24v to 12v help please.

[lottabass]

I have a 95 Basstracker Pro 18 with a 12/24 volt Motorguide.  This trolling motor needs replaced.  I want to install a 12v 55 pound thrust Min Kota.  I have had this motor before and love it and it will provide all the power I need.

The Motorguide has a 12 or 24 switch on the foot pedal.  The plug is 4 prong.  Can anyone tell me what I have to do to make this switch?  Can I just remove one of the batteries and run all four wires to one battery, or what?  Thank you in advance for any help!

[Ranger520vx]

You will only need 1 ground and 1 power wire going to the battery but you will have to make sure that they are the ones running to the posts in the plug that your new motor uses. Not hard to do if you have a volt meter.

[fishinwrench]

Best thing to do is combine your two hots (red and orange, or red and white) together.   Combine your two blacks as well.   Install a breaker at the battery(s) and swap out the bow power plug to a two prong set. 

If it was me I would run 2 batteries parralel, because with that rig you are going to be running on speed 4 and 5 most of the time, and a single battery ain't gonna cut it.

 

[lottabass]

Awesome!  Thank you so much for your help!

[lottabass]

Another question please.....there are 2 black wires,1 red, and 1 orange at the back of the boat where the batteries are.

At the bow receptacle the same, 2 black, one red, and one orange.

However, the 4 prong plug that goes to the old TM only has ONE black, one red, and one orange.  Why only ONE black???  Thank you for helping a confused fisherman!

[fishinwrench]

Because you probably have a 12/24/charge switch at the bow.   That's where the other black wire is going. 

Whether pulling 12v or 24v you are still using the common ground, only the hot wire is being switched.  

Do away with that 12/24/charge switch, they are nothing but trouble and have been the cause of lots of boat fires.  If 12/24 trolling motors are not already extinct they soon will be.  

[lottabass]

Thank you for sharing your expertise!  I will follow your advise!