Does a 24v Trolling Motor Run Longer than 12V?

Does a 24v Trolling Motor Run Longer than 12V?

A 24V trolling motor comes with many exciting features you would love to try. However, you need a good battery to make it more effective.

Many people want to know the difference between a 12v and 24v trolling motor. Does a 24v trolling motor run longer than 12V?

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Does a 24v Trolling Motor Run Longer than 12V?” width=”960″ height=”540″ /> Does a 24v Trolling Motor Run Longer than 12V?

The first thing we will do is to look at the features of the two trolling motors.  At the end of this article, it will be easier to understand why a 24V trolling motor is faster.

Does a 24v trolling motor run longer than 12V?

What is the most powerful 12 volt trolling motor?

The  most powerful and strongest 12V trolling motors usually have 55 pounds of thrust. Some of the brands that produce these models include:

How to tell if a trolling motor is 12 or 24 volt

By checking the nameplate found on the plastic cover of the head and/or the foot pedal, you can easily determine if a trolling motor is 12V or 24V.

In the absence of a cover and foot pedal, you can also check whether the battery panel is configured in parallel arrangement or in series.

The 12V trolling motors are mostly set up with a single 12V lead acid battery.

With two 22V batteries, the configuration is always arranged in parallel with the positive terminal of one battery connected to the positive terminal of the second battery, and the negative terminal of the first battery to the negative terminal of the second battery.

With the 24v trolling motor, the arrangement of the batteries is usually with two 12V lead acid batteries configured in series connection.

Here, the positive terminal of the first battery is connected to the negative terminal of the second battery and the negative terminal of the first battery is connected to the positive terminal of the second battery.

Can you run a 24v trolling motor on 12v?

Using a 12V battery to run a 24V trolling motor will only cause harm to your battery and your motor as well. It will lead to a significantly reduced maximum thrust which will, in turn, reduce the running time of the motor.

The case would be quite different if a 24V battery is used to run a 24V trolling motor and the motor will receive a sufficient amount of voltage that it needs to run effectively.

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In case there is no other option, this can be used  as a short term solution but it is not recommended at all.

If you have no other battery available except the 12V battery while you are out fishing, then you can use it for a standard 24V trolling motor.

However, once you tide over and get to the shore, it is advised to change the battery to a 24V battery immediately.

Also, there are some high end models of trolling motors like the electric steer trolling motors which can only run on 24V. These are exceptions.

How many batteries do you need for a 24 volt trolling motor?

With 12 volt batteries, all you require are two batteries which are arranged in series. This can be used to run a 24V trolling motor effectively and efficiently.

This configuration simply requires you to connect the negative terminal of one 12V battery to the positive terminal of the second battery. The same procedure should then be carried out with the other two terminals.

Once the two 12V batteries are connected together in series, the addition of their voltages will give you a total voltage of 24V which is the exact amount that is needed to run a 24V trolling motor.

However, an easy way to run the 24V trolling motor is by using a single 24V battery although this option is quite rare among lead acid marine batteries. The 24V lithium marine battery is also recommended to run your 24V trolling motor.

Some of the benefits of using a single 24V battery include:

Can you use a 24 volt battery on a 12 volt trolling motor?

A 24V battery should not be used in a 12V trolling motor because it will definitely lead to overheating in the circuits. This heat can cause internal damage to some important components and cause the motor to malfunction.

Regardless of the situation that you are in, using a 24V battery for a 12V trolling motor will cause bigger problems for your motor.

Does a 24 volt trolling motor last longer than 12 volt?

Comparing the running time of 12V and 24V trolling motors is essential to know which one is better.

Since 24V trolling motors are obviously higher than 12V trolling motors, it is quite obvious that the running time of the 24V motor is twice that of the 12V motor when both motors are being run on a battery with the same amp hours.

This means that the 24V is a better and more recommended choice if you need your trolling motor to work for extended periods without posing unnecessary problems along the way.

However, the running time of the 12V motor can also be extended by simply adding a second, third or even fourth battery.

Once you configure them in a parallel arrangement, you can have a longer period of time on water with your trolling motor.

Regardless of the type or version of motor that you decide to purchase, you will need to understand how they operate and practice constantly on the water before you can become comfortable using them.

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What Type of Trolling Motor Shaft Length is Right?

When choosing a trolling motor, the shaft length is a very important factor to consider. The importance of an appropriate shaft length for your watercraft determines the  level of control of that boat.

More so, it ensures that you get a safe and comfortable boating while on water.

Longer shafts can cause issues during shallow water operations. In addition, with a shaft length that is too short, the prop will not be properly submerged in the water during adverse conditions.

