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How to Reset Minn Kota Circuit Breaker (4 Simple Steps)

If your Minn Kota circuit breaker is not resetting after being tripped, the switch may have a problem. This article will show you how to reset a Minn Kota circuit breaker.

A circuit breaker is crucial to protect your Minn Kota boat trolling motor. The breakers have several amp ratings to suit all possible trolling motor wirings. However, there are cases where the circuit breaker might trip, and you need to reset it. All you need to do is follow four simple steps.

To Reset Your Minn Kota Circuit Breaker

  • Deactivate the system
  • Press the button on the breaker
  • A lever will automatically pop out
  • Push the lever back in until you hear it click
  • Activate the system

I’ll go into more detail below.


How Does a Trolling Motor Work

Before explaining how to reset a Minn Kota circuit breaker for your boat trolling motor system, I should explain how a trolling motor works.

The system of the motor mainly includes:

  • An electric motor
  • A propeller
  • Several controls

It can be controlled manually or wirelessly.

Its electrical system operates with bi-blades that respond to thermal energy. While electric current runs through the system, the moving electrons produce heat. The heat bends the metal strips.

The breaker trips once the metal stripes have bent enough. You should note that it cannot be reset until those stripes cool down.


Why is it Important to Have a Circuit Breaker for the Trolling Motor

For the trolling motor to work, it needs to connect to a battery.

To connect the motor to the battery, one must choose the correct wire sizes based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) unit. The negative pole of the battery should connect to the breaker.

If the wiring is not correctly set or a power surge emerges, the breaker trips, preventing most of the electrical damages that can emerge.


Possible Reasons Behind Tripping

Breaker tripping is not uncommon. The common reasons behind the breaker’s tripping are:

  • Defective breaker; it wears off over time. Additionally, increased heat can provoke premature tripping.
  • A broken wire may touch grounded parts, causing the battery to also ground.
  • Wire gauges, while using an under-full-load wire, most likely cause a voltage drop and increase amperage.
  • Undersized breaker, after heavy-load usage, the internal temperature escalates to a point where the breaker trips.
  • Tangled troller motor, when a fishing line or debris found in the water gets tied up around the motor, the battery will give out much more power to operate the device. That extra power can force the breaker to trip.

Remember that once the breaker trips, it becomes much more likely to trip again soon at lower voltage points.


Manual Reset of the Circuit Breaker

The simplest case is for the breaker to trip while not being damaged.

1. Disconnect the Load

The best step is to power off the system.

This action will allow you to inspect the electrical system without the electrocution hazard. Once you have deactivated the battery, you can proceed to the next step.

2. Locate the Reset Button

Every breaker device has a reset button.

This button resets the breaker to its original state but will not automatically activate the system. However, it allows, after the third step, the electric current to flow around the system again.

You will most likely find it on the back of the device.

3. Search for the Lever That Popped Out

Once you have pressed the reset button, a lever near the switch will pop out.

You might hear a click once it pops out. To allow the current to flow, you must press that lever until you hear it click.

Remember that the lever might pop during the transportation of the device. In that case, you need to reset the lever to its original place.

4. Operate the System

When the lever is in place, you can turn on the system.

If the battery operates the trolling motor, you know nothing else is needed.

If the battery doesn’t activate the device, you might have a faulty breaker and need to replace it.



Video References

DIY Battery Power

Dan Richard Fishing

HewittRollADock

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About Sam Orlovsky

AvatarCertifications: B.E.E.
Education: University Of Denver - Electric Engineering
Lives In: Denver Colorado

Electrical engineering is my passion, and I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years. This gives me a unique ability to give you expert home improvement and DIY recommendations. I’m not only an electrician, but I also like machinery and anything to do with carpentry. One of my career paths started as a general handyman, so I also have a lot of experience with home improvement I love to share.

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