Electrical nightmare

[TOPGUNmich]

Hello,
I am looking for some insite on this electrical prob. I have a 2003 FourWinns 328 Vista cruiser. The electrical winch, air conditioner, horn and Nav Lights are out. Everything else works fine, stereo, cabin lights, blower, etc. I have checked inverter, batteries, switches, fuses and flipped all electrical panel, Nothing seems to fix this. I looked behind the instrument panel today and the only fuses are for the stereo and spot light. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[And-Con]

Re: Electrical nightmare

Ahh the joys... OK, go to harbor freight, get a cheap volt meter. Just keep tracing back circuits till you find the issue. Sounds easy but it'll be a good day just tracing through the wires, then probably another of fixing it. Don't forget to check the neutrals, we have far more issues with our neutrals than our hots. They have an issue of coming detached from the neutral block. I don't know of an easier way, but wish there were. Sorry, but you have the right idea, check the easy/logical problems first (fuses, breakers, switches) then start going more complex.

 

[TOPGUNmich]

Re: Electrical nightmare

I was hoping for a hidden fuse box or such, seems odd that most electrical circuits work but several dont. Thanks...

 

[commander315]

Re: Electrical nightmare

I was hoping for a hidden fuse box or such, seems odd that most electrical circuits work but several dont. Thanks...

I had a similar problem where everything electrical on my bridge didnt work...just anything associated with the bridge..but nothing else. After hours of tracing circuits, I realized the bridge had its own auxiliary fuse box tucked away underneath the helm. But..it dosent seem this is in your case..so get to circuit tracing..FUN!FUN!FUN!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electrical nightmare

If you can't track the wires back to where they originate, I would give Four Winns a call and see if they can possibly help you out here.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Electrical nightmare

It seems unlikely that the winch, A/C, nav. lights and horn would all be on the same circuit.

I agree that it is probably a neutral, or less likely the positive, but I would look for a buss bar where the circuits would be grouped to draw their power from a common source.

Sometimes the manufacturer puts the buss bars in locations that become hidden when the liner is installed, after the wiring has been run, during the construction process.

The winch requires a lot of current so it will help to find it by looking for the heavier gauge wire.

 

[commander315]

Re: Electrical nightmare

It seems unlikely that the winch, A/C, nav. lights and horn would all be on the same circuit.

I agree that it is probably a neutral, or less likely the positive, but I would look for a buss bar where the circuits would be grouped to draw their power from a common source.

Sometimes the manufacturer puts the buss bars in locations that become hidden when the liner is installed, after the wiring has been run, during the construction process.

The winch requires a lot of current so it will help to find it by looking for the heavier gauge wire.

I agree...its impossible that all these thing are on one circuit, (Especially the ac AND the Winch), which are both 3 big current drawers. The boat is still pretty new..maybe you could have a dealer take a look at it??

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electrical nightmare

And the A/C is run off of 110 only so that is a completely different circuit.

 

[commander315]

Re: Electrical nightmare

And the A/C is run off of 110 only so that is a completely different circuit.

true...forgot all bout that...I think ya got a more complex issue then ya thought

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Electrical nightmare

this is not an electrical nightmare for an electrician but rather a simple trouble shooting process.... Some things are actually better left to a professional.... some of these things may be related or they could all be seperate problems,

the electricity follows a path from the source (battery, generator or shore power) to the destination (light, horn, winch, a/c) and back. A voltage meter is used to track the electricity (testing after every wire, switch, buss, or fuse) and find out where the circuit is broken.

As far as locations of fuses specific to your boat, as mentioned above the manufacturer/dealer would likely be the best place to find that info (owners manual)

 

[TOPGUNmich]

Re: Electrical nightmare

Thanks for the insight!

 

[seabob4]

Re: Electrical nightmare

Smoke has pretty much said it. The current flow, assuming the devices are "good", has been interrupted. Tripped breaker, loose connection, MISSING connection, blown fuse, a number of things.

Start at the power source. Work your way forward from there.

 

[johnny be good]

Re: Electrical nightmare

Don't allways trust your fuses if they look good get an ohm meter take them out of the holder and check them. Also I once had a problem with my ignition switch that wasn't letting accessories through. The 110v AC should be completly seperate from the 12v dc winch since they are two different voltages. Thats what make me think maybe in the ignition switch. As the other poster have said get a volt meter and start at either end and look for voltage and if you can hook up the 12v neg end of meter to a wire going directly to battery so you eliminate possible grnd. problems, the AC will be different its 110ac. It is a mind set you have to start with an attitude that this is a challenge and devote a day to it so you don't get frustrated I allways like troubleshooting elec. circiuts in cars for friends of mine Good Luck

 

[johnny be good]

Re: Electrical nightmare

One other thing on my boat the shore power 110 AC has a GFI outlet as the first outlet to protect everyting after that check you outlets for a GFI button and test it or you may have a GFI breaker check it they may be tripped or bad

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Electrical nightmare

you can buy a fairly inexpensive circuit tracing tool from Lowes or Radio Shack. It iwll allow you to isolate and track down where the circuit is broken.

Electrical troubleshooting, while your nightmare, is my favorite past times

 

[seabob4]

Re: Electrical nightmare

you can buy a fairly inexpensive circuit tracing tool from Lowes or Radio Shack. It iwll allow you to isolate and track down where the circuit is broken.

Electrical troubleshooting, while your nightmare, is my favorite past times

...Hate to say it, but mine too...