Powering Lincoln Automatic Trap Machines

 

Supplying appropriate power to your Lincoln Automatic Trap Machine is the most important factor to keeping a trap in good working order. Trap machines draw significant current, this page goes over common mistakes that can lead to damage to the electical system of a Lincoln Trap Machine.

 Power Cables on Lincoln Automatic Traps

All trap machines draw significant power and as such, powering the trap is critical. The electrical components included on each Lincoln Automatic Trap have been carefully specified to support the loads that the machine requires.

  • The battery cables of a Lincoln Trap should NEVER be modified from the factory configuration.

  • The battery clips should NEVER be replaced with an alternative.

  • The cables should NEVER be spliced to extend them or wire in any accessories.

  • The battery cables should NEVER be cut to add in any additional connectors.

Any modification of the battery cables will void the warranty on all electrical components of a Lincoln Trap.

Using a Battery as a Power Supply

 Lincoln Automatic Traps run on 12 VDC power, making batteries the most common way to supply power to the trap.

When choosing a battery to power a trap, the following requirements must be met:

Marine Grade Deep Cycle 12 Volt

Group 27 or 31 sealed battery is recommended for best performance (Group 24 is required)

Minimum of 500 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) & 800 MCA (Marine Cranking Amps).

When choosing a battery, there are a range of options available at different price points. Keep in mind that lower-quality batteries may be suitable for privately owned equipment with relatively low use. However, it is highly recommended that ranges using their equipment on a daily basis invest in higher quality batteries. Higher quality batteries typically provide consistently better performance over a longer life span than lower quality ones. Deep cycle batteries typically last between 2 and 5 years, be aware that significantly degraded batteries will lose the capability to hold a charge and can cause damage to the electrical components of your Lincoln Trap.

Investing in a good charger can be just as important as having good batteries. Some simple trickle chargers will charge batteries, but do not have the ability to monitor voltage and may overcharge the battery, damaging it. Smart chargers like the NOCO Genius 5 or NOCO Genius 10 are a much better choice for keeping batteries charged. These smart chargers will trickle charge batteries, however, they also monitor voltage in order to protect against overcharging. Repair modes also allow these chargers to restore degraded batteries, extending life.

 Using Solar Panels with Batteries

Solar panels are a great way to save time and avoid regularly needing to swap batteries for charging. Lincoln Traps offers a solar panel kit, which includes a 25 watt panel, a solar controller, brackets, and large alligator clips for connecting to larger battery posts. While solar panels can be a big resource, they can also cause problems if not set up properly. Small solar panels may not supply enough power to charge the battery, while large panels may overcharge batteries if not regulated. Additionally, solar panels can discharge batteries at night if they are not equipped with reverse current protection. When choosing to use solar panels, ensure the correct size panel and appropriate regulator is chosen. It is important to note that while solar panels are great for keeping battery voltage maintained, they are not a replacement for chargers. Batteries should still occasionally be charged, preferably with a smart charger as described in the section above.

 Using a Transformer as a Power Supply

Transformers are a very reliable source of power and are a great option if a trap will be mounted permanently in a house. Lincoln Traps offers the PM45A transformer package, which includes one 45 amp transformer, pre-adjusted to the correct output for a Lincoln Trap, and copper output studs for a secure connection to the Lincoln battery clips.

 Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting on battery power:

When troubleshooting issues with your Lincoln Trap, make sure that the battery is fully charged and functioning properly, the best way to do this is with a load tester. A load tester will attempt to draw current from the battery to test that it maintains voltage under load. Simply using a multimeter to check voltage is not an accurate way of determining if a battery is good or not. Troubleshooting a trap with a bad or dead battery may make it impossible to find the true problem.

When troubleshooting on battery power, always disconnect any solar panels or other accessories that are connected to the battery. Solar panels may make a battery appear charged and functional by supplying a continuous power source, however, this can be deceiving. A solar panel may cause a battery to read over 12 volts with a multimeter but that does not mean the battery has the ability to supply current.