Inline fuse in ignition popped

fourwhitesocks

fourwhitesocks

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Apr 25, 2013
86
Oday 28 Toledo Beach
Ok so a few weeks ago I was out sailing and when I went to start the engine to come back into the harbor it wouldn't start. After some effort I was found that the inline fuse coming from my ignition had blown. I put a new one in and motored in thankfully.

It's a 20 amp and pretty sure there are 3 things tied to it: glow plug, starter, and ignition itself. After replacing the fuse I have been using it successfully for the last few weeks with no issues. (1986 Oday 28' with Universal inboard fyi)

Any idea what may have caused this?
 
fourwhitesocks

fourwhitesocks

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Apr 25, 2013
86
Oday 28 Toledo Beach
Oh I should have stated that the fuse holder is fairly new, and looks perfect.

So when a fuse gets old it can just pop like that?
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,011
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
wing15601 said:
I have the Universal 5411 and looking in the service manual I see one fuse between the blower and the amp meter. My boat is a 1981 and doesn't have a blower at all. I googled Universal 5411 fuses and found this article on engine modifications which shows a 20 amp fuse connected to the starter solenoid. May be this link will help you.
http://www.catalina30.com/TechLib/Engines/Wiring Engine/universal wiring mods[1].pdf
Click to expand
IIRC, Tom kept his ammeter.

Then there are these:

Engine Harness Upgrade from Maine Sail http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/universal_wiring_harness_upgrade and http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=135558
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
If it's an 86 then it's likely an M18 2-cyl, 14hp. Or it could be an M12 10hp.
Either way, that panel requires that you hold the glow button to enable start, yes?
That puts more load on that 20amp fuse. Not a problem, but might be when you go to start the motor and there's more resistance than usual, which makes the starter draw more Amps. IE: you left the shifter in reverse, motor is very cold, oil is old and lost viscosity, too much oil in the pan, hydro-lock, stuck valve, etc. Or a combination.
Oh, and what Stu said :-D
I'd be curious as to whether there was no action at all when you hit the starter or if it tried to turn over then blew.
Also, is that the fuse behind the panel or the one on the engine?
 
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fourwhitesocks

fourwhitesocks

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Apr 25, 2013
86
Oday 28 Toledo Beach
Ok so yep M12 10hp
Yes I have to hold glow button to enable start
** When it happened I did immediately suspect electric because I couldn't hear the fuel pump ticking.
No action at all when I hit the starter.
Fuse is behind the panel, it's the blade type :)
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
fourwhitesocks said:
Ok so yep M12 10hp
Yes I have to hold glow button to enable start
** When it happened I did immediately suspect electric because I couldn't hear the fuel pump ticking.
No action at all when I hit the starter.
Fuse is behind the panel, it's the blade type :)
Click to expand
So it may have blown when the engine was running previously.
Check to make sure your glow button is not sticking. And all other connections related to the key switch.
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
fourwhitesocks said:
Oh I should have stated that the fuse holder is fairly new, and looks perfect.

So when a fuse gets old it can just pop like that?
Click to expand
Light bulbs do it all the time. Heat will eventually change the characteristics of the filament of the fuse.
 
SG

SG

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Feb 11, 2017
1,670
J/Boat J/160 Annapolis
What type of fuse did you put in it? There are different Load ratings for a nominal 20 amps.

Do you release the glow plug after preheating and the hit the starter? Or, do you push both simultaneously?

Generally, I'd think that the Starter should be isolated from the other items.
 
fourwhitesocks

fourwhitesocks

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Apr 25, 2013
86
Oday 28 Toledo Beach
OK so now I must admit that I'm NOT super knowledgeable with this stuff, just a gal trying to make her boat better so you have to understand that I might not be saying everything completely right, but I do have some idea about it! I am lucky to always be surrounded by sailboat folk that seem to be able to fix and understand the whole universe lol!

With that being said, if you are asking: if I am ABLE to start the motor without depressing the glow plug the answer is yes, I can!
 
SG

SG

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Feb 11, 2017
1,670
J/Boat J/160 Annapolis
Press the glow plug, warm it for a few seconds(if the engine isn't warm), then release that button.
Then press the starte motor.
 
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fourwhitesocks

fourwhitesocks

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Apr 25, 2013
86
Oday 28 Toledo Beach
SG said:
Press the glow plug, warm it for a Fe seconds(if the engine isn't warm), then release that button.
Then press the starte motor.
Click to expand
Ok oh wait is this a test of what you want me to do? I sailed over the weekend and it started normally, I'm sorry I'm confused :/
I'm just trying to figure out why it happened . . . ?
 
SG

SG

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Feb 11, 2017
1,670
J/Boat J/160 Annapolis
You overloaded that fuse on the circuit. I don't know if it was because the fuse was bad (I doubt that, but maybe)? The overload was because you required too many AMPs for too long. Some fuses are quick blow -- i.e., you exceed the face "rating" in amps, it blows immediately to protect the circuit or devices. Other fuses are designed to not "blow" immediately unless you either keep at the "rating" for a long(er) period, or immediately exceed a higher threshold. Fuses designed for starting motors or with compressor loads, for example, have a short spike in load before they "settle down" at a lower level.

My advice to you was to simply keep you from blowing your fuse again. Absent that, I had (as others) that you consider taking the heavier load of the starter motor and putting that on one fuse; and, then put the glow plug on another. It might if your boat just had the solenoid load (which is minimal) that's not going to an issue. In any event, my advice was just to, make it less likely that you'll do it again. If there is something wrong -- or you have a short, then you'll have to deal with that.

In the meantime, I'd suggest that you get some extra fuses which are properly chosen and rated.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,011
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Skipper said:
M18 diagram.
See the bridge between glow and start.
Click to expand
Thanks, OK, I see it. Please explain why that requires holding both buttons at the same time, compared to using the glow plugs, releasing that button and then using the start button. The whole point is to NOT have BOTH loads on at the same time.
 
SG

SG

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Feb 11, 2017
1,670
J/Boat J/160 Annapolis
Some people hold both buttons down at the same time. .
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Stu Jackson said:
Thanks, OK, I see it. Please explain why that requires holding both buttons at the same time, compared to using the glow plugs, releasing that button and then using the start button. The whole point is to NOT have BOTH loads on at the same time.
Click to expand
Stu, the diagram shows that power is only available to the start button when the glow button is pushed. The power-out side of the glow button is connected to the glow plugs(gray) and the start button.
On mine, I can say that the start button is inoperable unless you hold the glow button.
 
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