Unknown orange wire on inboard motor blew.

[dlpetta]

Hello first time posting here so if in wrong location sorry, We recently bought a searay and only took it out a handfull of times. This last time while leaving our dock the boat started making an akward noise and when we checked the engine we found this orange wire disconnected. Here is a couple of pictures of it. Its a 3.0 Mercruiser 140. Thank you for any help

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,...... That's the alternator charge wire,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

my guess the connector failed from fatique with the wire vibrating, then the sound you heard was the alternator trying to charge the battery across the broken connection and arced like crazy, hence the melted boot.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Have found a few with that condition. the connection loosens up a bit .Get rid of that plastic piece of junk and install a "Maxi-Fuse" holder
50A 60A 80A fuse is available