Re: Electrical problems with my Mercruiser 4.3L engine
I have a boat with a V-6 4.3L Alpha One engine with Thunderbolt V ignition system. The battery is fine and the connections to the battery are clean. In fact I can raise and lower the stern drive. However, I have no voltage on any system (horn, lights, pumps, ignition). Zero electricity. Circuit breaker switch is not tripped. Does anyone have any suggestion as to what the problem may be ??
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Firstly, welcome to iBoats....
Does this mean you have everything running off the same circuit? Really BAD idea, for the reason you're seeing now. Imagine if you were at sea and you lost the electrics to the engine. It brings down your entire boat (as it has done now!). I have completely separate systems (apart from the batteries themselves) for the engine and other vessel systems. I could have the engine systems completely fry and I would still have my radio, GPS nav lights. Conversely I could lose all those and still have my engine running.
If the other electrical systems have been tapped off the engine instrument panel (and that sounds like what's been done) it has likely overloaded the 20A fuse in the 'ON' circuit. That fuse is located in the purple wire coming from the ignition key switch....
Once you get it sorted out, create a separate system for stuff that isn't 'engine'. Keep engine stuff on the engine circuit and other stuff off the engine circuits....
Chris.......
