Fuel Gauge Connections

[Charles Nelson]

I just bought a '83 Catalina 30. The fuel gauge wasn't working. I found the light blue wire (power wire) was not connected to anything. What does this wire connect to?

 

[Roger Fleming]

Just replaced mine

I just relpaced my fuel gauge. Got a new one at West Marine for $35.00 for the best one they had. A wiring diagram came with the gauge. If your boat's an '83 its probably time. I'll check the blue wire this weekend. I think its an unnecessary second power source but I don't trust my memory. I'll let you know.

 

[Mike]

Guage wiring

The Blue wire goes to the center post on the sender.

 

[Dave Bousquet]

What the blue wire is for

I just rewired my fuel guage, installed a new sending unit, and a new guage. The blue wire is important. It is the sending unit wire. That is why yours is not working. The blue wire should be connected at the guage on a terminal marked 'S'. The other end connects to the fuel tank itself on a post sticking out the center of the tank. You should also have a back groud wire which should attach to the tank as well. When you look at the tank, you will see a green wire attached to a tab on the tank. That is the ground for the AC power, the blue to the sending unit, and a black wire grounded to the same tab on the tank as the green one. Questions? dbousquet@aol.comC-30 #5367C'est Sea Bon

 

[Pat Shera]

Fuel guage sending unit black wire

No one should get concerned if their black wire appears to go to the fuel guage instead of the tank - if the black wire attaches to the sending unit, the tab or screw to which it is attached is also grounded to the tank, so it makes no difference. Factory installation on my fuel guage (Medallion brand) in '85 tall rig has the black wire going to a ground tab on the fuel guage sending unit, not the tank. I have seen others grounded to one of the mounting screws. The AC ground is on a separate tab directly onto the tank.