My nose can't find this one.....

[rpell1@msn.com]

Like a majority of us, I can usually find an electrical problem by "nose". This time, my nose could use a little help from someone who may have had the very same problem. And, before I start tearing apart my "spider-web", I hope someone might save me some time?

When I first started my Universal 25XP, all was fine. After about 5 minutes, both the tach and volt meter on the dash quit. The temp and fuel were both fine. Then, after about 2 minutes, they both became operational again.....for about 15 seconds. Then again, they both went dead. And, again after about a minute or two, they both came back. This repeated itself for about 15 minutes, after which they both came back and stayed on for the rest of the day. They were both accurate whenever operational. I did quick "jiggle" test by sticking my hand behind the dash at the connections and then did the same thing at the alternator and ground connections....no change.

At this point, I decided to just enjoy why I was out there to begin with and went back to sailing. On the way back in, after a couple of hours, I dropped my sails and started the engine to get back to my slip. All was working perfectly.

Any experiences with this problem???

Thanks and Happy Sailing,

 

[agprice22]

Could water have grounded the leads on those two meters? When the water evaporated, they worked ok? It sounds like a ground problem, and water or motion could make it intermittent.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

Thank you for the thought and reply. Unfortunately, the recurrence of the problem every few minutes precludes the possibility of evaporation resulting in a re-connect....or disconnect. Water motion could not be a factor, since it occurred under power, inside the bay on a relatively calm run. There is obviously a break somewhere...more likely a short to ground. I'm looking for a solution that someone may have already found after having the same problem.

Again, thank you for taking the time.

Could water have grounded the leads on those two meters? When the water evaporated, they worked ok? It sounds like a ground problem, and water or motion could make it intermittent.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[DougM]

That acts like a loose ground connection, or a loose common hot lead. Its intermittent and as the engine warms up the metal in the connection(s) expands enough to make a more solid contact. Meanwhile, engine vibration is causing the connection to come and go. It could be that the instruments in question are grounded at a common point, or bridge, and that might be a good place to start. If its not a connection, it could be a break in a wire inside the insulation or at a connector.

 

[Apex]

remove, clean and then install/tighten the ground. what may FEEL snug may not be. I had the same problem with my starter switch.

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

I know you're right. I was hoping to avoid having to trace it. Oh well, I guess it's true. "The only thing that works on an old boat is......the owner".

Thanks again.

That acts like a loose ground connection, or a loose common hot lead. Its intermittent and as the engine warms up the metal in the connection(s) expands enough to make a more solid contact. Meanwhile, engine vibration is causing the connection to come and go. It could be that the instruments in question are grounded at a common point, or bridge, and that might be a good place to start. If its not a connection, it could be a break in a wire inside the insulation or at a connector.

 

[Bill Roosa]

sounds like the volt meter and tack wires have rubbed and shorted. Since everything else is ok I'd focus my attention on the volt meter ground. Trace that back to the pick up noting where the tack wire crosses it or runs in the same loom. Bet there is a rub through that gets giggled while the engine is operating so closer to the engine is where I'd suspect the problem.
Good luck.

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

I tend to agree.....but that would make life easier. I'm going to do what I should have last year. I am going to remove, clean and reconnect ALL of my contact points. I guess I'll wait for a dead calm or gloomy day. Otherwise, I WILL be out on the water.

Thank you,

sounds like the volt meter and tack wires have rubbed and shorted. Since everything else is ok I'd focus my attention on the volt meter ground. Trace that back to the pick up noting where the tack wire crosses it or runs in the same loom. Bet there is a rub through that gets giggled while the engine is operating so closer to the engine is where I'd suspect the problem.
Good luck.