FS Digest

I got a brand new 12v deep cycle marine battery hooked up to a brand new Minn Kota max 40lb thrust trolling. Took the boat out twice for about 4 hours and noticed around that time I'm losing power in the trolling motor. Go to find out the negative terminal post is scorching hot and is now rusting and forming corrosion. I also have the battery in a battery box. Is the battery defective? Any help is greatly appreciated appreciated thanks!

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by GreenIcyTea

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Could be connection was loose. Loose connection causes excess resistance this heat generated.
At least that’s been my experience.

uncle Leo Loc: St Louis Mo

first check for reversed polarity then call the place you purchased it hope you still have the receipt. make sure the motor is a 12 volt if it is 24 you need 2 batteries good luck

Barnacles Loc: Northern California

I'd just thoroughly clean the battery post and the connector that fastens to it. Then I'd reassemble it and clamp it tight. Cover it all with grease that's sold for protecting your battery posts. Probably, you won't have a problem but if you do, that's when to take it back where you got it.

One other possibility is whether there's any resistance between the cable itself and the terminal that clamps to the battery. This is less likely, but still a possibility. When current is flowing, resistance = heat. After you've got it all cleaned up and assembled tightly, run the trolling motor at a moderately high setting and feel the cable, the connector, etc. to see if anything is getting hot and try to figure where the heat is coming from. An infrared camera would make this easier, but who has one of those?