Wiring harness nightmares
- Thread starter Casagf66
- Start date
Absent a reply, and not knowing anything about mechanics on Long Island, what most of us have done is obtain wiring diagrams and begin to figure it out ourselves.
I do understand, however, that not everyone has either the time or the abilities to make repairs. We do, though, figure it's a safety issue and learn all we can as we own our boats for longer and longer times.
Good luck, hope somebody can answer your question.
Wiring harnesses, of course, consist of the wires and the connections. Most often the wires are just fine, but the factory connections, many times made with horrible cheap trailer plugs are the culprit. 99% of the time from reports.
I do understand, however, that not everyone has either the time or the abilities to make repairs. We do, though, figure it's a safety issue and learn all we can as we own our boats for longer and longer times.
Good luck, hope somebody can answer your question.
Wiring harnesses, of course, consist of the wires and the connections. Most often the wires are just fine, but the factory connections, many times made with horrible cheap trailer plugs are the culprit. 99% of the time from reports.
So I google "northport ny + ABYC electrician", and get a number of hits in Northport.
Like this guy.
I don't do my own marine electrical, so that is how I find qualified help.
Like this guy.
I don't do my own marine electrical, so that is how I find qualified help.
Yep its is usually the connectors. You have a circuit acting up, jiggle it a little and lo and behold the wire falls out of so called marine shrink wrapped connector. Or you check the bus bar and the rusty screw falls out along with the ring connector.
Hey,
I am all for owners performing maintenance. After all, when you are on the water there is no one to call. However, dealign with electrical work can be dangerous. So don't be afraid but be sure and learn the right way to make connections that are reliable and safe.
BTW, Britannia in Northport has an excellent reputation for service.
Good luck,
Barry
I am all for owners performing maintenance. After all, when you are on the water there is no one to call. However, dealign with electrical work can be dangerous. So don't be afraid but be sure and learn the right way to make connections that are reliable and safe.
BTW, Britannia in Northport has an excellent reputation for service.
Good luck,
Barry
Figure out what functions your engine has. Ie starting, charging, oil alarm/indication, temp alarm/indication and whatever. Read your engine manual and also maintenence/overhaul manual. Now you know what you have and where to locate on engine. Get the wiring diagrams and start with one system and figure it out. Then go to the next. Once YOU figure it out, you'll have a better idea what needs attention and then document it and fix if necessary. Hopefully, if its OEM, the appropriate wires are identifiable. Dont get overwhelmed by a rats nest. Once you go through the progression, that rats nest will disappear..
you can do it! take your time, dont cut the corners, revise!
youll gain confidence, gain knowledge, youll save money... and the last but not the least, your wife will be proud of you!
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects
search the topics, you will definately find precious help!
if you want to go a little futher:
http://www.amazon.com/12-Volt-Docto...id=1460408972&sr=8-1&keywords=12+volts+doctor
youll gain confidence, gain knowledge, youll save money... and the last but not the least, your wife will be proud of you!
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects
search the topics, you will definately find precious help!
if you want to go a little futher:
http://www.amazon.com/12-Volt-Docto...id=1460408972&sr=8-1&keywords=12+volts+doctor
I've been building a new cockpit this past winter. One task I just completed, was a new engine panel. Mine was original from 1961, starting with a Graymarine gasoline engine. Now 3 engines later, it's dog-eared and doesn't make a lot of sense.
Once I pulled the old panel out, I decided it was high time to deal with 20 extra feet of engine wiring harness they left coiled and stuffed behind - presumably when the first diesel was installed - in 1974. It was liberating taking wire cutters to that plug of wires. By the time I made that snip, I had removed the old instruments, switches, etc, and had sorted out what was going on (you can see why I've been building a new cockpit).
I built a new engine panel - a little bigger, a little deeper, out of a scrap of Lexan, the back lightly sanded and simply painted black.
A little elbow grease and a 3M pad brought the old gauges and switches back to life. I rewired everything in the new panel, from scratch. That was easy to do on a bench compared to in the boat.
Still a little archaic (the amp meters are the full flow type - which I'll replace in the future) - but improved. Once I lower the new cockpit into the boat in a couple weeks, I'll reconnect the wires(easy now).
The new panel is a big improvement.
[
Once I pulled the old panel out, I decided it was high time to deal with 20 extra feet of engine wiring harness they left coiled and stuffed behind - presumably when the first diesel was installed - in 1974. It was liberating taking wire cutters to that plug of wires. By the time I made that snip, I had removed the old instruments, switches, etc, and had sorted out what was going on (you can see why I've been building a new cockpit).
I built a new engine panel - a little bigger, a little deeper, out of a scrap of Lexan, the back lightly sanded and simply painted black.
A little elbow grease and a 3M pad brought the old gauges and switches back to life. I rewired everything in the new panel, from scratch. That was easy to do on a bench compared to in the boat.
Still a little archaic (the amp meters are the full flow type - which I'll replace in the future) - but improved. Once I lower the new cockpit into the boat in a couple weeks, I'll reconnect the wires(easy now).
The new panel is a big improvement.
[
May I then make a small suggestion? If you plan on trying to figure out where what wire goes, do yourself a big favor and get a Fox & Hound wire tracer. You clip the "Fox" on a wire connector, then use the "Hound" to find the signal being sent by the "Fox". Once you have found it, tag that wire so you know what it is, where it comes from, and where it is going.
Fox & Hound is a trademark I believe, so any device that does the same thing will work.