A big apology........

fun2bethad · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:08 pm

To the member of the forum who installed his batteries backwards and then inquired what we all thought the damage would be.......I owe you a big apology. You see, I read your post and thought "Damn, that guy must have been drunk! Who installs batteries backwards. That's like electronics 101." Well..... and you know what I'm going to say next don't you.....last weekend I installed my batteries backwards. SHIT! Can't believe that I did it. Flipped the switch and watched my alternator smoke out. $400 later, I'm confessing my sins and asking for forgiveness from the boating gods. I will NEVER pass judgement on a post again....promise!

Paul I. · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:31 pm

DO DO happens, we have all been there!!

noexcuses · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:46 pm

I just did the same thing recently, the good news is that the alternator rebuild shop just called today and said it tested out fine. I am assuming that the trippping of the 70 amp circuit breaker must have stopped damage from occuring.

su2skelsey · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:14 pm

Fun2bethad -- Read the the battery post... I think I documented the whole ordeal.

My problem was that drinking wasn't involved.

http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9198

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:20 pm

I've been saying for years that batteries should come with a big red PLUS sign under the positive post, in a dark bilge that is a mistake that can happen. I have my batteries in boxes, but I also have a red insulated rubber cover on the pos. cable and a black one on the neg. cable.....

Borchik · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:12 am

I work on so many different boats its a wonder I do not see it more. For example, I have an older Bayliner cruiser right now, 2 batteries and a switch but someone replaced all the cables in the boat at some point...and they are all black cables with the same ends on them. When he hooked up his batteries he hooked something up incorrectly and popped the main fuse. So I spent 20 minutes yesterday tracing all the battery cable and marking the positive ones with red tape.

fun2bethad · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:41 pm

Well......the damage was $450 for a new alternator. I was worried cause I couldn't get the amp to power up or the stereo to work but this last weekend I found a fuse I had mistaken as healthy and, once replaced, we were back in business. The problem was the previous owner had installed the batteries "backwards" with the positive on the far side and the negative near side. When I installed the batteries correctly, the cables reached to the wrong posts. It was also 95 degrees out and I had no shade as I was replacing the battery in the parking lot of the battery store. So goofy! At least I know that I will NEVER do that one again. LOL!

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:17 pm

I'm telling you, get some red paint put a big RED + by the positive post and on the pos cable. When you get a new batt mark it the same way

elmwood · **Joined:** Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:02 pm **Posts:** 47

Wow switched wires... gezz who does that... Oops yea thats what I did last weekend. Luckly it was the starter switch. She started but put it in gear and the engine stopped, put it back in neutral and it started again, on its own. Did that twice and figured I had the "S and I" wires switched. Don't try and carry on two conversations when changing out the switch or any electrical work. We've all done something dumb at least once. :oops:

Eric

www.iFourWinns.com

A big apology........

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