[PSUBS-MAILIST] Pressure Compensated Trolling Motor Question

[Michael Wright <mwright@smallip.com>]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question for anyone using Liquid Compensated Trolling motors.

I've heard that the drawback to them is that the carbon dust from the 
brushes goes into suspension and eventualy causes a ground fault to the 
case (or direct short if no ground fault detection is used).  This seems 
quite plausible with the simple solution being to change the 
compensating fluid regularly.

The quesitons I have are: Is this a problem worth solving in a better 
way?  Is the particle size large enough for an automotovie oil filter to 
catch them?


The trick I think is to use a drill powered oil change pump to circulate 
the compensating fluid through the filter.  Since the pump has no motor 
and no air spaces it is pressure compensated by the thruster fluid. 
Cycling the full volume of oil through the filter would take less than a 
minute and could be done with a cordless drill (safe and expendable). 
Since the compensating system stays closed there is no mess and no need 
to bleed the air out of the system.

So that's the idea.

mike