Solenoid Wiring

[hawk4611]

Wanted to verify that the solenoid wires were reattached correctly. This was done by someone other than myself who isnt very mechanically inclined and I didnt see how it was wired in the first place. I have a 150hp mercury motor. The large top post on solenoid has 4 separate connections: 3 of the connections are small red wires, 2 are in pairs and one is single. The other connection is a large black wire with a end. The bottom large post has 2 connections: one is a large black wire with a yellow end that goes to the bottom of starter, the other connection is a large black wire. Does this sound right? Thanks

 

[Laddies]

Re: Solenoid Wiring

No that don't sound right, there are a few different wiring harnesses so a year or serial number would help.

 

[hawk4611]

Re: Solenoid Wiring

No that don't sound right, there are a few different wiring harnesses so a year or serial number would help.

The boat is a 99 nitro nx 882, hopefully my pics upload ok. Im assuming the motor is same year, its not my house at the moment so the serial number will come tomorrow if needed. Thanks

 

[sschefer]

Re: Solenoid Wiring

No that's wrong.

There should only be one cable connected to the bottom large post of the solenoid. The one you have going to the starter is correct. Remove the other one and connect it to the lower right starter mounting bolt. You can see where the paint is missing around that bolt. This is a ground and if you try to start it like it is, you'll have smoke.

The small terminal on the left should have a yellow/red wire on it. The upper large terminal is your battery positive and then anything else that needs battery positive constant. A black ground wire will be connected from the mounting screw to the electrical plate becasue the solenoid is isolated on rubber mounts. The lower large terminal is your stater battery positive. When you turn the key to the start position, 12vdc gets applied to the yellow/red stripe wire connected to small terminal on the left. This energizes the solenoid and allows current to flow from the large top terminal to the large lower terminal and then to the starter and the starter cranks. When you let off the key, it stops current from flowing through the yellow/red stripe wire and that de-energizes the solenoid, breaking the connection between the upper and lower large terminals. That's when the starter stops turning.

If you think about all that, there is no other purpose for the lower terminal other than providing current to the starter.. Sorry, just a little long winded today. Must be the smoked trout cooking in the smoker..LOL

 

[hawk4611]

Re: Solenoid Wiring

No that's wrong.

There should only be one cable connected to the bottom large post of the solenoid. The one you have going to the starter is correct. Remove the other one and connect it to the lower right starter mounting bolt. You can see where the paint is missing around that bolt. This is a ground and if you try to start it like it is, you'll have smoke.

The small terminal on the left should have a yellow/red wire on it. The upper large terminal is your battery positive and then anything else that needs battery positive constant. A black ground wire will be connected from the mounting screw to the electrical plate becasue the solenoid is isolated on rubber mounts. The lower large terminal is your stater battery positive. When you turn the key to the start position, 12vdc gets applied to the yellow/red stripe wire connected to small terminal on the left. This energizes the solenoid and allows current to flow from the large top terminal to the large lower terminal and then to the starter and the starter cranks. When you let off the key, it stops current from flowing through the yellow/red stripe wire and that de-energizes the solenoid, breaking the connection between the upper and lower large terminals. That's when the starter stops turning.

If you think about all that, there is no other purpose for the lower terminal other than providing current to the starter.. Sorry, just a little long winded today. Must be the smoked trout cooking in the smoker..LOL

Thanks, I didnt think that looked right. Although I did replace the starter last week and the only wires attached to its brackets were reattached. This black wire on the bottom post wasnt anywhere to be seen when the starter was replaced thats why i was wondering if it actually went to the top post. The wire itself is actually a grouping of smaller wires that wrap around to the back of the motor and up into the bottom of what look like relays.