Trolling motor fire

[wis_hunter08]

Just wondering if anyone could tell me why the positive cable where it hooks to the battery started smoking and melting the other day when I was going across a lake. Motor worked fine up untill now.

Thanks

[Chuck7]

Yes sir..I had that happen once..it got so hot it melted the terminal


A.IMHO and Experience..the connection was loose..

B .Also..if the wire is too skinny ..it wopn't allow the proper amperage..to go through..causing heat..

C, Also ..if your clip doesn't have the entire cable crimped and only a few strands ..it will do that..reason again ..low amperage...causing heat.

Solution..need the entire cable { Every strand}crimped tight and on good clean connectors.

[Gangly]

You can also check fhte insulation on teh cable for any worn areas to see of the electrical cable had a fault to ground via a conductive material. Overheating of an electrical wire is always a current issue. Somewhere the wire is dumping electricity, having electricity dumped through it, or is not properly connected/grounded and the current is flowing through only a fewstrands of thecable causing excess heat. Like Chuck7 said, check for proper fittings, connections, and worn insulation.

[JoshKeller]

use 6 gauge wire, a 40 - 50 amp breaker within 18" of the battery, and heavy duty connections, with a plug at the trolling motor end, and you'll be fine.

[fishintay]

Never had that happen before.The only thing I have had to catch on fire was one of my wires that ran to my running lights. Luckly I had my fire extinguiser.

[Chuck7]

I had it happen last year..FREAKED ME OUT!!! ...the entire terminal melted off..The reason..I had a loose , rusty , strany , frayed wire running to one of the terminals...

Thus the motor was starving for amperage...thus she got hot and started sparking,arcing and getting so hot it welded the wire to the battery..and the terminal burned completely off.Walmart gave me a new battery..SInce then I update ,my battery clamps when needed..