Electrical Gremlin Maintenance

[Bob_VT]

I spent a good part of my day yesterday chasing Electrical Gremlins in my boat. Most electrical problems involved in a boat can be related to corrosion and poor connections. I thought I would pass this along for people to do.<br /><br />I armed myself with attack items: <br />Soldering Gun<br />Solder<br />Shrink wrap tubing<br />Emery Cloth<br />New wire<br />Nylon zip ties<br /><br />Having a used boat, people had repaired and added electrical items using "scotch locks", twisted wires together, black tape, duct tape and even scotch tape. I went on the offensive <br /><br />I eliminated all the old connections, cut back the wires and soldered new connections covered with shrink wrap tubing. I did my lights, guages and the motor. Each connection that was attached to a screw post was removed and lightly sanded off. I got rid of a few feet of wire that was corroded inside the insulation (real green and nasty )and replaced it with new wire.<br /><br />I tied off all the hanging wires and made sure this would last. Now when I want to use my running lights, bildge pump, horn.... they all work. The gremlins are gone but, I bet they have moved on to some other boat <br /><br />Bob <br /><br />Mother nature has responded to all my hard work by covering my boat with SNOW today!

 

[crab bait]

Re: Electrical Gremlin Maintenance

GOOD GOIN' BOB ..CHASIN' GREMLINS can be a fulltime job.. it's amazin' how far up " GREEN " can travel up a wire.. when i run new wire a use the " tinned " type.. it cost more an can only find it in the marine centers ( which cost more ) but well worth it.. also on NON soldered connections , like bulbs, spade connections, bow lite recepticales, , endless ect. i use a dab of electicial oxidation compound sold in hardware stores for cheap. aka trade names NOLUX , PENNATROX, ect. never have any green connections after use !!