor trolling motor plug.

Then you are good to go.

REW

[copperdog]

I guess everything is already there was my point its just hooked up wrong or a plug has failed or both I have a warrior and my vantage needs the twelve volts, pulling new wire from the batteries to the back plug or front for that matter is not a one hour job do to the wiring being attached to the boat every so many feet. I do agree running a two wire system would be more simple but not easier.

[Boone Caudill]

Thanks for the input. I really appreciate all of the responses. I am just sick and tired of dealing with the existing system, and being that it is 13 years old now, I think redoing it is the best option.

What drives me nuts is exactly what copperdog is talking about. There are two wires running into each terminal on each battery. I just think there is a short somewhere, and pulling new 6 ga wire seems the best option.

Good naturedly speaking of course, I will never get it done in an hour. One - I'm not very handy with wiring, and being 6'6" and beefy, I don't fit well in small boat compartments.

Two - I have a three year old little boy, who really likes to "help", only his type of help consists of relocating all the important parts and tools at the precise time you need them. Daddy, want in the boat.....Daddy, want out.............Daddy, what's that.......and on and on and on.

Third, did I mention I'm just not very handy?

Does anybody have a good recommendation for an aftermarket onboard charger, like what Cabelas or Bass Pro Shops would sell? I don't need real fast charging - overnight is fine.

[Hot Runr Guy]

this ain't a bad price for a 3x10amp onboard charger http://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GEN3-On-B...3-bank+charger

HRG

[bob1]

If you want a reasonably priced name brand 3 bank charger.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-acc-rs3...nk.html#tabrev

[bob1]

I bought one of those for my son's boat!

Bob