Where do the big fat ones go???

[John the landlubber]

I am struggling a bit here with my wiring. I want to buy some large diameter cables to go from battery to starter, but do not know where exactly I need to terminate them. I obviously realise one goes on the + post, one on the - post of the battery, but I need to know where the other ends go so I can measure the distance. I have some excellent wiring diagrams but I cannot read them as I have no previous electrical experience. I have a 6 gang switched fuse board installed which runs a pump, 12v cigar outputs, electronics and horn.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Where do the big fat ones go???

if this is a normal modern engine then positive goes to the lug on the starter soloniod and negative goes to the engine block

 

[John the landlubber]

Re: Where do the big fat ones go???

Well, that depends what you call modern. It's an evinrude v4 140hp outboard from somewhere between 1982-84. Thankyou for your reply. Will anywhere on the engine block do??? I am curious to know how the battery knows that it has to send current to the starter, as surely it doesn't have any link to the ignition. Does one of the wires from the ignition switch open the solenoid to allow the larger current down the big cable when in the start position?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Where do the big fat ones go???

Well, that depends what you call modern. It's an evinrude v4 140hp outboard from somewhere between 1982-84. Thankyou for your reply. Will anywhere on the engine block do??? I am curious to know how the battery knows that it has to send current to the starter, as surely it doesn't have any link to the ignition. Does one of the wires from the ignition switch open the solenoid to allow the larger current down the big cable when in the start position?

That's modern enough. Yes, there should be a "start" wire from ignition switch (maybe yellow?) (and also possibly a ground (black)) to the smaller terminal(s) on the starter solenoid, then the larger main battery positive cable (red) and a large cable to your starter (maybe yellow?) on the larger terminals. When the key is switched to "start" the start wire powers the solenoid, which completes the circuit through the larger cables and activates the starter. The solenoid and the starter are both grounded to the powerhead (either through wires/cables or the case of the unit), and the large negative cable from the battery is also attached to the powerhead; there should be a threaded hole for it somewhere near where the control harness enters the cowling.

 

[John the landlubber]

Re: Where do the big fat ones go???

Thanks, that is really helpfull. I haven't managed to get the ignition wiring quite sorted out yet. My problems started when I bought a 3 position ignition switch instead of a four position. Someone kindly told me I needed a 4 position switch for the choke primer function, so I bought one, only to find that it didn't have the traditional evin/john C,M,B,S etc marked on the terminals, but instead only had 1,2,3 and raised 1. I am guessing I need to replace this with one that has five slide on type terminals plus a threaded post. Would you be able to confirm this for me, since I have already spent ?60 sterling, and will be getting up to ?100 if I have to buy another one???

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Where do the big fat ones go???

Someone more familiar with Evinrude will have to field the ignition switch/choke question.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Where do the big fat ones go???

You could ring out the terminals on the switch you own.

One pole is +12vdc in only three left. One is "ignition on" and will have continuity to the 12vdc in terminal when the key is one click past off. Another will be the start terminal and it will only have continuity to +12vdc when the switch is in the start position - two past off. The fourth is choke and will only have continuity to +12vdc when the key is pressed.

A few minutes with a multi-meter and you can figgure it out with parts you already bought

If the mounting shaft does not work it's probably best to buy the OMC switch.

 

[John the landlubber]

Re: Where do the big fat ones go???

Okay, let me check I've got this straight. (I do own a multi-meter, although I have little electrical knowledge!)

If I put a wire from the + on the battery to the ignition switch I should get no reading when i put one probe on the battery - and the other probe on any other terminal (apart from the one I connect the wire to) on the ignition switch.

If I turn the key to position 1 (Ignition/accessories) I should be able to find the right terminal for the ignition wire (Normally marked I or A on evinrude ignition switches) because my meter will show 12v when one probe is on the correct terminal and the other is on the battery - post.

If I turn the key to the start position and hold it there I should be showing 12v through my meter on both the ignition and the terminal used for connecting to the solenoid.(usually marked s on an evinrude switch)

If I press the key in, I should show 12V on another terminal which operates the choke primer (and this is where I connect the wire that usually goes to c on the evinrude switch)

Is that right, and what becomes of the additional wires from the harness that would normally go onto the evinrude ignition switch? Can I just leave them disconnected?