Newby, wiring help please

[thegopher]

Hello i am restoring a family boat but have never done this before. it is a simple electrical system only one battery for starting and running the bilge and lights. but i keep blowing fuses. like i said this is my first time so i might be doing something really stupid but here is my schematic.

positive lead: Battery -> bus -> fuse -> switch
negative lead: Battery -> bus -> switch

OK let me have it!

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Newby, wiring help please

The negative should never be going to a switch, it normally goes some kind of a common connector or buss. Then you attach all the negative leads from bilge, lights, blower etc to that. Can't say for sure but it sounds like if you have pos and neg going to the same switch then you are creating a short circuit (thank god for fuses) or else you will be doing some serious wire melting!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Newby, wiring help please

positive battery to fuse panel, to switch, to accessory, ground from accessory to buss bar, to negative battery. here's a great diagram. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=186986

 

[thegopher]

Re: Newby, wiring help please

i guess i should have been more clear. the neg lead goes from the battery to a common bus and the neg leads from the switches do go to that. is that what you mean? thanks, Dan.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newby, wiring help please

Nope -- you still have it wrong. Switches do not have "any" negative leads. Here is a diagram for a typical boat. Note that current flows from the positive terminal of the battery. It may pass through a MASTER On/Off switch that can be used to cut power to the entire boat. Its use is optional. From there, current feeds the HOT side of the fuse or circuit breaker panel. Each fuse or circuit breaker feeds current to the various circuits. I included one complete circuit so current flows from the HOT side of the panel, through the breaker or fuse, to one side of the switch. When the switch is closed, current continues to flow to the light, a bilge pump, or whatever that switch controls. It flows "through" the device (light or ??) then back to the battery on the NEGATIVE line. Note that there are NO switches in the negative side of a circuit. Hope this helps.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Newby, wiring help please

A switch is normally only used in the positive side of a circuit. There should be no ground wire leading to a switch unless the switch has a light in it. Positive wire to one side of the switch-positive wire of item being turned on and off on the other side of the switch. (positive in-positive out) Follow?

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Newby, wiring help please

Silvertip...you always have the coolest wiring diagrams!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newby, wiring help please

Thanks. My father-in-law once had a sign in the restroom at his garage that read "We Aim To Please" -- "You Aim Too, Please". I aim to please! Have a safe memorial day holiday folks. Remember the troops.