These wires go .....?

AWWWSkeetSkeet

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Hello I have a 1981 Skeeter boat with a 150hp evinrude engine and for me this is a first to have a boat. I was cleaning it up and knocked some wires loose (a couple) and I know That they are for the accessories.I have tried to find and put back where they belong and can't find where they go. These are the hot and ground wires (red & Black). Can anyone help me with this as to allowing detailed information where they go? Wires come from the main harness then breaks off as 2 wires leading to the steering and from the egnition and throttle handle. I'd be glad to get any information i can use.

Stuck On da Back Fishing.
 

HighTrim

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Jun 21, 2007
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Re: These wires go .....?

Youll have to give more details. What accesories do you have? Truthfully what you need is a manual for that motor, it will be complete with a wiring diagram. Check ebay, or a number of sites that you will find if you search manuals on this site. Another option is the library. Its kinda difficult to type in every unknown wire for every unknown gauge over a forum, but maybe someone will have a wiring diagram for you, Good luck
 

burroak

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Mar 29, 2007
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Re: These wires go .....?

Oooops!
 
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burroak

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Re: These wires go .....?

There is no red wire coming out of the motor harness on the schematic for your Evinrude. The is a black wire, which is a ground; maybe a 14 or 16 gauge. What sizes are the wires that you have loose? If they are 10 gauge, or there abouts, they are the main feed and ground for your fuse distribution block. They would not be in the motor harness bundle unless someone tied, taped, or loomed them. Can you get a photo of what you are dealing with. I have the diagram for your motor and a diagram for the rest of the boat. I'm just not clear on what you have.
 

jtexas

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Re: These wires go .....?

Can ya tell what worked before but doesn't work now (pumps, lights, horn, gauges, etc)? Wiring diagram for the motor might not answer your questions - you might need to know Skeeter's color codes - but that might not help either, since over the last 25 years a prior owner is bound to have done some DIY accessory wiring. General rule, you might expect to see a red wire coming from the battery to power a fuse panel. and most of your factory or dealer-installed accessories to be powered from a color other than red, and black to be a ground wire. crawl up under the helm & see if there's any open switch contacts.

just a hunch........see if the trim switch on the control handle and/or the steering wheel (if equipped) still work...........
 

AWWWSkeetSkeet

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Re: These wires go .....?

The wires operated the tilt and trim, lights accessories, and the trolling. The Main Motor still works and able to crank. Just the accessories are not functionable. not able to take a pic at this time but would like to obtain a manuel and redo most of the wiring and update the features.
 

jtexas

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Re: These wires go .....?

v-e-r-y unlikely to have trolling motor and accessories on the same circuit. factory or dealer (and IMHO most bass fishermen), most likely wouldn't have 'em on the same battery. doesn't mean yours isn't like that of course.

That being the case, look for the fuse panel - it might be integrated into the switch panel. Do the loose wires terminate in terminals (spade terminals, ring terminals, quick-disconnect plug terminal-type things) or anything?

Have you checked these wires with a multimeter, to verify they carry 12 volts? just wondered. also you didn't say for sure........those items you mentioned, they were all working ok before your incident? do the tilt/trim switches on the bow and the transom still function?
 
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HighTrim

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Re: These wires go .....?

As far as the trim wiring goes, there are either 4 or 6 wires (or 2 or 3 if you dont have a trim gauge) Green is for down like the grass, blue is for up like the sky and there will be a hot or live wire. The other 2 smaller ones will be for the gauge.
 

AWWWSkeetSkeet

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Re: These wires go .....?

The type of terminals are the ones that slide on being male and female type. I will and have looked at the fuse panel however the wires don't quite reach there and that is why my inquire bout where else could they go. But the wires are red and black and operate the acceasories portion of the boat.
 

HighTrim

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Re: These wires go .....?

Well which gauges dont work?? That would be a good place to start. Take the panel off and look at the back of the guages. Without a pic its hard to diagnose.
 

AWWWSkeetSkeet

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Re: These wires go .....?

ok thanks jusss thought of what you said before and will do it. Ad as i do this i'd like to replace a lot of the features there that need to be replaced like the fuse oanel and wiring. Where can i get these at and do they sell a instraments package for this or do I have to rebuild form scratch from other used boat parts?
 

HighTrim

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Re: These wires go .....?

Yes they sell gauge cluster packs, 4, 5, 6, depending on which gauges youd like, or you can try sites like ebay and such if youd like them used, but unless you're gauges are broken why fix em, unless youd like to reno the boat, some of the new gauge packages are quite sharp.
 

jtexas

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Re: These wires go .....?

ok, each accessory should have a (+) wire leading from the fuse panel to the switch, then from the switch to the device, then a ground wire from the device to a negative terminal strip or bus bar. You have a problem that affects all the accessories, so you've most likely lost power from the battery to the fuse panel. The fuse panel doesn't need a ground wire....although I guess it might have a negative terminal strip on the same panel (unlikely).

Is it possible that those wires weren't connected, and that the loss of accessory power is just coincidental? Is there a fishfinder bracket on your console that doesn't have a fishfinder in it? Lot of times fishfinders are wired separately from other accessories to avoid electrical noise.

Can you trace the 12V wire from the fuse panel back to the battery - it might (should) have an inline "master" fuse or circuit breaker near the battery (probably within 6 or 7" of the positive battery post).

If there's corrosion on any of the connectors, you may have to clean 'em before you can find your problem.

you can find switches, panels, fuses, wiring, at basspro, west marine, academy sports, etc. And there's quite a bit of that stuff on ebay. Marine grade wiring is kind of pricy - I used automotive, works fine so far. Rewiring your boat.........there's lots worse ways to spend a couple afternoons.........if you can find a shady place to park. ;)
 
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