crossed wires cause fires.

[Bob1944]

Can I connect the heavy red wire from the voltage regulator directly to the positive battery lead side of the starter solenoid or does it have to go through the ignition and then back to the solenoid?

bob

 

[Silvertip]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

It goes directly to the solenoid (same terminal the large battery cable is connected to). The ignition switch cannot handle the current that passes through that wire at high alternator output levels. Besides, it makes no sense to put a switch in that lead. If the engine is not running there is no current flow. If the rectifier/regulator has some bad diodes then that can drain the battery.

 

[Bob1944]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

Great, good info. I was wondering because the manual shows that wire going to an amp meter and then to the key switch. I couldn't figure that out.

bb

 

[Silvertip]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

If the boat had an ammeter then that's the way it's done because the ammeter must be in the circuit that handles ALL of the current flow to and from the battery. See how important the little details are when discussing this stuff. Amps are measured by placing an ammeter in series with the load. Volts are measured across the hot and ground wires. Two completely different scenarios.

 

[Bob1944]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

I hear from folks on the forum not to use the amp meter so that is why I was wondering if it was ok to direct connect it as you suggested. I am have it on a 1963 evinrude 40 hp elect shift and was told on the forum that, that engine generator would not even show a reading on an amp and that they are not used anymore; and to just use the volt meter to make sure the gen was charging. do you concur?

 

[Hanr3]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

crossed wires casue fire?

Yes, you can weld with a car battery. Literally weld two pieces of steel together with a 12 volt car battery. In case of emergency while 4 wheeling you can use your jumper cables and battery to weld your spring hangers back together, or a bumper. So yes, crossed wires can cause a fire.

Hence the recommendation to disconnect your battery prior to any work on your vehicle.

 

[Splat]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

no they can't........ yea ok actually they can. This was caused by a factory defect of the main wiring harness.

The truck was paid off 3 weeks prior to this, and i was forced to give up all my accounts the remainder of that plowing year. So yes crossed wires can cause fires. Thank god I heard the tires melting and exploding and saw my barn glowing red from the flames. It was less than 3 ft from the garage, and that was my room window right above it.

Always pay attention to what your doing, and how your doing it.

I even have a video somewhere of it, let me see if I can dig that up.



Bill

 

[Bob1944]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

Thanks Bill. In this case, a picture is worth 10,000 words. Wow. Scares me. My boat is in my pole barn with all my tools and parts and it is way out in the country. That place would be burned to a crisp before anyone would know.

bob

 

[Splat]

Re: crossed wires cause fires.

Thanks Bill. In this case, a picture is worth 10,000 words. Wow. Scares me. My boat is in my pole barn with all my tools and parts and it is way out in the country. That place would be burned to a crisp before anyone would know.

bob

Bob,
Yea I don't mean to scare anyone, just like reitterate to do exzactly what your doing, ask questions when your not sure. People think ahhhh its only a 12 volt battery how damage can it really do. They don't realize there is a enormous amount or stored inergy in there, and some precautions have to be taken to harness it safely.

Happy boating,
Bill