Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

[Isoprime]

Hey,
So I started with a leaking shift bellow, ended up chaging all of em, then noticed a real cowboy wire repair on both trim sensors (both replaced with the cut and crimp method) so swapped them since I was in there.

Anyhow, hooked up the new trim sensor on starbord side (right when sat behind the boat working on the drive).
Lined up the marker lines on the senor, dropped the drive to lowest setting and lightly scewed on sensor. Tweak to get trip to read zero on gauge.
TIghten screws and raise drive.
Trim gauge goes lower the more I raise the drive.

I'm guessing the sensor is just a variable resistance in which case the orientation of the wires wouldn't matter. BUT they are setup male/female female/male such that (w/o cutting off the connectors) they cannot be crossed so maybe wire orientation matters and either the sensor is bad or something in my boat is backwards?
Will bring my meter back from work and test.
Thanks

nick..

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Did the gauge you just installed on the right say on the cover starborad sendor unit? Did you buy them from a merc dealer? Read the post in this link to see if this is how you did it. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=322590

 

[Isoprime]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Thanks boat teck,
The sensors were new (sealed) and from a merc dealer but bought online.
The trim side says starboard (port on the limit which works fine). I followed the instructions that were included (pretty much the same as the link you sent but with pics).
Set the markers together and the drive down, adjust to zero on gauge then raise the drive.
The needle goes down as the drives comes up.
Odd thing is whe rotated by hand the sensor I removed does the same thing but worked fine when run a week or so before removal.
I put a meter on the new sensor and it reads from ~0 Ohms thru about 190 Ohms then oc for about 1/2 turn then back to 0 etc.
Too be honest I opened the old one and removed the plastic disc prior to testing it with the meter so it may be possible put it back wrongly.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Thanks boat teck,
The sensors were new (sealed) and from a merc dealer but bought online.
The trim side says starboard (port on the limit which works fine). I followed the instructions that were included (pretty much the same as the link you sent but with pics).
Set the markers together and the drive down, adjust to zero on gauge then raise the drive.
The needle goes down as the drives comes up.
Odd thing is whe rotated by hand the sensor I removed does the same thing but worked fine when run a week or so before removal.
I put a meter on the new sensor and it reads from ~0 Ohms thru about 190 Ohms then oc for about 1/2 turn then back to 0 etc.
Too be honest I opened the old one and removed the plastic disc prior to testing it with the meter so it may be possible put it back wrongly.

Or did you play with any wires or grounds at all while playing around any where in the boat?

 

[Isoprime]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Honestly you would think so but no.
Just pulled the trim sensor and limit at the factory bullet connectors.
Limit wasn't sexed so just plugged it in and seems to work fine. Factory instructions seem to have the limit a little lower than it was before I started but there's no saying it was right before.
The old sensors (both sides) seem to have been replaced by cutting the sensor and crimping on a new one which is the only reason I messed with them.
If I recall turning the center of the sensor counter clockwise mimics the drive going up but sends the trim needle down. Go a whole lap and it flicks up and down (the part of the variable resistor that is completely o/c) then slowly drops again.
It would work fine if installed on the port side of the drive and it is technically possible that the units I removed were on backwards but I would probably have picked up on that.....

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Honestly you would think so but no.
Just pulled the trim sensor and limit at the factory bullet connectors.
Limit wasn't sexed so just plugged it in and seems to work fine. Factory instructions seem to have the limit a little lower than it was before I started but there's no saying it was right before.
The old sensors (both sides) seem to have been replaced by cutting the sensor and crimping on a new one which is the only reason I messed with them.
If I recall turning the center of the sensor counter clockwise mimics the drive going up but sends the trim needle down. Go a whole lap and it flicks up and down (the part of the variable resistor that is completely o/c) then slowly drops again.
It would work fine if installed on the port side of the drive and it is technically possible that the units I removed were on backwards but I would probably have picked up on that.....

On the trim limit hight some of the older alpha did have a higher setting and it would have been 21 3/4 inch, pin to pin but you should check your manual before you go that hi. I have seen something like this in the past before But I thougt it was a outboard but I could be wrong, And if I remember right it turned out to be the gauge was the wrong type Because we put a new one in and it started working. Do you know if the gauges have ever been changed? I am not sure if your idea would work or not, I am thinking you might put the trim hight sender out of wack. But it will not hurt anything to try it from what I can see, But I could be wrong. Good luck with it.

 

[Isoprime]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Thanks,
As best I know the gauge has not been replaced. On this boat it would be quite hard to get at as all the gauges are under a plastic cover with molded back.
Boat is a 99/00 with an Alpha Gen 2 and 5.0 V8.

 

[willieboy]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Ok, shot in the dark from a total non-expert, and maybe be totally stupid. But as I recall from looking at my Brother-in-laws, his starboard sensor actually looks like it is upside down. That is, the writing is upside down so it looks like somebody put it on 180 degrees out. However, his works fine, so I know that is not the case. Have you tried turning it over to see if it would work?

 

[45Auto]

Re: Trim sensor reads backwards (new sensor)

Is it possible that the previous owner crimped the ends onto the wrong wires (opposite what they should be), then reversed the wires at the gauge in the dash to make it work right? Maybe cause it was easier to do than re-crimping the wires correctly ........

Does it work correctly if you swap the wires around? (test jumpers)