I have had a time with trolling motor plugs. I can’t seem to find a good one. The most recent one got so hot the last trip that it melted the wire on the male end of the plug and melted the inside of the female end so bad that the replacement male end wont plug in and twist. I went through three sets of the two prong plugs and definitely didn’t like those. I thought the twist lock was the deal but the female end was hard to tighten the wires down on and I think all the heat came from a loose connection there. What do you guys use? I want to keep the plug in case I remove the motor but this has been a battle since day one so I’m up for anything.
I use Marinco plugs. Had to replace them this past year after ten years in the salt. They work great and are easy to install. They are a little more expensive than other types, but they work. West marine as well as lots of boat dealers carry them.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
I might be able to help a little. What kind and model TM do you have? Also do you know the gauge wire from the battery? How long is your boat?
If you are melting things you have a Dead Ground somewhere in the line. It may be intermittent, but you have a grounding problem! Trace all the wiring to the plug and after the plug and you’ll find it Do you have the Battery side fused, if so what size? Is the motor side fused, if not, do it!
localized hot spots/melting is due to high resistance whether from a poorly made connection and or corrosion at that location. Having the proper sized fusing in line is not going to protect the wire because the total resistance of the circuit is actually higher with the bad connections/corrosion. The start of a good connection in a boat is a good connector and tinned copper wire. Second is adequate crush on the wire to ensure solid contact and prevent loosening over time. On connections that are not sealed in adhesive lined shrink tubing, I brush on some dielectric grease or spray with products such as Corrosion Block. Last is to make sure the connection is sealed or splash protected from salt water…any connection will eventually failed if it is continually saturated with salt water.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
quote:
Originally posted by tigerfinI use Marinco plugs. Had to replace them this past year after ten years in the salt. They work great and are easy to install. They are a little more expensive than other types, but they work. West marine as well as lots of boat dealers carry them.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Me, too. For everything from trolling motor plugs to 12 volt power supply(cigarette lighter type) plugs. Both the male and female.
Ranger Bay 2000
Yamaha F150
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
…and spray with connections with corrosion x periodically. Not wd 40 or anything, corrosion x. I love it for stuff like this.
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
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I definitely think the heat came from a bad connection at that plug. I had trouble with the cheapo plug in plugs heating up before. When I replaced with this one it stayed cool and worked great for over a year. It very well could be corrosion causing the bad connection because the male end did look a little iffy. Either way I want something a little more robust for peace of mind if nothing else.