In order to know the perfect shaft length for your boat, you need to first consider the height of the bow or the stern. Shorter shaft lengths are more ideal for canoes while longer shafts should be used for Deep V boats.

 

Trolling Motor Features You Should Consider

With the advent of newer models of trolling motors and the incorporation of more advanced technology into their build, the features of these trolling motors are continuously improving every single time. Below are some features that you should know:

Self-Directional Motors

Self directional motors are able to allow:

  • Foot free operation and
  • Hand free operation

This simply means that without the angler, this motor is able to follow shoreline and depth contours using GPS coordinates.

The best part is that even during some tough weather conditions, this motor will steer you in a straight line and towards the right direction.

Built-In Battery Gauge

The built in battery gauge permits the angler to conveniently check the amount of power that is left in the battery of the boat.

This can give the angler an idea of how much fishing time he has left or the right time to charge the battery.

Usually, many models of trolling motors have these battery gauges attached to the head of the unit or the housing.

Digital Displays

Digital displays are now very common in many high end models. These digital screens are able to reveal the speed and the depth.

However, with a technology as advanced as this, the price of this motor is on the high side.

Tips on choosing the perfect motor

Before purchasing a motor, there are some important things to put into consideration first. Some of them include:

  1. With a composite or stainless steel shaft, the angler can easily endure shock and also stand up to abuse in comparison with weaker metals.
  2. Before getting any model, ensure that the prop is weedless and that there are replacement or spare blades specifically for your model
  3. A heavy duty and strong mount is highly recommended. Also, make sure it has more metal parts than plastic.
  4. Getting a cable that is adequate in length for the size of your boat is very important especially if you would like to use the foot-control pedal from anywhere in the boat

The addition of trolling motors to watercraft has certainly taken fishing to a completely new level. With these trolling motors, anglers are guaranteed:

  • Fishing inaccessible areas
  • Silent approach whole fishing
  • Perfect control of their boats

Not only is this adding more spice to the whole fishing experience, it is also time and energy saving for the angler.

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Does a 24 volt trolling motor last longer than 12 volt?

A 24v trolling motor has a run time that is twice as long as that of 12v trolling motors, especially when you run them on a battery with the same amp hours.

The reason for this is that they have a significantly lower amp draw, and are mostly used at a lower throttle setting.

The result of this relationship is a slow depletion of the battery. As a result, we do not recommend that you try it. Why many people do this, they discover the side effects after a period.

Hence, you do not want to damage your expensive motor because others are trying it.

How long will a 24v trolling motor run?

A 24v trolling motor at a maximum speed will typically get about 2 hours of use from a fully charged pair of “average” batteries.

Hence, You can have 4 hours of use for the larger extra capacity batteries

How long will a 24V trolling motor last?

A 24-volt trolling motor can last at least 8-10 hours, and may last up to several days before you recharge the battery or buy new battery.

Does a 24 volt trolling motor need 2 batteries?

You need separate deep cycle marine battery/batteries if you use a crank battery to start a gasoline outboard.

Meanwhile, there are two batteries in the 24 Volt Systems.

Can you run a 24 volt trolling motor on one battery?

We do not recommend this, but depending on the model of motor, you can run a 24-volt motor off of a 12-volt battery.

24 Volt Advantages

Super power: A 24V motor has more thrust that can help you in your activities. This offers you the ability to move your heavy boat.

However, you will handle windy conditions and rough waters with ease because more power is lesser work

Higher efficiency:  When you have a higher voltage system, things become more efficient for you.  The 24V offers a lower current flowing through the cables for the same power output.

Better value: 12 volt trolling motors are less expensive, but in terms of performance, the 24 volt is better. Therefore, you enjoy better value for your money.

The 24V are less expensive than the motors running on higher voltage, such as 36V or even 48V.

24 Volt Disadvantages

Very complex: While a 12-volt trolling motor need only one 12V battery, a 24V system need you to connect two batteries in series.

Also, when you want to charging two batteries, it will require either a dedicated 2 bank battery charger (best).

Hence, you need  a 24V charger to charge the batteries together or charging them separately with a single 12V charger.

More space required:  You will require a more powerful electric motor and two rather than just one marine battery to make a 24 Volt trolling motor heavier.

More expensive: Aside from a larger and more powerful lower unit, 24 trolling motors come with more robust deployment mechanism, remotes, and GPS electronics.

What this means is that they are more expensive to buy. Lastly, before you pick the trolling motor for your adventure or work, ensure that it is the right voltage.

In this article, we have made it easier for you to know the differences between the two in terms of speed.

We believe that you can use this article to learn more about the two trolling motors. However, you should know that you must use the right amperage for your voltage.