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SELECTING THE CORRECT BATTERIES
SELECTING THE CORRECT BATTERIES
The motor will operate with any lead acid, deep cycle marine 12 volt battery/batteries. For best results, use a deep cycle, marine
battery with at least a 105 amp-hour rating. Maintain battery at full charge. Proper care will ensure having battery power when you
need it, and will significantly improve the battery life. Failure to recharge lead-acid batteries (within 12-24 hours) is the leading cause
of premature battery failure. Use a multi-stage charger to avoid overcharging. We offer a wide selection of chargers to fit your charging
needs. If you are using a crank battery to start a gasoline outboard, we recommend that you use a separate deep cycle marine battery/
batteries for your Minn Kota trolling motor. For more information on battery selection and rigging, please visit minnkotamotors.com.
Minn Kota trolling motors can run on Lithium Ion batteries. However, they are specifically designed to run on traditional lead acid
batteries (flooded, AMG or GEL). Lithium Ion batteries maintian higher voltages for longer periods of time than lead acid. Therefore,
running a Minn Kota trolling motor at speeds higher than 85% for a prolonged peiod could cause permanent damage to the motor.
Using DC or Alternator Chargers
Additional Accessories Connected to Trolling Motor Batteries
Your Minn Kota trolling motor may be designed with an internal bonding wire to reduce sonar interference. Most alternator charging
systems do not account for this bonding wire, and connect the negative posts of the trolling motor batteries to the negative posts of
the crank/starting battery. These external connections can damage connected electronics and the electrical system of your trolling
motor, voiding your warranty. Review your charger’s manual carefully or consult the manufacturer prior to use to ensure your charger
is compatible.
Minn Kota recommends using Minn Kota brand chargers to recharge the batteries connected to your Minn Kota trolling motor, as they
have been engineered to work with motors that include a bonding wire.
Significant damage to your Minn Kota motor, your boat electronics, and your boat can occur if incorrect connections are made between
your trolling motor batteries and other battery systems. Minn Kota recommends using an exclusive battery system for your trolling
motor. Where possible, accessories should be connected to a separate battery system. Radios and sonar units should not be connected
to any trolling motor battery systems as interference from the trolling motor is unavoidable. If connecting any additional accessories to
any trolling motor battery system, or making connections between the trolling motor batteries and other battery systems on the boat, be
sure to carefully observe the information below.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
WARNING
Never connect the (+) and the (–) terminals of the same battery together. Take care that no metal object can fall onto the battery and
short the terminals. This would immediately lead to a short and extreme fire danger.
CAUTION
Refer to “Conductor Gauge and Circuit Breaker Sizing Table” in the previous section to find the appropriate circuit breaker or fuse for
your motor. For motors requiring a 60-amp breaker, the Minn Kota MKR-19 60-amp circuit breaker is recommended.
CAUTION
Please read the following information before connecting your motor to your batteries in order to avoid damaging your motor and/or
voiding your warranty.
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