Circuit Breakers Question

[mrstevewayne]

I have a 1988 Stratos Bass Boat, I lost all instruments on dashboard (no readings it as if they are all dead. I cannot find a fuse box but I am able to find #8 circuit breakers under the dash. The bolts attached to them a really rusty, but I could get them loosened with penetration oil. My question is this,
How do I know if any of them are bad?
And How can I test them?
Why my boat does not have a fuse box is strange for me. Any feedback is appreciated.
Thank You,
Steve

 

[KD4UPL]

Do you own a volt meter or more correctly a multi-meter that has a continuity function?
I'd much rather have a boat with breakers than one with fuses. If your breakers are rusty that's a bad sign. A new breaker or fuse block isn't that much money.

 

[mrstevewayne]

I agree, I will check into this but I would like to keep things the way they are until I can get my electrical problem fixed. I do not want to add to it a new problem. I am thinking these breakers show no conductivity until the reset button is kicked out, and that has not happed. That is why I wanted to test them. If all breakers (8) are bad I will attempt a new fuse box. That is why I was wanting ti know if they were a way to test the breakers to see if thae are good or bad, to help trace down my electrical problem. I have lost all instrument switches and gauges. Thew all breakers I get no volts, amps, or any electrical passing threw them with my volt meter. I have cleaned the breaker bolt threads up. So I am still wondering what I can do and if they are supposed to have amps, running threw them. I do not understand how they are to work on my boat. Any advice is welcomed.

 

[04fxdwgi25]

Highly doubtful all 8 breakers are bad. do you have +12 VDC to ground on one side of the breaker? If not, start tracing back toward the ignition switch. Does the ignition switch have +12VDC to ground on the "B" terminal? Check for 12VDC at the input of the breaker lineup.

These guys have a wealth of info for the power circuits

https://www.bluesea.com/support/documents

If the ignition switch has no volts, then keep going back towards the engine starter circuits. There is a RED button breaker on engine. See if it is tripped. There is also a fuse (60 or 90 amps fuse, can't remember) at the starter. Make sure the big plug on the engine harness is secure. Also check ALL the ground connections from the battery, to engine, to ground buss somewhere near the dash.

Here is the typical basic dash wiring drawing. Hope it helps

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have a 1988 Stratos Bass Boat, I lost all instruments on dashboard (no readings it as if they are all dead. I cannot find a fuse box but I am able to find #8 circuit breakers under the dash. The bolts attached to them a really rusty, but I could get them loosened with penetration oil. My question is this,
How do I know if any of them are bad?
And How can I test them?
Why my boat does not have a fuse box is strange for me. Any feedback is appreciated.
Thank You,
Steve

at $3 a piece, assume they are bad and simply replace them.

most boats no longer have fuses, only circuit breakers

 

[dingbat]

most boats no longer have fuses, only circuit breakers

Anything to save a couple of $$

I’ll take fuses over breakers any day. You can get home with a gum wrapper if worst come to worst.

 

[dingbat]

I am thinking these breakers show no conductivity until the reset button is kicked out, and that has not happed.

Makes absolutely no sense at all. The circuit is open (no conductivity) with the reset button kicked out.

That is why I wanted to test them. If all breakers (8) are bad I will attempt a new fuse box.

No way.. not a fan of breakers but the odds of 8 going at once is astronomical.

You have an upstream problem

What is battery voltage at the battery with positive cable removed?

What is battery voltage at the starter terminal with key on?

Master breaker in engine compartment tripped?

So I am still wondering what I can do and if they are supposed to have amps, running threw them.

Wires don’t have “amps” running through them…same as your hose has water, not psi running through it

I do not understand how they are to work on my boat. Any advice is welcomed.

You can’t test a breaker while in the circuit.
Negative (-) is not carried though a breaker

At a minimum you must remove the power (+) wire from input to output side of the breaker.

Put your meter on continuity…put one lead on input and would lead on out put. Should read continuity with breaker on. Should read no continuity when tripped.

 

[mrstevewayne]

I appreciate all of the advice I am learning as I go. I decided to be safe and order 8 new breakers from my Marina in my town. Just wanted everything to be safe. The breakers will be in Monday. Mine was 1988 and very rusty.
I am going to post a new question on a problem I found out about on the engine wiring and will start a new post for that.
Thanks very much
Mr Steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

Anything to save a couple of $$

I’ll take fuses over breakers any day. You can get home with a gum wrapper if worst come to worst.

vs simply moving the wire on a circuit breaker?

 

[QBhoy]

Most likely it’s an earth (ground to you US guys) issue. Given the description of the rusty bolts elsewhere perhaps. A multimeter will help you loads in your fault finding. Check to see if there is voltage at the gauges. If not…check if there is voltage at the gauges with one lead on the positive and the other lead elsewhere to a known good ground. Even if you need to run a jump lead cable straight from the battery negative up near the dash to get the meter probe to ground.
If that fails…then check for continuity across the breakers you mention. Check there is power there too, as before methods.
Of course…you should also check the health or connection at the main wiring harness from the remotes to the gauges. At the engine end too.

 

[mrstevewayne]

OK, I ordered new 12 v /8A breakers from Great Lakes Shippers to replace mine. Did not get them last week FedEx lost my package. These breakers are funny for me to understand. So here is my questions:
1. There is no reset button any where for these breakers, all I have by the switch is a small red light, is it supposed to come on when the breaker trips? or is it supposed to be on when the breaker is ok?
2. With not button that clicks out when breaker trips, do you replace the breaker every time it goes out?
3. I am thinking very strongly about changing over to a fuse panel. So would 12v/8A breaker be replaced with how amp fuse,10amp?
This novice thanks you for you very much for your knowledge and advice.
Mr Steve

 

[dwco5051]

Auto reset breakers. Common is some automobile application such as headlights.

 

[mrstevewayne]

I have took the route of being safe so as not to add to my troubles. I plan to install a marine fuse box at a later date. So I ordered a new set of breakers from and installed them. So for every thing is working corectly. Thank you all for your help.

 

[RobertNR]

where did you get the breakers I have a similar problem with my 1988 Stratos 279v breaker panel is corroded