Bass Addict wrote:ady wrote: Use the minimum cable required to do the job and I would not solder the connections - Solder joints shouldn't be use where high current is around.
Sorry Dude but your giving out terrible advice............
The heavier the cable you use the less resistance = the less heat build up
All connections should be soldered . A poor connection will result in heat build up and the weak connecton melt , could even cause fire
Put your hand on the head of the trolling motor after long use or cutting through weeds = Hot
Me ! give terrible advice??? Been around this game a long time. Take a look under the hood of your car and show me the soldered connections on your battery or starter - you won't find any. Soldering thin wire is easy, solderering thick is tricky because you have to get even heat on the cable and connector at the same time or "dry joints" happen. A bad soldered joint will creat a high resistance connection and drop voltage across it; this in turn creates heat and eventually a fire or melted solder.
Terry alluded to the cable issue, forget the thin stuff, MinnKota tell you this on their site. I had to replace my OEM cableing in my Princecraft due to a burn't out Marinco socket, I threw away the #10 and put in #6 - problem gone.
You'll not have problems with crimped cables, but I am talking about the big stuff here, Car battery size all-copper connectors, not the type you get in plastic bags at CT. You'll also have to go to your local garage to get a tool to crimp the connectors as several tons of force is required, I doubt you'll have anything in your shed to do this, and don't compromise.
You do not want to lose any voltage in your cables, go-big. This stuff isn't cheap though, another reason to keep the cable length short.