[Mbaumy]

Can anyone tell me what this part is? The Red positive cable off the battery goes to it

IMG-20110713-00070.jpg

[darkcalling]

Battery isolator I would say.

[Mbaumy]

Thank You, That is what I thought it was.

[darkcalling]

Hm maybe I am wrong but I thought it was 1 starting battery and two backups/accessory batteries. But I would say if you have ignition your guages should all have power unless a fuse or breaker or perhaps a ground is off somewhere. Just guessing electronics aren't my strongest suit. I just know from building/restoring cars thats what it would seem to be.

[ShabahZ280]

Definitely isn't OEM. And I know this may sound stupid and simple, but in the pic, I see some bunched up wires in the top right corner with what looks to be a battery connector on it. Was that just removed for the pic/battery replacement, or has it not been hooked up at all?

[darkcalling]

Good eye Shabah and I would say that battery one is a ground of all things being black and all.

[Shabah 198SE]

ShabahZ250 may be correct, but with what you are missing, I would also look at your ignition switch or wiring to it.

Bidlge pump - would have to be live at all times
Blower - would be live at all times
Stereo - Is often wired to be live at all times
Clock - Would be live at all times
Tilt/trim - Would be live at all times
Wiper - Would likely be wired to be live at all times (at least on boats I have owned)
Vhf Radio - Is often wired to be live at all times

The wire that ShabahZ250 spotted looks like a ground wire. Is it black?

Shabah 198SE

[180diablo]

Yep, looks like it is a battery isolator (google search)

http://www.gmccoop.com/images/Batter...-old-n-new.jpg

Came across this marine webpage (quote below).
Charge Management - Resources - Blue Sea Systems

Battery Isolators are a common method of distributing charging current to multiple battery banks while assuring that the batteries remain electrically isolated during discharge. These devices are electrical "one-way check valves" that allow current flow to, but not from, the battery. Their disadvantage is that the diodes used in these devices cause a voltage drop that consumes charging energy, creates heat, and causes batteries to be undercharged. Alternators with external voltage sensing can correct for the undercharging problem, but voltage drop and the heat generated remain a problem. Battery isolators generally cannot be used with outboard motors that share a common wire for charging and starting.

I also came across this wiring diagram if you wanted to double check the routing of your wires.




Have you double checked the fuses (might be blown, but not look like it)? Any loose wiring? Are the spade terminals properly crimped to the wiring? Any signs of corrosion? Re-seated any marettes that might be present on the wiring? Have you tested the switches with a voltmeter to ensure they properly open / close?


Keep us posted ..

[darkcalling]

Nice diagram and good work I am no electrical expert that diagram could be very handy to many of us less knowledgable.

[180diablo]

Originally Posted by darkcalling

Nice diagram and good work I am no electrical expert that diagram could be very handy to many of us less knowledgable.

I'm not an electrical expert either, but I do have a better working knowledge of electrical systems after 2 years of college.

But if most of the switches work on his dash and the rest don't, then everything is probably in parallel with one another and the "good" switches are working as they should, and there is a break somewhere along the line cutting off power to the remaining switches....etc.