How to add a ground to a trolling motor

[@civilized5734]

Michael can you do exactly what you said with running it to a post on the trolling motor, and then just back to the same negative feed that is powering my bow unit? I think this is the same thing you did but wanted to make sure. Its coming straight from the battery in the back to the bow unit.

[@brucedavis4495]

Ok here is how to ground/ bond the TM case. Where the clamp is around the TM that holds the transducer on scrap off the coating and expose the metal. Solder a ring terminal to #12 black wire and clamp the ring terminal under the clamp. Attached the wire to transducer cable and connect black wire to the ground wire that powers the trolling motor. I would solder and then tape connection. Did this to my boat and now my Lowrance Fish Reveal has NO interference at all.

[@michaelwhaley5797]

An Ultrex is a Fortrex with some added electronics and electric steering. They both have a 3A fuse in a brown wire (a GROUND wire per Minnkota schematic) in the head. Check the fuse. If open it removes the ground and will cause the interference. If it is open and you just replace it, it most likely will open again. You have a problem in the trolling motor or in your boat electrical system you need to find and repair. Running an external ground wire is like the old 'put a penny in the fuse receptacle' at home thing. It eliminates the fuse which is a protective safety item. Don't do that. This one item is not the only cause of interference out there, just one to be sure to check in your journey. Best to ya.

[@RealLifeFishingWI]

Finally, someone who knows what's up!! However, if that fuse is blowing, you really should figure out what's causing it to blow. I made a video about this very topic, including the CORRECT solution. In my case, it was that the negative wire to the brush assembly had come loose due to hitting some rock with the trolling motor. In addition, an improper repair was performed by an authorized service center that resulted in the brown wire from the 3A fuse being re-attached and nearly touching the negative lead, which caused a short and the trolling motor tried to use the 3A circuit for the ground under load because there was less resistance on that circuit than there was on the negative brush due to it being loose.

[@MichaelMurphyFishing]

Then what you want to do instead, is attach the ground to the negative post of your battery. If the battery is at the back of the boat, you can put your ground to your jackplate or at the back of the boat. As long as your ground is in the water when you boat is afloat. I hope this helps!

[@ahlong]

doesn't the powder coating on the trolling motor prevent the wire from properly grounding?

[@frantyf]

Michael Thanks for the video. I did but the interferences still are there when I pick up sensitivity up 12/13 If I go down with sensitivity the interferences doesn't show at screen. Would be better to drill a little hole at the end of fortrex to got a better ground? Thanks!!

[@photocycle]

How would you do the same thing if you don't have a hub for all your electronics up front and just have a direct wire from your fish finder to your starting battery?

[@johnfrench2190]

If I just run the wire down the shaft of the trolling motor and wire tie it down would that work?

[@steveselfridge819]

Awesome Mike. Thanks.

[@NitroZ18Fishing]

Hey mike, do I want to run the ground wire you mention to the negative post on my cranking battery or my trolling motor battery?...and would it be ok to attach the ground wire to hose clamp on trolling motor mount like you did, and then run it all the way back to battery in back compartment?...thanks in advance!

[@MichaelMurphyFishing]

Patrick Judge run it to the negative post on your negative post on the starting battery. And yes on the hose clamp, anything to get it into the water to help add a true ground.

[@NitroZ18Fishing]

Michael Murphy awesome, thanks a lot for getting back to me!

[@troydunn04]

If you have your finder on a standalone battery, should you ground the standalone battery and not the cranking battery?

[@randyfuhrman3949]

Following, did you ever get an answer on this?

[@joebassfish]

really helpful, thanks

[@MichaelMurphyFishing]

No, because the wire is grounding to the water, not the trolling motor. It is just mounted to the trolling motor.