Electrical Help
 

Have a problem with part of the electrical system. The port motor and some other electronics are working fine. The starboard side does not work. It also controls the radio,engine hatch and maybe a few other things. Now when I hold the 'parallel' switch on the dash then the starboard side works. Also when I plug the shore power in and turn on the master switch the starboard side still does not work. I first thought and maybe still is a battery problem. But I also thought if thats the case why doesn't the shorepower turn it on because you bypass the battery right? I have checked for loose wires on the batteries and opened the battery box but can't seem to find anything obvious. Any help is appreciated
:readinghelp:

Most likely it's the circuit breaker on the engine.

Circuit breaker is ok. The power works to everything when I hold the parallel switch.

that doesn't mean anything with the parallel switch....

Put a test light on the back of the circuit breaker (the 50/60 amp one located on the back of the engine), both posts, and see if you have power. They run a test light in the compartment behind your dashboard in the cabin. Down low you will see two buss bars with about 15 fuses on each buss bar. The one on the left controls the stb electronics and the one on the right controls the port electronics. If you have power on one buss bar and not the other you're not getting any power from the engine, via the harness which is connected to the circuit breaker. Also, sometimes the small wire going from the starter to the circuit breaker can corrode over time and fall apart.

You need to start from the battery cable and work your way forward.

Pather is right on with this , I just finished refurb a 36 apache and I found the rivits on the fuse panels behind the dash to be loose and corroded. Tom

Check the starter for power. If no power check battery switch or connection on switch or battery connection. Eric

Hey where was that 41 Apache today? Why didn't you do the brunch run . It was a blast.. Tom

Ok thanks for the replies I will check all that has been mentioned and let you know.

Hey,

I have been having issues with mine this season as well. I have been putting it off till I put the boat back on the trailer in a couple of weeks.

Mine started off with my voltage meter not working all of the time on my starboard side. Then, one night I went to hit my panel lights and I had no panel lights to illuminate my guages. I changed the fuse and as soon as I flip the switch It blows the fuse.

So at that point I am thinking I have a ground short somewhere off of the panel lights which I persume can affect all the guages due to the fact that each guage has a panel light.

Then a couple of weeks later I get in her and flip my toggles up and my fuel guage is reading "E". That would be fine but I had just fueled her up. So now I am thinking some bastard Siphoned 180-192 Gallons of fuel out of my boat. I head to the marina to get fuel and notice that when I adjust my drives my fuel guage begins to dance up each time I adjust the drive. Sure enough I only needed 15 gallons of fuel so it all has to do with my electric blunder.

Then, Today I am running along and my starboard tach starts dancing around crazily if I am between 2500-3200 rpms. If I bump her up to 3500rpm's she is fine. Then we stopped and had lunch and it didn't do it again (we usually cruise between 3-3500 rpms)

I was already planning on doing the bezels on my guages and doing my vents over the winter, so I am going to have to figure what it is that is touching something it isn't supposed to inside my dash. I wanted to wait until I have plenty of time because, As you know, the wiring looks like it is a friggin airplane (cushion clamps and zip ties about every 1/2 inch).

Let me know what you discover and I will do likewise. It will probably be another 3-4 weeks before I tear in to mine. It was 82 degrees and sunny today and I hope to do a bit more boating before winterizing and starting the projects.

On another note:

My hatch is wired seperate. I can have both my battery's turned to off and my hatch still works.

Mine is wired the same way. The fuses buss for the hatch and the bildge pumps should be behind the dash on the right hand side midway up, green wires....

Ok update. I had time to look at it today and it was very simple. The battery was dead! So I put a new one in and as I am cleaning up I see the red light on the dash lit under one of the bilage pump switches. I raise the hatch and sure enough the staboard pump is running. I take a pole and tap the pump thinking it is stuck and still nothing. Then I notice that the hose used to drain the block is caught under the float switch.It must of ran and killed the battery. So I remove hose and the light shuts off. I guess last time out it got stuck under there. The pumps work off battery even when the battery switches are off. So now the puzzle is solved. Thanks

Just goes to show, Always start with the basics. Glad to hear you got it. Now get out and enjoy. Are you going to do the Thunder run to K-west?

I wish my issues were that simple. I already checked the obvious stuff.

Not unless your riding w/me and paying for the gas:D

Darn that would be fun to do. I wish my schedule wasn't so hectic at the moment. I would be all about plunking down some coin for fuel. Maybe next year.

Our weather this weekend is mostly sunny and highs in the low 60's so this might be our last weekend of boating until next April. I guess that means I am going to have to figure out my electrical issue.

I fixed my electrical issue yesterday. I opened up the dash and removed each panel light and then I isolated one by one until I threw a fuse. Evidently the panel light on the starboard voltage meter was tuching something it sholdn't have because after jiggling it a bit and plugging it back in everything worked fine. I now have panel lights, I am so excited.

Unfortunately, though I fixed the electrical issue, I had a new problem arise http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=172111

I guess I won't be winterizing until I figure that one out.

That's what credit cards and Christmas bonuses are for. Get on the sticks man!

:D