Patent attributes
A trolling motor having reverse battery protection such that an inadvertent reversal of the battery leads, as when connecting the trolling motor to a battery, will not cause unwanted operation of the trolling motor or damage to the trolling motor circuitry. The reverse battery protection includes a field effect transistor connected in series between one of the battery leads and the motor. The gate terminal of the transistor is in communication with the other battery lead such that, when the battery leads are properly connected to a battery, the transistor is driven to its conducting state and, when the battery leads are reversed, the transistor is driven to its non-conducting state.