The Minn Kota® QUEST™ Series gives you ultimate control to fish in unforgiving environments. An industrial design with fortified components up for all the adversity and adventure you can throw at them.
Jump to:
- Using QUEST Motors with Lithium Batteries
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Minn Kota Battery Monitoring
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Keel Offset for QUEST Trolling Motors
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Changing the Prop Orientation when Stowing a QUEST Trolling Motors
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Straight On Deploy for QUEST Trolling Motors
- Manuals
- Ultrex QUEST
- Riptide Instinct QUEST
- Ulterra QUEST
- Terrova QUEST
- QUEST Series Quick Reference Guide
- Advanced GPS Navigation
- Advanced GPS Navigation Wireless Remote
- Advanced GPS Navigation Micro Remote
- One-Boat Network
- Ultrex QUEST
Using QUEST Motors with Lithium Batteries
The QUEST series trolling motors are compatible with deep-cycle marine batteries operating at 12, 24, or 36 volts. They are optimized for use with LiFePO4 lithium-ion battery cells, which maintain higher voltages over extended periods compared to lead-acid batteries, thereby enhancing trolling motor performance.
To ensure safety and compliance, it’s essential to adhere to the relevant marine regulations and standards for battery choices in different regions:
United States: Use only batteries that meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations and applicable American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards. ABYC’s E-13 standard for lithium-ion batteries ensures safety and reliability in marine environments.
Canada: Comply with Transport Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations, which govern the safe handling, packaging, labeling, and transportation of batteries, particularly lithium batteries classified as dangerous goods. Marine safety guidelines provided by Transport Canada further ensure environmental protection and operational safety when using batteries on vessels.
Europe: Follow the European Union’s Batteries Regulation, which promotes sustainability, performance, and safety throughout a battery’s life cycle.
Australia: Comply with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) regulations and standards, which emphasize maritime safety and environmental protection.
New Zealand: Align with Maritime New Zealand’s standards, which provide guidance on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries on vessels.
Always consult local and/or in-country marine regulations and standards when selecting and installing batteries for your trolling motor to ensure compliance and optimal performance.
Minn Kota Battery Monitoring
- During the setup of Minn Kota Battery Monitoring, your compatible Humminbird Fishfinder will ask you questions about the chemistry and capacity of your trolling motor battery system. This information is used in conjunction with current and voltage measurements from the Minn Kota QUEST trolling motor to provide you with the state of charge.
- Once the batteries reach a state of charge of 20%, you will be prompted on the Minn Kota Battery Monitoring Dashboard to engage Eco Mode. Choosing Eco Mode limits power to the trolling motor to extend time on the water. Eco Mode can also be used at any time, however certain Advanced GPS Navigation features like Spot Lock and Drift Mode automatically disable Eco Mode.
Required Products to use Minn Kota Battery Monitoring and Compatibility
- Minn Kota QUEST Series trolling motor (2023 to present)
- Humminbird Fish Finder
- Humminbird HELIX 8, 9, 10, 12, and 15 G3N and newer and HELIX 7 G4N
- ALL SOLIX and APEX models
Using Minn Kota Battery Monitoring with Lithium Batteries
- When the lithium battery is discharged, the voltage does not change much and remains relatively flat until the battery is completely drained.
- As a result, using a voltage measurement to determine lithium battery state of charge is ineffective.
- Determining the state of charge on the lithium battery requires the monitoring of current in and out of the battery.
Some Lithium battery models include their own internal BMS (Battery Management System).This is not used to communicate battery information to the Minn Kota Battery Monitoring System.
- When your Humminbird is set up to monitor lithium batteries, then the state of charge is automatically reset to 100% after the trolling motor system is off for 10 hours.
- After this 10-hour reset, the Minn Kota Battery Monitoring Dashboard will then show the battery as 100% charged, even if it is not. It is important to note this on the water if the lithium batteries have not been fully charged.
- Although there is no manual way to select the current charge level of the battery after a 10-hour reset, you can connect lithium batteries to your compatible Humminbird APEX, SOLIX, or HELIX if the batteries are NMEA 2000 enabled. This battery data can be sent for output in databoxes and readouts but is separate and is not used in the calculations of the Minn Kota Battery Monitoring System.
- The other battery type selections in Minn Kota Battery Monitoring do not include a 10-hour reset. In these profiles, the proper state of the battery, even if the batteries have not been fully charged, will be displayed on the Dashboard.
- With these battery chemistries, voltage measurements can be used through the full discharge cycle to provide an accurate discharge curve and readouts.
