Accessories not working

[knownothing]

I am having electrical problems with my boat. I went to put my boat in the water, turn the key on, then turned the depth finder on. When I turned the depth finder on, it loss power when I tried to start the engine. Then I lost power everywhere. I could not get the power trim/tilt to work, the radio did not work, the depth finder did not work as well. It was the first time out this season so I thought the battery was dead. When we get home and pulled into the driveway, the radio was on. I tried to use the power trim/tilt and it shut the radio off. No power again. After a couple of weeks of trying to fix the boat, I decided to buy another battery. The new battery got the engine to start but still no accessories. Any suggestions?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Accessories not working

Check all fuses and make sure all wire conections are clean and tight.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Accessories not working

When everything dies like that and/or works intermittently, it usually means a main source of power or ground is loose, corroded or a bad source (battery). <br /><br />Everything up front is usually fed off a central distribution point like a 12V distribution panel (has your fuses and switches), a central fuse panel (just has your fuses) and/or bus bars. The problem can be at the battery end (usually near the engine) where the main lines connect to take the power and ground to the distribution point (usually up front near the helm or in the cuddy) or at the distribution point(s) itself.<br /><br />Tell us more about your setup and maybe we can provide some direction. Do you have the service manual for your boat?

 

[knownothing]

Re: Accessories not working

I do have central fuse box that has 5 fuses in it anywhere from a 10 to a 1. I have a red wire connected to the battery that has two fuses in it. I am assuming that is for the accessories? Do i just buy two new fuses or how do you test the fuses to see if they are working?

 

[knownothing]

Re: Accessories not working

No service manual for the boat?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Accessories not working

You can normally just look at them and see if they are blown. Or use an Ohm meter. Also be sure they are not rusty and the end caps are not loose.

 

[knownothing]

Re: Accessories not working

How can you tell if they are blown? Is it when the metal inside the glass tube is no longer in one piece? Just a side note: The fuses have white dots all over them.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Accessories not working

Yes, but sometimes the wire is so fine and the break so small it can be tough to tell w/o testing them for continuity with an ohm meter.<br /><br />What's the white dots? Is it crystallized salt and minerals from water condensing on the surface or is it intentional markings? If it's salt or minerals from water condensation, you need to spend some time cleaning and tightening all the contacts and I'd just replace all the fuses.

 

[knownothing]

Re: Accessories not working

Thanks Ralph...I will replace the fuses and keep you updated.