Marine Sparky needed

 Hi ,

 

Hoping there is a Marine Sparky on the site able to solve a problem on my boat located in Hillarys. (This is a paying job of course)

 

Boat is Bertram 35 with twin Volvo Diesels. Located in the DOT pens at Hillarys.

 

Problem is that when turning the ignition on I get a weaker ignition alarm than the other side and when I go to push the starter button there is absolutely nothing - no clicks - absolutely nothing. Tested the good side and I get around 12.6 volts to the starter button then tested the other side and have around .13 volts to the starter button. Tried a new ignition switch assembly with no difference. 

So looking for an electrical wizard to solve this problem.

Thanks Evan MacRae

I can be contacted on

zero four one eight nine five one nine nine zero

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ROUGH RED

One day I hope to replace the boat picture I am using with one of a decent fish...One day...

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Posts: 286

Date Joined: 21/07/14

 Do they have seperate

Thu, 2015-04-09 13:13

 Do they have seperate starter batteries and if so measure the voltage at the battery terminals on no load and when trying to start. 

Ensure that the battery posts/ terminals squeaky clean, add some vaseline or suitable sealer to the posts and that the battery top surface is also clean. An unclean surface can cause the battery to discharge or worse as current does flow across that surface.

Mike

Escape's picture

Posts: 82

Date Joined: 14/12/11

 Thanks Mike, Yes it does

Thu, 2015-04-09 14:02

 Thanks Mike,

 

Yes it does have separate batteries.

 

I appreciate your advice. I will head down and do the checks you mention and see if that helps the situation.

The weird thing is that it did it the other weekend when ready to leave Rottnest. I mucked around with the wiring and jiggled terminals around the starter circuit and it came good - fortunately.

On Good Friday she started perfectly in the pen then we re fuelled and it went dead as a doornail again where no amount of jigging, cursing and swearing helped

 

Thanks again.

 

Regards

 

Evan

____________________________________________________________________________

ROUGH RED

One day I hope to replace the boat picture I am using with one of a decent fish...One day...

Posts: 286

Date Joined: 21/07/14

 The other thing is to

Thu, 2015-04-09 14:08

 The other thing is to measure the volt drop across any/ all of the connectors on load conditions.

Also you have a "dry" high resistance connector you may feel it get warm or even hot when under starting or just after starting conditions.

Mike

Escape's picture

Posts: 82

Date Joined: 14/12/11

 Thanks again Mike, I better

Thu, 2015-04-09 14:19

 Thanks again Mike,

 

I better get fresh batteries for the multimeter, looks like it has a bit of work to do.

 

Regards

 

Evan

____________________________________________________________________________

ROUGH RED

One day I hope to replace the boat picture I am using with one of a decent fish...One day...

Escape's picture

Posts: 82

Date Joined: 14/12/11

Did a bit more investigation

Tue, 2015-04-14 21:48

 Tested the multimeter out and discovered something weird.

Ignition switch is good.

Weird thing with starter button which is different to the good side. Both wires going to starter button are showing 12 plus volts rather than one with 12 plus until button pushed. Button is ok as I ran a wire from it straight to starter motor and got the starter to fire the motor up . 

Any thoughts from people ?

cheers

Evan

____________________________________________________________________________

ROUGH RED

One day I hope to replace the boat picture I am using with one of a decent fish...One day...

Piggy's picture

Posts: 553

Date Joined: 24/08/12

How are you going

Wed, 2015-04-15 00:01

How are you going with the issue mate?

If Im free thursday I could possibly come and have a look at it for you

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I go boating not fishing

Escape's picture

Posts: 82

Date Joined: 14/12/11

 Still a problem at the

Wed, 2015-04-15 06:21

 Still a problem at the moment. My last post is the update. 

Would appreciate it if you are around Hillary's Thursday Piggy.

I will pm my number.

cheers Evan 

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ROUGH RED

One day I hope to replace the boat picture I am using with one of a decent fish...One day...