I've got a 1985 Hunter 31 which over the past two weekends has exhibited some strange behavior re: the DC electrical system. Since I bought the boat in December, whenever you flip the DC main breaker on, it has occasionally faulted back off, but on a second or third attempt will stay on. Two weekends ago, after being out all day, and everything running fine, I noticed that when I came back in and tied up, including plugging in the AC and turning on the battery charger, both my VHF and FM/CD player were dead. I assumed it was a fuse issue, and decided to fix it when I cam back for the Fourth. When I got out there this weekend, I tried everything out, and lo and behold, both VHF and FM were operational, so we set out for the weekend. When we pulled into Annapolis and tied up, the same thing happened - both FM and VHF went down, and this time, so did the cockpit instruments. In the morning when we prepared to leave, after checking all the fuses and connections to no avail, we set out for home port. I continued to try play with the fuses and connections, and finally under way, both the instruemnts and the VHF, but not the FM/CD came back on. When I tiedd back up in the slip at home port - same thing - everything went dead. I believe that both the cockpit insturments and the radios are on the same 20 amp fuse marked "electronics." Any suggestions?
- Status
Sounds like a partial short or loose connection
Kevin, Sounds like you have some sort of loose connection or partially separated wire somewhere in your circuit. That would be the cause of your initial short-circuit and equipment sometimes working. You should trace your lines and look for chafing wires or places where the wire insulation is broken. You should assume that the electrical has not been updated since 1985. Sounds like you are due for a rebuild of your electrical system. This will make a fun winter project. I have been slowly redoing mine over the past couple of years on my 1986 Cataline 36. I replaced my original fuse board this year with new AC and DC distribution panels. What a difference. Good Luck. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
Kevin, Sounds like you have some sort of loose connection or partially separated wire somewhere in your circuit. That would be the cause of your initial short-circuit and equipment sometimes working. You should trace your lines and look for chafing wires or places where the wire insulation is broken. You should assume that the electrical has not been updated since 1985. Sounds like you are due for a rebuild of your electrical system. This will make a fun winter project. I have been slowly redoing mine over the past couple of years on my 1986 Cataline 36. I replaced my original fuse board this year with new AC and DC distribution panels. What a difference. Good Luck. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
Check Connection
Hi Kevin, Check / clean / tighten the electrical connection. Reported VHF, CD player and Cockpit instruments are on the same circuit - some work - some don't. You need to find the place where the wires connect to power (+ and -)and clean them. Possible one or more of the these units were added to existing electrical circuit. Hire a professional if you have any question about your ability to service electrical systems. Good Luck, Bob
Hi Kevin, Check / clean / tighten the electrical connection. Reported VHF, CD player and Cockpit instruments are on the same circuit - some work - some don't. You need to find the place where the wires connect to power (+ and -)and clean them. Possible one or more of the these units were added to existing electrical circuit. Hire a professional if you have any question about your ability to service electrical systems. Good Luck, Bob
Hunter 31 electrical thoughts
I also have a 1985 Hunter 31. It is easy to remove 4 phillips screws and remove the breaker panel. You can then check all circuits. Make sure your main battery switch is off. Then you can turn it back on and, with a voltmeter, check for power on the line and load side of each circuit with each breaker on and off. This tests the breaker as well as the wiring. Look for loose connections on the bus bars where the power and ground connections attach. It is also not out of the question that you have a faulty main DC breaker. Sounds like loose connections to me.
I also have a 1985 Hunter 31. It is easy to remove 4 phillips screws and remove the breaker panel. You can then check all circuits. Make sure your main battery switch is off. Then you can turn it back on and, with a voltmeter, check for power on the line and load side of each circuit with each breaker on and off. This tests the breaker as well as the wiring. Look for loose connections on the bus bars where the power and ground connections attach. It is also not out of the question that you have a faulty main DC breaker. Sounds like loose connections to me.
could be wire and not connection
Don't just check the connections at the breaker and at the load. You probably have some crimp connectors along the way. You may also have some broken wires. Are all of the wires marine grade? (i.e. tinned?) If not, you may have to replace some. If your main trips off when you turn it on, why do you try again? (If your gas gage reads empty, do you tap it to see if it will go away?) This indicates a short which can cause a fire. Or an overload, which can also cause a fire. (Do you DC refrigeration or any other large load - LectraSan, windlass or something else that could trip the main?) It needs to be tracked down. Are the breakers for the FM/VHF/etc. tripping? You may have too much on 1 circuit.
Don't just check the connections at the breaker and at the load. You probably have some crimp connectors along the way. You may also have some broken wires. Are all of the wires marine grade? (i.e. tinned?) If not, you may have to replace some. If your main trips off when you turn it on, why do you try again? (If your gas gage reads empty, do you tap it to see if it will go away?) This indicates a short which can cause a fire. Or an overload, which can also cause a fire. (Do you DC refrigeration or any other large load - LectraSan, windlass or something else that could trip the main?) It needs to be tracked down. Are the breakers for the FM/VHF/etc. tripping? You may have too much on 1 circuit.
Do You Have Fuses?
Kevin Our steaming light didn't work for the first time in years. Instead of going up the mast, we flipped the switch a few times, nothing. Took the fuse out. Looked fine. Replaced fuse. No go. Cleaned ends of fuse, reinserted, BINGO. The answers are correct: connections, wiring, fuses, connections, connections. Might also try un-screwing and re-screwing all connectors that have screws. Then you might get a connection
Good luck.
Kevin Our steaming light didn't work for the first time in years. Instead of going up the mast, we flipped the switch a few times, nothing. Took the fuse out. Looked fine. Replaced fuse. No go. Cleaned ends of fuse, reinserted, BINGO. The answers are correct: connections, wiring, fuses, connections, connections. Might also try un-screwing and re-screwing all connectors that have screws. Then you might get a connection
Good luck.Could be ground wire connector corrosion-
from bettery to engine and from there to common ground. The poor connection would or could create the problem you had.
from bettery to engine and from there to common ground. The poor connection would or could create the problem you had.
- Status