How much power does a TM use ?

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Rod Martin
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How much power does a TM use ?

Post by Rod Martin »

I have a 112 Minn Kota Fortrex. I use it most of the time at 25 on the control setting for the motor.
How much power is it consuming at that setting. My boat is weight sensitive and I am trying to find best weight to power batteries for my boat.

Looking at batteries how would you determine usage

Example
34m battery shows 100 min @ 25amps

So would 3 34Ms give you 5 hrs at 25 amps.

100x3= 300 divided by 60 = 5 hrs

31M using this would be 7.75 hrs at 25 amps

155x 3 = 465 divided by 60 = 7.75

Anyone know if this is right or some other way to figure power consumption

Optima Batteries
34M are 38.4 lbs per and priced at $248.99 vs 31M at 59.8 lbs and 330.99 per

So there is a 64lb difference in weight for 3 batteries and a $246 difference for 3 batteries in list price.

I don't mind spending money but why buy what I don't really need

Thanks
TR177 Ranger/ Mercury/Lowrance/ Ghost TM
Top'r
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by Top'r »

I don't know of the power usage. But, if weight is an issue, have you looked into Lithium Pro batteries ?
I have the same TM on my boat that you do. I replaced all 3 Deka Intimidators AGM's last year when I bought my Champion 210 Elite. Have not had an issue at all, but they are heavy at 66 pounds each. 3 trolling, 1 starting group 31's
WRB
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by WRB »

Premium AGM's like Oddessey and Northstar are heavy batteries. I use VMax tanks MR137-120 (GP 31) AGM deep cycle marine batteries and wouldn't use anything Interstate/Optima offers.
Weight to performance you can't beat Lithium ion batteries, Lithium Pro makes an excellent battery system. 1/3 rd the weight of AGM, 10x the price. Lithium charges 50% faster, requires special charging system, battery life is 10+'years.
Tom
Last edited by WRB on Mon Aug 13, 2018 6:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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hydro
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by hydro »

If you connected the 3) 12 volt batteries in parallel the voltage would remain the same but the amp hour capacity of one battery would be multiplied by 3 .


If you connect 3) batteries in series for a 36 volt trolling motor you multiply 12 volts times 3
but the amp hour capacity remains the same .
Rod Martin
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by Rod Martin »

hydro wrote:If you connected the 3) 12 volt batteries in parallel the voltage would remain the same but the amp hour capacity of one battery would be multiplied by 3 .


If you connect 3) batteries in series for a 36 volt trolling motor you multiply 12 volts times 3
but the amp hour capacity remains the same .
But are the amps required to move the boat reduced ? Voltage up amps down to preform the same work ?
TR177 Ranger/ Mercury/Lowrance/ Ghost TM
WRB
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by WRB »

Think of a water hose, the volts are the pressure, the amps the volume of water flow. The pressure drops as the voltage drops and the amp current flow drops. You need to increase the amp flow by increasing the power until all the charged battery power is used up.
It requires more power to move a heavier object. Going agianst wind or current increases the power need, so a setting of 25% power may not be enough or could be too much power depending on wind, current and speed you desire, it's can only be considered an average.
For these reasons most anglers using trolling motors prefer the higher amp hours and reserve minutes as possible.
Tom
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ash
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by ash »

You are on the right track, perhaps this will help https://www.trollingmotors.net/blogs/se ... r-run-time
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mark poulson
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by mark poulson »

ash wrote:You are on the right track, perhaps this will help https://www.trollingmotors.net/blogs/se ... r-run-time
Good link. Thanks.
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Rod Martin
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Re: How much power does a TM use ?

Post by Rod Martin »

ash wrote:You are on the right track, perhaps this will help https://www.trollingmotors.net/blogs/se ... r-run-time



Thanks to everybody think I have it figured out :D
TR177 Ranger/ Mercury/Lowrance/ Ghost TM
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