1992 15hp Evinrude, what are the wires for?

[Todd in NY]

Computer posted same post twice

 

[oldboat1]

and no attempt at a wire harness coming out anywhere -- no wiring for intended battery hookup? Need to decide what motor you want, I guess, and go from there.

 

[Todd in NY]

Yes, there are red and black wires under the starter handle (about 3ft long), and I was told by the PO that they are for charging the battery. I'll hook them up to my multi meter and see if they are pushing DC current. I'll also see if the start button is wired as a kill button so I know what I have here. This motor is a kicker/trolling motor on my 19ft aluminum Sea Nymph, so I'll be happy if it charges my battery and the black button is my kill switch. It runs like a champ, so I can't complain. Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[oldboat1]

well, sounds like a plan. The rectifier might be shorted if run without a battery hookup, so lack of charging may not be a wiring problem -- but of course could be a wiring problem, if the PO didn't get it right..... (rectifier is about a $40 replacement item.) You'll get it right.

 

[Todd in NY]

The black button doesn't kill the motor. I had one wire as the ground and the other (female socket connector) plugged into the black/yellow kill plug. Looks like I'll be ordering me a kill switch.

The other red and black leads are putting out 2 amps DC at idle, so it should charge my battery at least a little bit.

 

[oldboat1]

that black button -- leave the one plugged in as described, and attach the other wire under the top mounting bolt of the top coil. It should work as a kill switch with that connection.

 

[Todd in NY]

I attached the 2nd black wire (the one with the ring connector) under the top bolt of the coil. I'll post a picture tomorrow to make sure I am attaching everything the way you are suggesting. Thanks!

I was wondering if there is any chance that those 2 wires to the black button are bare and touching somewhere between the button and the other end...? Its really hard to trace those wires because or where they run inside the lower engine cover.

 

[oldboat1]

think in your case, you need to be sure that the two wires used are the two wires from the black button -- if that's the button you want to hook up. If you can't physically trace each of the two wires used back to the button, use a continuity tester.

or....hook the continuity tester to each of the two wires you unwrapped, and try the RED switch and see if the tester light comes on, or the dial registers continuity -- my guess is those two wires go to the red plastic kill switch which the PO meant to disable. Also guessing the second wire to the black button is under there somewhere -- and that's the one you probably need to hook up to the top mounting bolt. Find the right two wires before worrying about other shorts. You'll get it right.

 

[Todd in NY]

To close this out, I disconnected the black button on the right side of the motor, then taped and tucked those wires away the same way they were when I got this motor. I ordered and installed a new OMC red kill switch for the tiller handle and everything works as it is designed to work. Thanks for all of the feedback! :tea:

 

[oldboat1]

done good. glad to hear it -- particularly from a fellow new yaawker.

 

[Todd in NY]

Thanks oldboat1! Now my next task is to bolt it to the stern of my boat this week, just in case I make it out to troll for salmon and trout. But these home remodeling projects are really eating up my boat repair and fishing time.

 

[oldboat1]

all good:victorious: