tripped circuit

[riley4]

I think I tripped a circuit and can't figure out how to reset. I tripped it earlier when I was circuit testing and accidentally hit a positive and negative pole. There is a circuit reset button with a 50 amp fuse in the engine compartment and I reset it earlier and it was fine. This time I tripped it when I flipped a switch on the dash that is not part of the full switch panel. I don't know what this switch does, other than trip the circuit. I tried hitting the reset button as before but it is not resetting and I can't find any other place to reset it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[riley4]

Re: tripped circuit

I didn't mention earlier that the boat is an '86 Cruisers Lazer with a 350 Mercruiser I/O. When I reset the circuit the instrument gauges come on for about 5 seconds and then they trip off again. Still no juice to the switch panel. Also, switch I mentioned in the first post has yellow,green and white wiring and goes to some sort of pump mounted on the side of the engine compartment wall. I don't know if this is a factor or not.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: tripped circuit

Would the switch you mention be labeled "Blower" perhaps. If the breaker pops when you flip that switch, the blower motor could be stalled or simply shorted internally. Disconnect that "mystery" thing and see if the breaker still trips.

 

[riley4]

Re: tripped circuit

I disconnected the pump at the pump itself(5 prong plug) and reset the circuit and still tripped. Is there another reset button or a fuse near the circuit board or the switch panel that I am missing? The switch to the pump I've mentioned does not go through the circuit board and even during the few seconds before the circuit trips when I hit the reset button there isn't any power going to the switch board.

 

[riley4]

Re: tripped circuit

I'm out of ideas. Might there be a safety switch or relay I am missing? Could the 50 amp fuse at the breaker be shot?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: tripped circuit

It would really help if you would identify what the label is on the switch that is causing the problem. Whatever that switch controls is the circuit that has the issue. Until we know that you will be wasting a great deal of time. And what was it exactly that you shorted initially.

 

[riley4]

Re: tripped circuit

The circuit I initially tripped happened when I was testing power to the switches on the switch panel. I touched a negative pole when I was testing the positive. The circuit breaker reset that. I'll look at that pump again. It is not labeled at the switch and is not the blower as there is a separate switch for that on the switchboard. The pump has fluid hoses going in and out. What I don't understand is that I have disconnected that switch and the connection and when I reset the circuit there doesn't appear to be power getting to the master switch, even momentarily.

 

[riley4]

Re: tripped circuit

Could it be a short at the gauges? When I reset the circuit all of the instrument gauges kick on; rpm needle goes up, voltmeter goes up, fuel gauge goes up.......for about 5 seconds then it trips.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: tripped circuit

What type of fluid hoses? Help us here. Are they water or hydraulic fluid. This pump could be a live well pump or a trim/tilt pump. Does the trim and tilt system work? You should also NOT have any negative wires on any switch on the console so I don't understand what you touched. If you don't know what that mystery switch is for your only choice is to follow the wires to whatever they power. You can even disconnect the power feed to that switch and then see if the breaker still pops. You need to also check for voltage into and out of the breaker. Using a "logical approach" to these problems saves time and helps us stay on track. Remember, we can't see your boat so when you are directed to test something, test it. Asking another question at that point only adds to the confusion. So step one is to start at the circuit breaker. Do you have 12 volts into it. If so, do you have 12 volts out of it. If so, the problem is forward of that point. Report back when you've made the checks. Circuit breakers cannot take many high current overloads before they go bad and may no longer reset. If that's the case we could chase our tails (if we had one) for a long time.