Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

[natedog337]

Hi guys my 2010 sweetwater pontoon had no issues a week ago .. Today I got on the boat and the engine started perfectly .. My radio, navigation , docking lights and nab lights all do not work . I have a pop out fuse panel with 6 switches and non of then turn on the accessories. The switches don't even light up when turned on. Looking for input on what is wrong and how to correct thxs as always

 

[NYBo]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

There should be a fuse or circuit breaker on the 8 or 10 gauge positive lead for the panel, within a foot of the battery.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

+ 1

 

[natedog337]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

Really hoping that was the issue but I checked today and it is not... Took the breaker out and hooked up directly to battery and still nothing , darn it.. All the wires look ok and the wires running into then panel do not look corroded... I'm at a loss ... Help

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

time to buy a volt meter. you need to test for power at the fuse panel. if the fuse panel is near the consule and the battery is near the back of the boat the best way to test is to take a piece of wood and put a nail in it then using a scrap of wire strip and tie to the nail then tie the other end to the negative post of the battery this gives you a know ground path. next test the battery with the meter it should read about 12v then using the nail as a negative test the postives at the fuses with the meter. if you get no voltage then the pos wire is broken somewhere further back if you get voltage and nothing works then the ground is broken somewhere further back. i hope this makes sense

 

[NYBo]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

You also need to consider the negative side of the circuit.

 

[natedog337]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

Ok so here's my follow up.. I grabbed my meter and went over to the boat. Battery and wiring leaving battery r hot showing 12v. The wires run under the deck and come up under the steering column. There is a connector 1 foot after coming up through the floor. I disconnected the connector and checked the voltage coming from the battery. Two reds wires and a black. Both red showed 12v when checking with meter and using ground. I then reconnected the connector and detached the 2 foot wire that runs from the connector to the circuit breaker panel. I checked both red wires running from the connector to the circuit breaker after removing the connectors from the breajer and I got nothing on voltage .. So I'm thinking maybe the connector is bad and I need to install new wires 2ft and a connector... Any thoughts or am I missing something, thx again ... I just don't understand why if it is the connector or wiring did this happen.. The wires and connector all look brand new and no water or dampness is ever present in that compartment

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

If you have 12 volts and ground up to the connector, but not after. You have identified the issue. The connector is apparently not "connecting" and there are a couple reasons for that. Cheap connector, bad contacts, contacts pushed partly out of the connector so they can't connect.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

when you say connector......do you mean a plastic push together connector. just seems odd that both reds failed in the same connector at the same time but it does happen. still can not see why you have 2 reds and a black that goes to a connector then 2 reds that goes to a breaker. this is a perfect time for a picture

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

Put all the wiring back the way it was. You said the connector just above the floor has two red wires and black in it and that you read 12 volts from each red wire to the black. Correct?

You also said the mating half of the connector has only two red wires in it and no black wire! Correct? If so, then the mating terminal that would line up with the black wire must be vacant so stick the negative probe of your voltmeter into that cavity. Now check for 12 volts at the point wherever the red wires to. If you now see 12 volts, check around the helm for a black wire that popped out of the connector or that broke off. You can look into the connector to see that. Obviously a black wire in a connector half that does not have a corresponding wire in the other half of the connector is doing nothing. On the other hand, just because it is there does not mean ground is not being obtained somewhere else but it seems strange to send the main "boat power ground" up to the helm and then not use it.

 

[natedog337]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

Put all the wiring back the way it was. You said the connector just above the floor has two red wires and black in it and that you read 12 volts from each red wire to the black. Correct? Yes

You also said the mating half of the connector has only two red wires in it and no black wire! Correct? No If so, then the mating terminal that would line up with the black wire must be vacant so stick the negative probe of your voltmeter into that cavity. Now check for 12 volts at the point wherever the red wires to. If you now see 12 volts, check around the helm for a black wire that popped out of the connector or that broke off. You can look into the connector to see that. Obviously a black wire in a connector half that does not have a corresponding wire in the other half of the connector is doing nothing. On the other hand, just because it is there does not mean ground is not being obtained somewhere else but it seems strange to send the main "boat power ground" up to the helm and then not use it.

I didn't explain myself properly I meant that the 2 red wires and a black ground wire come up through the floor and into a plastic connector. The connector is like a square with 3 male ends for the 2 red and 1 black wire. The other end of the connector runs 2 red wires to separate breaker switches which jump to other switches and a black wire runs to a section on the breaker box with other possible grounding wires. I have to get down to my marina and take a couple pictures for u Guys. I have some extra 10 ga wire and was considering sticking the one end of the striped wire into the connector at the hot end and touching it to the breaker to see if I regained power. I'll keep u guys informed and really appreciate the assistance . Thxs again

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

The problem still apparently lies at the connector. If you have 12 volts going INTO it but not OUT of the mating half, you found the problem.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

makes more sense now you have 2 reds and a black, the reds go to breakers/switchs and black to ground bar. when tested the breaker switchs did not have power because both failed in the connector block at the same time........so im going with the black wire connector is the problem because you are proberly testing between the reds and a ground thats connected to the bar at some point.

 

[natedog337]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

Ok so was hoping today I'd correct the issue thinking that the connector was the issue. I went back down to the boat and tested battery with volt meter reading 12.5 volts. I then tested connector coming up through floor and got a reading of 5.5 volts on both red wire coming into the connector from the floor (female).. Now I'm really confused because I think when I tested last week it was reading 12 volts here. I figured I'd try to push on and check the connector running from circuit breaker (male) . I connected brand new wire to the female end by pushing bare threads into the connector and checked voltage reading 5.5 ... I completely cut the male connector out and tie the wires together. I check for voltage and get 0 volts with them tied together but 5.5 when I disconnect... Wtf I'm at lose... Does this seem normal , may be time for myself to seek a professional

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

what are you testing the other side of the meter to. a known ground thats been proven good or a ground wire thats untested. when more than one thing plays up on dc check the ground.

 

[natedog337]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

Glenn I really do appreciate the help I think I'm close to figuring this out.. I've tested multiple different grounds and get the same readings. Today I cut the connector completely out if the equation. I took a second battery and tied the 2 red wires and 1 black coming from the circuit breaker directly to the battery and everything turned on.. So It appears the breaker is fine.. The wires coming from the battery our only reading 2.5 volts for each red. I'm figuring I have an issue with the run of wire which runs from the battery under my pontoon deck and up into the control cabinet .. One more thing that confuses is that there is only 1 red accessory wire and a ground wire running from the battery compartment but there is 2 reds and 1 black coming up into the control compartment. Where is that other red wire from? Is it split somewhere cause both wire wires are carrying some current ... Thxs again

 

[natedog337]

Re: Pontoon boat electrical issue , engjne starts nothing else

Located problem . Power wire was split directly under control panel cabinet using only shrink wrap. Completely corroded out, unbelievable... Can't believe Godfrey would wire it up with such a connection... Thxs again