ELECTRICAL wiring warning

Jdpber · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2017 9:28 am

Un to my knowledge over all of these years. The factory wiring harness of my 1993 190 links into the main 50Amp breaker on the engine. THIS IS VERY BAD

This is the scenario that happened. While changing my pulleys I had to move the Power steering pump, the lines are stainless hard lines, one contacted the power post for the breaker on the low pressure fuel pump causing a short and for the main engine 50a to pop. Not a huge deal correct the position of the hard line and reset the breaker. BUT I had the blower going at the same time and it killed its power. So I investigated before resetting the 50a. Long story short IF THE MAIN 50A ON THE ENGINE TRIPS YOU LOOSE 100% POWER TO ALL ACCESSORIES ON THE BOAT! This being said NO BILGE PUMP! or NAVIGATION or VHF to use when in a sticky emergency if the main 50a will not reset and continues to trip.

SO last night i ran a new main power feed directly from my master battery switch to a new Blue Sea spade fuse panel to replace my old glass barrel panel. This was on my to replace list for this summer anyways. So now if my engine has an issue i will still have power to all of my accessories for an emergency situation.

I wanted to spread this knowledge and WARNING to all to be aware of this design flaw in the factory wiring harnesses.

ALSO to note even if you have an automatic bilge pump wired to the factory harness, if you have a master power switch the auto feature will not work unless the auto power wires are directly wired to the battery. This would be the case of moring, long dock stays while the master switch is off.

Things to check and correct if needed for safety.

Happy Boating to all and be safe.

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:43 pm

Good to keep that in mind!
Another tip for emergencies; get a Rule 2000 GPH, wire up some alligator clips to the wiring and attach a bilge pump hose about 5' long to it. Then if the boat is taking on water and your Main bilge pump fails you can drop this in the bilge and quickly hook it up to the battery.

BartsPlace · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:19 pm

Quote:

get a Rule 2000 GPH, wire up some alligator clips to the wiring and attach a bilge pump hose about 5' long to it

Great tip! Been meaning to do this for some time. Maybe your mention of it will finally make me do it!

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:02 pm

On the older F/W boats that have OMC drives here's s little wacky electrical thing that can happen:
The tilt n trim relays are on the engine shift bracket. Right near the distributor...so guess what can happen if you are adjusting the timing and have to use a crowfoot wrench to get at the distributor?
It can ground out on the positive terminals for the relays! I learned to tape up the wrench to insulate it so it can't ground out!

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:06 pm

BartsPlace wrote:

Quote:

get a Rule 2000 GPH, wire up some alligator clips to the wiring and attach a bilge pump hose about 5' long to it

Great tip! Been meaning to do this for some time. Maybe your mention of it will finally make me do it!

I thought of this the day the small hose from the transom mount to the Thermo housing popped off at the transom mount and the impeller in the outdrive filled the bilge with salt water!
Overheated engine and bilge full of salt water. My main pump pumped it out but for sure I wanted a back up after that little incident!

zims1993 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2017 9:40 am

Thanks for the info.

I assume you ran another circuit breaker or fuse with 8ga wire? Did you use 30A or 50A?

Jdpber · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:43 am

zims1993 wrote:

Thanks for the info.

I assume you ran another circuit breaker or fuse with 8ga wire? Did you use 30A or 50A?

Temporarily i have an in line 30a fuse at the master switch. New flush 30a reset breaker and a 75 for the stereo are on the way. I will be redoing my engine compartment electrical panel with the new setup once they arrive. This will get me on the water for the time being.

Also noted if everything i have including the upcoming Chart plotter and 25w VHF, if everything on the boat is at peak i am still only pulling 23amps at the fuse panel so a 30a main breaker is plenty fine for now. Now keep in mind that my stereo is on an entire separate circuit so its amp hungry self is not in this math. the amplifiers DRINK the amps.

www.iFourWinns.com

ELECTRICAL wiring warning

Who is online