Dangerous? Sparks upon hooking up battery

kirby42 · #1 July 1st, 2007, 08:23 PM

I just installed a new battery in my Capri 17.5 Alpha one .I screwed on the black wires and when I attached the red wires I noticed a few sparks typical of a brush with a live battery terminal. My question is this, with all switches off and no key in the ignition, should there still be a current drain enough to show these
sparks? or is there a short somewhere? If there is no short, will the batt. be drained? This is the boat with a bad nav light circuit.The light fuse is good, but no juice at the bulbs. Thanks, Kirby

First baybee · #2 July 2nd, 2007, 09:21 AM

I think its customary to hook up the hot red lead always first and then finish with the black ground, not the other way around. That may help avoid problems.

P.S.
I believe in spite of the ignition key position the circuit to the dash is still indeed "hot" live and you can run your blower or bilge pump with the flip of a switch. I'm almost positive as I don't have my Bayliner until I pick it up tomorrow morning from the dealer. But I do believe this is true. Unlike a car, the key only runs the ignition in the case of this boat.

gcboat · #3 July 2nd, 2007, 10:50 AM

This might be true if you have a radio with a clock or preset stations. It will have a constant current draw unless you have a disconnect switch and it is in the OFF position. There is also the bilge pump which should be hooked up as a constant HOT. So a small arc is O.K., smoke BAD.

craig stevens · #4 July 2nd, 2007, 11:08 AM

if your switch is off you should have zero draw regardless of whats hard wired. check the inside of your battery switch for corrosion or wires touching. also put a meter on things like your bildge and fuse panel to see if your switch is bad. you should only get sparks if something is waiting for power when you hook up

gcboat · #5 July 2nd, 2007, 09:45 PM

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First baybee · #6 July 3rd, 2007, 11:35 PM

There is no battery disconnect switch on my capri 175 BR
(2005) so power is always live to the dashboard etc. It's a good habit to get into when playing with electrical to connect the hot first and then do the ground.

Just got my boat today and already hooked up a Raymarine 48 VHF radio and four foot Digital Antenna and it works like a charm. Can't wait to take her out tomorrow!