Tilt/trim relays?

[GatorMike]

I repaced a relay on my boat 2 weeks ago and last night I went to tilt my motor and the same relay is bad. It is the new relay that is bad, I swaped things around a few times to be sure.

My question is, is there anything that would cause this relay to blow? I just don't want to keep replacing the same part.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Tilt/trim relays?

It's pretty rare for the actual relay to fail from my limited understanding.

I installed new relays for my CMC trim/tilt bracket after they had gotten wet but the relays were fine, the plug they go into was ruined.

Do you have a circuit breaker and inline fuse with the setup?

Mine has a 20amp inline fuse in addition to the relays.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Tilt/trim relays?

No it is the relay for sure.
The motor won't go down but it will go up. When I reverse the wires it still won't go down but it will go up. If I swap the relays it will go up but not down. If I put the old relay that has been in the boat since it was new in the down slot it works, if I put the brand new relay I bought a couple of weeks ago in that same slot it does not work. I have done the switching enough times to be pretty confident the new relay is bad.....thing is it worked for 2 weeks.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Tilt/trim relays?

I guess my question is, if I go buy another new relay is it likely to blow? That is what I am going to do anyway unless somebody here tells me there might be some reason that same relay has gone bad twice.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Tilt/trim relays?

Well I have to agree with your assesment...what you described is a bad relay for sure.

If you are in a bind you can hardwire the trim(in case you need the lower unit adjusted for towing or storage purposes) by cutting the relays out of the equation.

It must be a wiring issue or lack of a fuse. Google "relay diagram" and you might be able to locate the issue.

Is there an inline fuse?

I recently learned all about relays so maybe a real wiring guru will offer advice here also.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Tilt/trim relays?

Relays come in different amperage ratings. Perhaps you got one of too low a capacity.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Tilt/trim relays?

Relays come in different amperage ratings. Perhaps you got one of too low a capacity.

I will have to check that. The one I bought I purchased while on a fishing trip out of town, I bought it at a mercury dealer, he said it was for a volvo and I have a Johnson. He said they all used the same relay and since the plugs were all the same I assumed everything else was the same.

Thanks