MotorGuide Xi5 versus Minn Kota iPilot

[John Bacon]

Good deal I used a aluminum plate on mine and it is rock sold with no bad pressure on the fiberglass. I am sure you will love the new motor.

 

 

Art

 

Thanks, it has been a while but was it you that mentioned using a twist lock plug for an electric motor?

 

I want to replace the plug that was prewired on the boat because it seems cheap and low quality, and because they used 12 gauge wire for a circuit that will draw around 55 amps. I want to replace it with a quality connector using 6 or 8 gauge wire to the battery.

 

Is this type of connector something that I would need to purchase at a specialty store? Or, is it something that I can pick up from a hardward store such as Home Depot or Princess Auto?

 

p.s. Does your motor have a connector on a short wire near the lever that you need to raise and lower the motor. Do you know what this is for? There is a second connector on a longer wire that is designed for a Lowrance graph.

 

Thanks for your help so far.

[aplumma]

I ordered my twistlock male and female from cabelias years ago I am sure they still have them. The small wire is to put an adapter that allows the unit to talk to your lowrance system that then can control it from a touchscreen it is called lowrance smart steer

 

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Art

[Lape0019]

Marinco makes the a good connecter. They also manufacture the minnkota branded ones. I went with the Minnkota branded one because it has a smaller diameter, It was the MKR-18. If you go with 6 gauge, you will need the adapter as well (Adapter is MKR-16A).

 

Depending on how long your run is, you will be able to get away with 8 gauge wire no problems. Just make sure to put in an inline fuse or breaker in whatever size your TM calls for. I used the Minnkota breaker as well.

[fishindevil]

I used 6 gauge wire from my 29 series battery then a 60amp minn Kota breaker then to my plug it's not a marine co as I had that and the adapter broke 2 times so now I have a proper 6 guage plug and works fine no issues mine is 12 volt as well 55lb thrust .... Gonna switch to cable drive for next year tho ... Cheers

[John Bacon]

Thanks for the all of your input. I was able to get it out on the water yesterday.

 

It did a great job of keeping the boat straight while I trolled with the kicker. This is the main reason I wanted the Xi5/iPilot versus a cable drive. I still have a lot of other features to test such as the anchor lock and memorizing routes, etc.

Edited September 3, 2015 by JohnBacon