Video Guide: Battery Monitoring System for QUEST Motors
In the importance of maximizing your time on the water to gain a competitive edge, Minn Kota has introduced real-time battery monitoring through your Humminbird fish finder. You can also extend your day by activating eco mode when you reach 20% battery life, conserving power for essential functions.
Click on the video below for additional information on the Battery Monitoring System. The video covers several features of the Ultrex QUEST. Information on the Battery Monitoring System starts at 2:55. Click here to skip to that time.
Keel Offset for QUEST Trolling Motors
Minn Kota QUEST series trolling motors with a built-in Heading Sensor come from the factory with the Lower Unit parallel to the Mount. The position of the Lower Unit is referred to as the Keel Offset. When the Lower Unit is parallel to the Mount, the Keel Offset is zero degrees. In an ideal installation, the Lower Unit will be parallel to the Keel, however, the Mount is rarely installed to be perfectly in-line with the Keel, therefore the Lower Unit will not be parallel with the Keel. Nearly all installations will have some variation in mounting position to either the Port or Starboard side of the boat. The Keel Offset is specified with the Keel Mount Offset function. When setting the Keel Offset, any position towards the Port will record a Keel Offset with a negative angle. Any position towards Starboard will record a Keel Offset with a positive angle. Before adjusting the Keel Offset, complete all installation steps. This includes mounting the trolling motor to the boat and installing power and accessory cables.
Keel Mount Offset Instructions
Keel Offset with Keel Mount Offset Instructions
- Power on the trolling motor.
- With either the Wireless Remote, foot pedal, or One-Boat Network (OBN) app on a paired mobile device, steer the motor so that the control head and lower unit are parallel to the Keel.
- Press the Menu button on the Wireless Remote.
- Use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find the Motor Settings menu. Use the Steer Right button to select Motor Settings.
- In the Motor Settings Menu, use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find Setup/Calibration.
- In the Setup/Calibration menu, use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find Keel Mount Offset. Use the Steer Right button to select Keel Mount Offset.
- Review all safety warnings. Use the Steer Right button to select Start and begin the process.
- Use the Steer Left or Steer Right button to point the motor forward and parallel to the Keel.
- When satisfied with the placement of the trolling motor, use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to scroll to Set. Use the Steer Right button to select Set. The degree of offset is displayed at the bottom of the Dashboard.
Changing the Prop Orientation when Stowing a QUEST Trolling Motors
The Stow Orientation is a term used to describe the lower unit and Prop position when the motor is stowed. The factory default for the lower unit is for the Prop to face outboard (Prop Left) on a Port installation. Setting the Stow Orientation allows the installation to be customized to fit boat positioning for either a Port or Starboard installation. Use the setting to configure the Prop left or right to accommodate fishing or trailering applications.
Changing the Stow Orientation
- With the trolling motor powered on, press the Menu button.
- Use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find the Motor Settings menu. Use the Steer Right button to select Motor Settings.
- In the Motor Settings Menu, use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find Setup/Calibration. Use the Steer Right button to select Setup/Calibration.
- Once in the Setup/Calibration menu, use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find Stow Orientation. Use the Steer Right button to select Stow Orientation.
- In the Stow Orientation menu, use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to highlight either Prop Left and Prop Right. Use the Steer Right button to make the selection.
Straight On Deploy for QUEST Trolling Motors
Minn Kota recommends setting the Keel Offset when the position of the Lower Unit is parallel with the Keel. Save the Keel Offset before exploring the Straight on Deploy feature. Straight on Deploy uses the position recorded in Keel Offset to know where to position the Lower Unit to be parallel with the Keel. When Straight on Deploy is engaged, the trolling motor will deploy the motor and automatically rotate the Lower Unit to the position saved to memory in Keel Offset. By default, the Lower Unit will be parallel to the Keel when the Mount is parallel to the Keel. If the Keel Offset was programmed to another angle, the Straight on Deploy feature will correct the position to match the corrected angle when turned “on.” If straight on deploy is turned “off,” the trolling motor will not correct the position in any direction.
Turning Straight On Deploy On/Off
- With the trolling motor powered “on,” press the Menu button on the Wireless Remote.
- Use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find the Motor Settings menu. Use the Steer Right button to select Motor Settings.
- In the Motor Settings Menu, use the Speed Up or Speed Down button to find Straight on Deploy.
- By default, the Straight on Deploy is toggled "off."
- Use the Steer Right button to toggle between “on” and “off.”
Manuals
- Ultrex QUEST
- Riptide Instinct QUEST
- Ulterra QUEST
- Terrova QUEST
- QUEST Series Quick Reference Guide
- Advanced GPS Navigation
- Advanced GPS Navigation Wireless Remote
- Advanced GPS Navigation Micro Remote
- One-Boat Network
