www.iFourWinns.com

Well the boating season is not really off to a good start. This weekend I got two coats of wax on and just finished up bottom painting my 2004 268 Vista. I put in the batteries and turned on the key, when I hear a load pop and a fizzle. Found out that I hook up the second battery wrong POS/NEG. It melted the post on the battery. Next to the battery is, I guess, the battery charger and the inverter. The 70 amp fuse on the inverter was popped out. I pressed it back in. So, now my question is... how much damage did it do?

I hooked up shore power and get a reading on the volt meter, but nothing on the boat works. No lights, no bilge pumps, no stereo, no nothin'. I turn the key switch, nothing. I checked the fuses on the drivers side of the boat, but nothing was blown. Is there a master fuse I am missing? Hopefully. I tried switching the battery switch to shore power, as well. I also tried taking out the 70 amp fuse, but can't figure out how to get it out of the inverter, if that is what it is. Any help would be appreciated.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

I are sure what you are calling an inverter is just that? Did you burn out any cables or the battery switch? Are both batterys still good? I would take a voltmeter and see were you are losing it/12v D.C. You must have poped/triped a couple of fuses and/or breakers.

no i am not sure that it is an inverter. i am trying to get a pix uploaded.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Depending on which charger you have, (we have the progressive dynamics) there are three fuses (one for each bank) in the charger. Not easy to get at but they protect the charger from these types of cross connections. Progressive has a decent info on their website. http://www.progressivedyn.com. Good luck, trace back one thing at a time.

A friend with a 358 did this and also popped all the fuses on his stereo. Those fuses were on the back of those units.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Remember too, that shore power is 115V AC. It will not power anything that is DC. As in "No lights, no bilge pumps, no stereo, no nothin'." Your fridge & micowave should be working. When connected AC power, is your charger giving you an OK status light on all banks? If not as I mentioned, check fuses and breakers.

Thanks jnizi... I don't have the exact system, but it gives me something to look at/for. I appreciate the quick response.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Paul I... You are right, The fridge & micowave are working when on shore power. The charger is giving me OK status light on all banks? So, I think it is the 70 amp battery isolator. I am going to take it apart and see if the fuse is blown or burnt up. Thanks for the reply.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

What engine do you have? Mercs have a fuse on the starter which could have gone blown, Volvos have a circuit breaker on the top of the motor, as well as a reset for the ignition next to your key switch.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Good/Great news and some bad. Okay, the 70 amp battery converter was not blown. Resetting the fuse worked. I hooked up a battery and switched the battery over to start and I had power. When I turned the key on, I had power to all my gauges. I switched over to parallel and the cabin lights worked and the bilge pumps worked. The only problem was with the stereo. It did not come on. Any idea of how to get it out so I can replace the fuse? Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate it.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

If you've got the factory Clarion, flip open the CD door. Both side pieces will pop off, under it there are a few screws.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Firecadet13 -- Sound too easy. Thanks... Maybe I can launch this weekend.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Have you checked all fuses in fuse block, may have one there blown that feeds radio also.

After all checks out, also test alternator performance to ensure nothing was damaged there. Have seen this happen.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I think I do have a alternator issue. Without shorepower and the engine off the battery reads 12.45 volts. When I start the engine it still reads 12.45. Shouldn't the something hight like a regular car engine?

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

There's a good chance you blew out your diode pack in the alternator. You could do a quick check yourself with a dvom
http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/automotive/beatbook.pdf
Or just pull the alternator off and take it to a place like Autozone that can bench test it for free.

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Thats a great link. With the engine running, you should be reading 13.8 volts, + or - .1v or so.