Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Minn-Kota Thrusters -- Was: teathers

Frank,

I know something about motor controllers (my motor controller schematic is on the PSUBS website) and was interested in the one you described below.

What is the maximum current and voltage the controller can withstand? Can I use it for 45 volts and 50 amperes? Also do you required to have a heat sink? Does Minnkota give any information on the lead lengths to the battery? What is the Minnkota part number?

Sorry about so many questions but I'm interested.

Thanks,

Ken Martindale

In a message dated 1/23/2008 1:34:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, ShellyDalg@aol.com writes:

Hi Dean, good to hear from you. The controllers come sealed in epoxy from Minnkota. $129 each and are roughly 4''X4''X 1-1/4'' with a little pot and dial for forward/reverse wired in and dangling, plus some leads where you plug in a battery gage. All the electrical connectors are ''spade'' type with two from the battery and two to the motor. Also comes with a little bag of mounting screws and shrink wrap for the connectors.

Jim K. was here yesterday and he brought me a fitting that he got from Minnkota that screws into the motor housing and has a silicone compression thing where the wires come through. He said it was about $14, and it's pretty nice.

Anyway, the epoxy controller is very compact, totally sealed, and engineered to match the motor by Minnkota. If there's a way to make the battery last longer, I'm sure Minnkota would know, because they are competing with all the other manufacturers of trolling motors, and have proven to be the industry leader.

Doug sent me a picture of his, and they look the same. He is removing the dial pot, mounting the epoxy block controller on the hull ( for cooling ) and running the small three wire ribbon lead to his joystick box.

Should work fine, and will make the box less bulky.

Frank D.