Both Minnkota and Motor Guide produce electric trolling motors big
enough to use as auxiliaries on small sailboats. Has anyone tried
running these motors as generators to charge the on-board batteries?
Does anyone know the motor configuration (permanent magnet, shunt wound,
series wound)?

BS

On Jan 25, 3:46 pm, Bob S wrote:
Both Minnkota and Motor Guide produce electric trolling motors big
enough to use as auxiliaries on small sailboats. Has anyone tried
running these motors as generators to charge the on-board batteries?
Does anyone know the motor configuration (permanent magnet, shunt wound,
series wound)?

BS

You will not be able to use them an generators. The incoming power
goes through built in electronic controls for speed and there is no
way that power from the windings would find its way back through that
controller without drastic modification.

No. On a number of models that do not have pulse width modulating
controllers the motor is connected directly to the power leads on the
highest setting. On others one can simply bypass the controller. I can
readily generate an output by turning the motor with an electric drill.
The question now is whether or not the motor will turn fast enough in
water when towed at sailboat speeds.

BS

Andina Marie wrote:
On Jan 25, 3:46 pm, Bob S wrote:
Both Minnkota and Motor Guide produce electric trolling motors big
enough to use as auxiliaries on small sailboats. Has anyone tried
running these motors as generators to charge the on-board batteries?
Does anyone know the motor configuration (permanent magnet, shunt wound,
series wound)?

BS

You will not be able to use them an generators. The incoming power
goes through built in electronic controls for speed and there is no
way that power from the windings would find its way back through that
controller without drastic modification.

Bob S inscribed in red ink for all to know:
No. On a number of models that do not have pulse width modulating
controllers the motor is connected directly to the power leads on the
highest setting. On others one can simply bypass the controller. I can
readily generate an output by turning the motor with an electric drill.
The question now is whether or not the motor will turn fast enough in
water when towed at sailboat speeds.

BS

Andina Marie wrote:

On Jan 25, 3:46 pm, Bob S wrote:

Both Minnkota and Motor Guide produce electric trolling motors big
enough to use as auxiliaries on small sailboats. Has anyone tried
running these motors as generators to charge the on-board batteries?
Does anyone know the motor configuration (permanent magnet, shunt wound,
series wound)?

BS


You will not be able to use them an generators. The incoming power
goes through built in electronic controls for speed and there is no
way that power from the windings would find its way back through that
controller without drastic modification.


I have often wondered this too. I suspect that to optimize as a
generator, you'd want a different prop (bigger, lower pitch?)

bob
s/v Eolian
Seattle

some of the bigger ones i have seen on ebay claim that they can be used that
way. some manufacturers build theirs purposely for this, and have a hybrid
mode too which looks interesting. the bigger ones i have seen go up to an
equivallent of 48hp, but they're not cheap and still require a seprate sahft
and prop. they list full specs on what sort of speeds you have to be
sailing at to get full current from them.

the hybrid drive looks the most interesting to me.

Shaun

I have often wondered this too. I suspect that to optimize as a
generator, you'd want a different prop (bigger, lower pitch?)

bob
s/v Eolian
Seattle

Any chance you can supply us with the manufacturer's name or url?

BS

Shaun Van Poecke wrote:
some of the bigger ones i have seen on ebay claim that they can be used that
way. some manufacturers build theirs purposely for this, and have a hybrid
mode too which looks interesting. the bigger ones i have seen go up to an
equivallent of 48hp, but they're not cheap and still require a seprate sahft
and prop. they list full specs on what sort of speeds you have to be
sailing at to get full current from them.

the hybrid drive looks the most interesting to me.

Shaun

I have often wondered this too. I suspect that to optimize as a
generator, you'd want a different prop (bigger, lower pitch?)

bob
s/v Eolian
Seattle