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.
