Merc Circuit Breaker for Trim Motor Question

[aharrah]

I have a 1995 Larson Cabrio with twin mercruiser 5.7 L 4bbl (Ser. # OF421185) with alpha one outdrives. The port outdrive trim motor would not go up or down. I could here the relays clicking, but no go. I found the circuit breaker had came loose and gotten in the bilge and shorted out. A "mechanic" told me the trim motor has a fuse on it, that I did not need the breaker and could wire it back up going directly off the hot side of the starter to the high amp side of the selonoid. He also said in all his years of being a mercruiser "certified mechanic", he had never seen a set up like this.

My starboard engine is wired with a circuit breaker as well. The only thing i can see that the circuit breaker would protect is the solenoids from frying maybe if someone hooked one of the batteries up backwards.

I am just a little hesitant wiring something up directly that was previously fused. From my research, I know this set-up exists and am beginning to question the advice i have been given.

Comments??????

Thanks in advance,

Aaron

 

[RRitt]

Re: Merc Circuit Breaker for Trim Motor Question

the circuit breakers are there because trim motors pull a lot of amps and have a history of blowing fuses. Instead of hunting about for a new fuse you can just push the button to reset. There is no reason other than convenience that would prevent you from replacing the ciurcuit breaker with a fuse. If your mechanic was telling you that trim motors have fuses inside of them then he was wrong. Trim motors have thermal breakers inside of them. They open on heat not on amps.

 

[aharrah]

Re: Merc Circuit Breaker for Trim Motor Question

So what your saying is the breakers are just for convenience and don't protect the solenoids. Also, there is no fuse to replace in the motor, its just a thermal overload that resets automatically when it cools if it trips?

 

[RRitt]

Re: Merc Circuit Breaker for Trim Motor Question

the solenoids don't need protection. the breaker is there to protect your battery, your starter, your trim motor, and potentially your transom. think "trim motors gone wild".

 

[aharrah]

Re: Merc Circuit Breaker for Trim Motor Question

I take it I should not allow him to cut the eye terminals off the high amp wires and splice them together with a butt connector. The breaker is there for a reason.