New boat, Strange wiring setup with non-standard engines

[Celebrity268]

Ok, so this is my first post here, and I have a few questions. Not sure if anyone has come across anything similar, but anyone familiar with the Celebrity 268, they came with either a big block, or twin 3.7s...the previous owner had twin 5.7 Mercruisers put in instead. There's a 3 battery setup, with the third resting between the engines, and 2 battery selector switches....I bought a jumper pack and I can get power to my onboard systems, but I can only get a clicking from the port engine, and I get nothing at all from the starboard engine. Any chance that the starboard engine is powered by the now non-existent 3rd battery? If that's not the case, does it sound like maybe the starter solenoid/relay maybe not sending power to the starter when the key is turned? Any help would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Re: New boat, Strange wiring setup with non-standard engines

and 2 battery selector switches...

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,....

If ya track down the wiring of those 2 battery switches, then you'll Know what battery does what...
Then you can follow the wiring from each motor to figure out what's wrong with It...

I'd suspect corroded connections to at least play a role in yer problems...
Btw,... Removin', sandin', cleanin', reinstallin', 'n greasin' 'em is the cure,...
Lookin' at 'em, 'n wigglin' 'em don't count...

 

[fucawi]

Re: New boat, Strange wiring setup with non-standard engines

Charge the batteries fully and leave 24 hrs ..if they go below 12.5 then they may not be up to the job....The click usually means not sufficeint voltage to work the engagement mechanism . Probably you need 3 batteries but once you have tested no 1 and shut it down you can move the battery to no 2 ..

 

[Don S]

Re: New boat, Strange wiring setup with non-standard engines

Since the boat is new to you, I would suggest you make a wiring diagram of your batteries, which cable goes to which battery terminal and which terminal on the battery switches. Then you can figure out how things work.
I had a customer buy an old 30' Chris that had 4 switches and 6 batteries. Some of the batteries were in parallel so they acted as basically 2 batteries, the switches wire wired up so strange it took about a day to figure it all out and it ended up that 3 of the battery switches didn't do anything but turn on each other. It had switched in the engine room, in the head and under the cabin floor.

 

[Celebrity268]

Re: New boat, Strange wiring setup with non-standard engines

ok....so i checked all connections and put in fresh batteries...still nothing from the starboard engine...the dash reacts when i put the key in the "on" position but nothing when i turn the key to try to crank the engine....maybe solenoid??

 

[Don S]

Re: New boat, Strange wiring setup with non-standard engines

This should help you find it. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

 

[oops!]

Re: New boat, Strange wiring setup with non-standard engines

there is always a comment from someone at the dock. the switches wire wired up so strange it took about a day to figure it all out and it ended up that 3 of the battery switches didn't do anything but turn on each other. It had switched in the engine room, in the head and under the cabin floor.

what a P.I.T.A... did you rip and re wire...or just repair the nightmare and make notes?

p.s.sorry for the hijack....but the above is a nightmare