My 1990 Hunter Legend 35.5 (new boat to me a month ago) has developed a rather serious electrical problem. It started yesterday with my electronics flickering on and off (depth sounder, GPS, knotmeter). I went below and the voltmeter on my main panel was bouncing all over the place. Back at the dock, now when I switch on the DC Main I get no reading at all and none of the DC side of the panel works. With the engine on, I get a little flicker of the red light when I switch on the DC Main. The AC side works, all three batteries read 13.2 volts. I can't seem to find an electrical diagram of the boat to help me out. There is power to the little black box behind the main panel although only reads 10 volts and seems to be continuity between the battery switch and that box (not sure what that box does has 2 large red and 2 large black cables on the top terminals and 3 small cables off the bottom and seems to supply the DC side of the panel) Any suggestions as to where to start looking? Thanks
DC electrical problem
- Thread starter CJB
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It's always difficult to diagnose an elec problem via the Internet but I'd bet it's abad connection probably a ground. If you haven't recently done so, removing, cleaning and tightening every elec connetion is due and will probably solve your problem. Just looking at none tigons is useless and misleading.
Follow the red wires back toward the battery and when you find 13V, the problem is around the place you maesured before finding 12V.. Usually, a bad ground will show as 12+ volts on the hot side, since there is no place for the juice to travel .. it sits "bunched up" on the hot side all the way to the bad ground connection.
Voltage bouncing all over the place is the key. Batteries don't do that. Corrosion in a connection and some current flowing can. Since the batteries have acid start there as the best place to find corrosion.
Start at the battery. Use your dvm, and simply trace forward toward the panel.
It's likely a loose or corroded lug at the battery switch, panel, or batteries
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