Need Help with my Spaghetti!

Plymouth Sailor

Plymouth Sailor

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Dec 11, 2015
311
Hunter 25 Plymouth
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Dear Fellow Sailors,

I removed my diesel engine to fix my leaky oil pan and thought I was careful documenting every hose and electrical wire by iPhone photos. I have successfully attached nearly every hose and wire save 1! There is a thick black wire going from the electrical control panel to the battery and the other thick black wire is going from the panel to some where on the engine (engine paint on wire). Not sure if this wire is a ground to the engine, please see photos.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,199
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
When anyone says "THICK BLACK WIRE" to battery and the same to the engine.... I can't assign any value BUT ground. I am far from being a 12 volt guru, but rather I understand 12 volt because AC is too confusing. heh, heh.. But, think about it. The boat motor, like your car, needs its own ground because it does not run through the panel. On my boat theres a thick black wire from the motor to a big red switch to a battery. There's also a thick black wire from the panel's neg bus to a big red switch to the battery. Some boats will have a single, Off-1-2-Both, others like mine will have separate Off-1-2-Both switches for the motor and "hotel" circuits. Still same element though. Bottom line.... you're guessing right... congrats.
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,972
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The DC- (DC does not have a ground) ends up at a connection point on the engine, typically around the transmission. However, I can't tell if that is where the wire to which you are referring is that wire.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,165
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Old boat's electrical were not always properly color coded as they are now.
A thick black wire going to the battery is a 50-50 guess.
"a thick black wire going from the electrical control panel to the battery"​
It would be nice to know to which terminal it is connected.

"the other thick black wire is going from the panel to some where on the engine (engine paint on wire)."​
To which side of the battery was it connected? If negative then it is expected to be the ground wire for the boat.

Engine Ground to Panel Ground to Battery Negative post
= BOAT GROUND
 
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