What cables hook up to the battery?

[JonDick13926]

Hi, new member here. I'm buying a boat in about a week from my girlfriend's dad. I'm getting a great deal on it, but it does need some work.

Most of the problems I've found so far (like some of the gauges not being hooked up) I believe I can figure out from googling and this forum. However, I can't figure out where the battery goes. I do have a hunch, but I could be wrong and I don't want to be find that out AFTER I hook up the battery (potentially the wrong way).

I was looking at the throttle control (I believe it said "mercruiser"; the engine is an older 115hp mercury outboard) and I noticed three things sticking out the back running toward the engines. Two cables, of course, and a large wire. The wire splits when it comes close to the engine. It splits off into a large plug which plugs into the engine and then two large wires with heads on them that look like they connect to battery posts. I'm assuming that's what connects to the battery, but I'm not sure. They're not red and black. One is all black and one is black with white on the end. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow morning. Do you guys think this is what connects to the battery?

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: What cables hook up to the battery?

Without photos not sure what it is your referring to. Could be but who knows. Are they thick battery cables similar battery cables in a car? Are the ends just like ones on a car or a eye lid hole?

Better yet one should bolt to block of motor that will be your ground (negative) which will connect to negative on battery post. The other with white on it, thinking this one is possibly your positive cable which connects to large post on the starter.

Assuming those are the wires just trace ends to where they go and see. If not then check your starter and see if it has a large cable attached to large post then trace that to where it leads because that will be the one you need to connect to positive battery post. Also look for a switch box in case it was wired for two batteries. Should be red in color with a dial switch saying 1, 2, both, off.

Could always ask her dad where he put a battery in it

 

[JonDick13926]

Re: What cables hook up to the battery?

Thanks for the reply.

I figured it out this morning. The white wire wqas white because the sun had bleached it. I peeled back some of the black insulation and that wire was actually red. Not only that, but the red one said "positive" on the side and the black one said "negative". Also, I found the throttle control here:

Mercury, Mercruiser, Force, etc. - REMOTE CONTROL ASSEMBLY (ELECTRIC) - 115 HORSEPOWER

And you can see on the harness where to the wires come off and hook to a battery. That solves one problem. However, I don't think he has a key to the throttle control. Why is there a key for the throttle control AND a key for the ignition beside of the steering wheel?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What cables hook up to the battery?

Thanks for the reply.

I figured it out this morning. The white wire wqas white because the sun had bleached it. I peeled back some of the black insulation and that wire was actually red. Not only that, but the red one said "positive" on the side and the black one said "negative". Also, I found the throttle control here:

Mercury, Mercruiser, Force, etc. - REMOTE CONTROL ASSEMBLY (ELECTRIC) - 115 HORSEPOWER

And you can see on the harness where to the wires come off and hook to a battery. That solves one problem. However, I don't think he has a key to the throttle control. Why is there a key for the throttle control AND a key for the ignition beside of the steering wheel?

There are two ignitions because the boat probably came with the ignition at the helm. The control box was likely a replacement so it came with the ignition switch. Use one or the other but not both.