Trolling Motor Setup Guide

< WATERSNAKE MOTOR SUPPORT


BATTERY AND CHARGING REQUIREMENTS

BATTERY TYPE

ONLY 12 VOLT DEEP-CYCLE BATTERIES ARE RECOMMENDED.

Deep-cycle batteries deliver sustained power with low current draw over extended periods. They can be drained to low levels without developing a “memory” and can be fully recharged hundreds of times over their working lives.

Do not use a standard car, truck or marine battery (called a cranking battery). They are designed to provide a pulse of “cranking power” over a short period, can develop a “memory” preventing complete recharge and can produce current surges that may damage sensitive electronic components on your Watersnake.

LITHIUM BATTERIES: Lithium batteries can have a maximum output of up to 14.8v. This is over and above the voltage that 12v Watersnake motors are designed for. A simple Circuit Breaker or Fuse Kit will not protect your Watersnake motor's electronics from this excess power.

Watersnake Advance Brushless and Geo-Spot Motors are the only Watersnake motors that can use lithium batteries (LiFePO4 suggested), but it is still recommended that you use a 12 volt deep-cycle battery.

Use of a non-deep cycle battery may void your warranty.

BATTERY CAPACITY

Battery capacity is measured in Amp Hours (AH). For a given battery type, the larger the AH, the longer you can power the motor before recharging.

Recommending a battery capacity can be difficult as the way you use the motor greatly affects how long the battery will last. For example, using full speed regularly will greatly reduce the battery run time (and your distance travelled as well). As a rough guide though, smaller motors (18lb – 34lb) will benefit from around 60AH, while larger motors (44lb – 60lb) will match a battery around 100AH or more.

Be aware that deep cycle batteries should not be fully discharged. Doing this reduces the number of charge cycles the battery will accept. A rule of thumb is to only use half the capacity of a deep cycle battery before recharging.

BATTERY CHARGING

To avoid damaging the motor, the motor must be disconnected from the battery before charging begins. This includes alternators or any charging systems. Watersnake recommends a “smart” charger capable of recharging a deep cycle battery on at least 8 amps before reverting to a trickle or maintenance phase to maintain complete charging.

 

CONNECTING THE MOTOR TO A BATTERY

Note: If you need to extend the motor power cable to reach a battery, make sure to read the EXTENDING OR REPLACING BATTERY LEADS section below for important information.


 AVOID USING STORE-BOUGHT BATTERY BOXES WITH BUILT-IN CIRCUITRY

Battery Boxes use low quality electrical components that can cause issues with your Watersnake motor. We recommend connecting your Watersnake motor directly to a deep cycle battery using the provided battery leads. If you require further information on this, please contact Watersnake support in your region.

USE AN INLINE FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER WHEN REQUIRED:

DO NOT CONNECT OTHER ELECTRICAL ITEMS TO THE MOTOR BATTERY

This includes, but is not limited to, Solar Chargers, Battery Chargers, Alternators or Other Marine Accessories. Connecting items like this may cause interference, damage or performance issues to the Trolling Motor.

  • Route the wiring from the battery to the trolling motor on an alternate route or path to other wiring on the boat. If possible, it is preferable the wire is fitted to the opposite side of the boat to other wiring.

All Watersnake wiring connections should conform to best marine standards. Soldered, sealed and heat-shrink protected. If you doubt your ability to produce quality waterproof connections or lack the equipment, consult a marine technician or auto electrician.

  • Before connecting the motor’s cables to the battery terminals, ensure all switches are in the OFF position and stand clear of the propeller.
  • Connect the red cable to the positive (+) terminal and the black cable to the negative (-) terminal, making sure the terminals are clean before doing so. A clean connection will minimise power wastage and give you maximum power from the battery.
  • When the motor is connected to the battery DO NOT connect any other charging devices to the battery. For example solar chargers or alternators.
  • When not in use please make sure that the motor is disconnected from the battery.

EXTENDING OR REPLACING BATTERY LEADS

The longer your battery cable needs to be, the thicker it needs to be to avoid damaging voltage drop. The supplied cable has the correct wire gauge (thickness) for its length. But if you need to extend the length by more than 30%, you will need to replace the existing cable completely with a new longer thicker cable. This means the entire cable will be the correct wire gauge for the new length. See below to find the correct wire gauge for your motor thrust and required cable length.

If you doubt your ability to produce quality waterproof connections or lack the equipment, consult a marine technician or auto electrician.


MOUNTING TO THE BOAT

Please refer to the motor user manual for details on how to mount that specific motor. These manuals can be found here. MANUALS