Battery switch caught on fire today

[butchy54]

Getting my boat ready for this weekend and do some work.I turn on the battery switch to both turn on the radio and heard a snap then the switch burst in to flames.I put the fire out notice the battery post melted,discounted both battery's jump cable melted it had to cook the batteries.I don't know what other damage this could of done and have no Idea what causes this either My thinking was some was loose and shorted out??????.Money is tight right now is there a way to ck for other damages with out taking out a loan to bring it to a marina.The other wires look ok??
40hp ele start evinrude power tilt VSO 17.5 sea nymph bass boat.
Thanks for any help you can give. Butchy

 

[CATransplant]

That's not optimal.

That's not optimal.

Somewhere, you have a dead short. The only way to find it is to start tracing the wiring down. Use a handheld ohmmeter or continuity checker as you go, measuring between the positive and negative terminals on the cable.

Don't connect a battery again until you've found the problem.

 

[butchy54]

Re: Battery switch caught on fire today

thnk you Cat I guess I will take it somewhere and have it rewired that was a little to scary for me today again thanks Butchy

 

[Bondo]

Re: Battery switch caught on fire today

Ayuh,... My guess is, you have 1 of the batteries Backwards...

 

[cr2k]

Re: Battery switch caught on fire today

Unfortunitally you may have also fried your engines cdi ignition if so equipped.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Battery switch caught on fire today

I'm with Bondo on this one, the only way that can happen is to have a battery hooked up backwards.

You have a PM

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Battery switch caught on fire today

Be glad that didn't happen while you were out on the water.