Short in starter button?

[JohnnyMac]

Last weekend after a sail, I tried to start the engine and the entire electrical system went blank. After trying different combinations of offs and ons with the battery switches and checking the batteries with a voltmeter the panel was blank. I hit the bilge pump switch and the panel came back to life. Friday I leaving the fuel dock and the same thing happened, but this time the bilge pump was dead also.

Thoughts? Is it as simple as replacing the started button? Could a short there cause everything electrical to go dark?

 

[Sailvayu]

Sounds like a primary connection gone bad somewhere. From what you are saying it sounds like a ground. Start at the batteries and switches and work your way to the panel checking all connections. It does not sound like a short but the opposite a bad connection.

 

[YVRguy]

Some Hunters have a problem with the wiring for the starter. My 34 is sometimes just dead when I hit the starter and I have to keep fiddling until it suddenly works. Apparently there is an easy fix by installing a relay. My boat mechanic is familiar with the problem and is doing it next week. Not sure if it's related but FWIW

 

[kloudie1]

Yup.. a bad main connection.. prime suspects are the battery connections themselves.. then at the "1-2-off" switch then the main feed and ground to/from the panel.

 

[JohnnyMac]

I had the relay installed 9 years ago. Checking connections. Odd that everything works normally until I hit the starter.

 

[kloudie1]

Johnny, that is kind of a signature of a bad main connection. Very low current can cross without too much trouble, but when ya hit the starter, the huge current spike heats the connection and will break it until ti cools or gets jostled ..

 

[Bill Roosa]

99.44% of all electrical problems are corroded connections. kloudie1 is right on. Given that batteries have acid in them I'd start by making sure ALL the terminals are clean then give them a coat of grease or spray on some sealer.