Where to attach battery cables for 1999 120 hp merc outboard

[mallardtone-man]

I purchased this outboard without any controls or cables and had to make my own battery cables. I am not 100% sure where I am supposed to attach them on the motor. I also want to make sure I have used adequate sized wire and fuse and am not sure where to find this information. I used 8' of #2 awg cable and put a 100amp inline fuse about 1 1/2' off the battery. I have done a little looking around and the best I can come up with is that I am supposed to attach the positive to the solenoid and the negative to the bottom of the starter, there is a bolt there that appears to ground to the engine block. I am including a couple of pictures I took. In the first picture I attached both the positive and negative to the solenoid, then I was told by someone that I need to attach them to the started (2nd pic). Since then I have done some more looking around and came up with positive to the solenoid like in the first photo and negative to the starter like in the second photo. Can anyone confirm if this is correct? Thanks in advance! James

 

[mallardtone-man]

Also, if in fact I am supposed to attach the positive to the solenoid, the top post with the red wires attached to it is the right one right? The bottom post has a heavy black wire coming from the starter, I assume that is a ground wire, not a positive.

 

[GA_Boater]

Are you trying to wire the motor for testing without a harness/control or is this for a permanent set up?

 

[mallardtone-man]

This is going to be permanent so I want to do whatever is going to best for the long term.

 

[mallardtone-man]

Also, if in fact I am supposed to attach the positive to the solenoid, the top post with the red wires attached to it is the right one right? The bottom post has a heavy black wire coming from the starter, I assume that is a ground wire, not a positive.

Ooops, other way around, I meant is the bottom post with the red wires the right one?

 

[GA_Boater]

This is going to be permanent so I want to do whatever is going to best for the long term.

I'm more than slightly confused. You need a remote control, so why not get controls with a boat-side harness? Otherwise you are going to need to do a lot more wiring for choke, starter, etc. and still need the remote.

 

[mallardtone-man]

Can anyone help me with this? I am sure there are any number of people on here who know the answer to this question, for someone with experience on this kind of thing I am sure it is a no brainer. I just dont want to hook it up wrong and damage something. As of now I am planning on hooking it up the way that is shown in this diagram, I cannot find one for my motor but I believe it is the same concept. I am hooking the positive up to bottom post of the solenoid in my pics and the negative to the bolt at the bottom right of the starter that appears to ground to the block. Any feedback?

 

[Fed]

The battery positive should go to the solenoid that already has the other wire on it.
(That would be the bottom solenoid terminal in your 2nd picture)

The battery negative should go to ground.
(That would be the bottom right bolt in your 2nd picture with the other grounds on it)

The other wire with the Yellow insulated lugs should go as in your 2nd picture.

Where the wire with the Yellow lugs connects to the starter motor (Positive) looks a bit bad and could do with a clean up.
To do this do not remove or loosen the nut closest to the starer motor, only remove the outer nut and you may have to slip a spanner in behind the lugs to stop the inner nut from turning. That inner nut needs to be held while you take off the outer nut.
(That stud & nuts will have insulated washers/sleeves/grommets to stop it shorting to the starter motor case)

 

[mallardtone-man]

Ok great, that is what I thought. Thanks alot! Anyone have any thoughts on my wire and fuse choices? Think they will work?