Help!

I just noticed that none of the accessory switches on my boat are working anymore.

Horn, Bilge pump, Aerator pump, Nav & Anc lights, and courtesy lights all of them are not working.

I checked with a voltmeter at the battery and have 12.8V at the battery. I then checked the main power and ground going to the center console (where the switches are located at and did not have power there. This made me think that one of those wires must indeed be bad. So to test this theory i ran 2 new 6 guage wires from the battery directly to the center console and hooked them up to the wires that were previously showing dead. Now i have 12.8 @ the center console.. thought everything was fixed...

Hit the horn... worked like a charm... but none of the other switches are working???????????? horn works great, but bilge,aerator, nav & anc lights, and courtesy lights all still don't work....

Gaaaahhhhhh!!!!

:)

I not very educated when it comes to wiring systems... does anyone know of a site or video that can show me how to troubleshoot this so i can identify what is causing the problem....

any and all help appreciated.

I can post pics of all the current wiring etc if that will help.

Could you have blown a fuse by chance on the console?


Bobo

Just throwing a few thoughts out here. Is there a master switch that my be off or faulty?
You may have run the two jumpers to the panel to get 12 volts but if the actual devices (pumps,lights etc.) have lost their ground they will not work. you have a new ground to the switch only. you may try checking continuity from each item to panel switch. I have had a ground wire break off/corrode from the ring terminal attached to the battery. Hope you get it figured out.

:hesaid Also, there is normally a circuit breaker in the bilge area. These are normally resetable. If by chance is the problem, either it is old and not holding up anymore...or you have a short. I would say probably a short if it is by chance thrown. There may be a main fuse...but I would lean to a circuit breaker. let us know what you find.

Prowler, did you by chance disconnect any wiring when working on the other project? If so go back to the bilge area and check for a wire you might not have gotten hooked back up. If it was working before you started it has to be something to do with what ever you were working on. Do all the simple things first.

I didn't disconnect any wires while doing the other project but think i have the curlprit narrowed down.

I did a check for a short / ground fault by turning EVERYTHING off disconnecting the positive lead and then using a multimeter to connect between the positive terminal and the positive lead. that is still giving me over 12 v of current flow so according to what i have read that means that there has to be a short somewhere. I have a pretty good idea where the short might be located and it will require pulling of the side cover on the inside of the boat (not really a big deal just some rivets to drill out)..

For now i just completely disconnected the leads for the accessories at the battery (so i dont contribute to any electrical boat corrosion) boat is still perfectably usuable during the daytime until i have a chance to get the short fixed.

Thanks for the thoughts guys, Hopefully i wont have to come back with my head hung in shame if this does not resolve the problem.. :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Prowler

I didn't disconnect any wires while doing the other project but think i have the curlprit narrowed down.

I did a check for a short / ground fault by turning EVERYTHING off disconnecting the positive lead and then using a multimeter to connect between the positive terminal and the positive lead. that is still giving me over 12 v of current flow so according to what i have read that means that there has to be a short somewhere. I have a pretty good idea where the short might be located and it will require pulling of the side cover on the inside of the boat (not really a big deal just some rivets to drill out)..

For now i just completely disconnected the leads for the accessories at the battery (so i dont contribute to any electrical boat corrosion) boat is still perfectably usuable during the daytime until i have a chance to get the short fixed.

Thanks for the thoughts guys, Hopefully i wont have to come back with my head hung in shame if this does not resolve the problem.. :P

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Prowler , did you check for an open breaker in the back near the battery or an open fuse on the console?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike M

Prowler , did you check for an open breaker in the back near the battery or an open fuse on the console?

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I don't believe there are any breaker's in the back near the battery ( there was a 50amp fuse ) but i have that removed while i am testing. Not sure what you mean by open fuse on the console, my console is the switch type with the fuses located directly to the right of each switch (ie. you can access the fuses from without pulling the panel)

Should i redo the test to check for a ground fault and remove all the fuses as well as turn everything off?

I'm going to send you a PM. with a phone number.