Battery connected backwards

[bj2455]

I took my 16 yo son with me this weekend to get our boat out of storage. He wanted to be helpful so I told him to get the battery connected so I could raise the outdrive for towing. It never occured to me I needed to explain neg to neg, pos to pos as we've worked on the boat together on many occasions. Needless to say he connected the battery backwards. When I had him turn the Perko battery switch, he yelled at me he thought something was wrong. By the time I got there the engine compartment was filled with smoke. I immediately dissconnected the switch but obviously the damagewas already done. I haven't had time to get into just what may have gone up in smoke. Anybody have any input just what I might need to look for or what could have been toasted with the reverse hookup?
Maybe this should be posted under stupid human tricks! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Bill

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Battery connected backwards

First check battery, are cables melted at all? then connect a good battery and see what works and what doesn't. your old battery could be good. test it first

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Battery connected backwards

It would really help if we knew what you were working on. Outboards and I/O's present two very different scenarios. It also depends on what battery switch position was selected when the switch was turned on.

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Battery connected backwards

isn't an outdrive only usde on an inboard? i have an outboard so I'm not that familair with inboards.

 

[bj2455]

Re: Battery connected backwards

Sorry...I should have put the boat/engine information in the first post. The boat is a 1989 SeaRay 230CC with the 5.7L Thunderbolt coupled to a Alpha One generation 1. The switch was in the position 2 but only one battery was connected (not that that will matter much). I know I'm going to have to look for wires with the insulation melted but I'm more concerned about what electronicss might be involved as well. It will be a pain to trace the wires with them all in wire cabling but not impossible. Thanks for any help you can offer!

Bill

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery connected backwards

If you got lucky, you will just have the fuse/fusible link that blew out which is down near the starter solenoid. Next will be the alternator. Unless your ignition was switched to on when this happened, your ignition system is probably safe. Hook up the battery the correct way and determine if your gauges come to life when you turn on the ignition key. If they don't, search for the fuse/fusible link down at the starter solenoid. If all that is OK, then you can start your boat and see if your alternator survived.