battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

[applesvt]

hello everyone, happy 4th of July. Well, mine is not so happy. I did a ridiculous thing, that I will never live down. I put in the batteries for our 2008 bayliner Discovery 192, in anticipation of taking it out on the 4th of July. I still can't believe I did this, but I actually put negative to positive, and positive to negative, on the main battery, however I wired the backup correctly. I don't know how I did it as I thought I had checked it. I went to make sure I had power on the console and to make sure the motor would turn, and and pop-fiz, smoke and fire. Any way, after cleaning up the mess from the extinguisher the only obvious damage is the ruined battery, and a melted negative terminal wire. This was on the backup side, the side that was wired correctly. I am SURE there is additional damage, such as the starter motor, relays, alternator, etc. I'm just not sure what the potential damage could be. Their is a perko switch and an automatic charging switch. Typically, what would be ruined by this carelessness? I am able to get everything to work now, except for the console gauges, which are dead, and the motor will not turn. Stern driver still moves up and down, horn works, bilge pump, fan, etc. no gauges though, no cranking. What do you think I ruined? Thanks all for any help. Happy 4th.

 

[mike243]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

dang sorry to hear,have you cked all of your fuses? ,sounds like the power for the control circut is missing,like the key switch is bad.like any thing else its rated for only so many amps,id start cking there after the fuses,good luck,mike243

 

[fishrdan]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

Check the fuse on the starter, funny looking square tab thing hanging off the starter, main wire harness connects to it. I bet you cooked it.

(if you have a Mercruiser I/O...)

 

[applesvt]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

There is a white block that appears to be a fusible link, but no indication that it is blown. it is merc. i/o I'll check it with meter. Just devastated by my mistake, probably won't be able to replace it today any way.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

There is a white block that appears to be a fusible link, but no indication that it is blown. it is merc. i/o I'll check it with meter. Just devastated by my mistake, probably won't be able to replace it today any way.

Sorry to hear that
Dont beat yourself up to bad (we'll do that )
We all make mistakes - I'm workin on my boat this 4th too :redface:

 

[sasto]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

May want to check the red lead to your starter key switch for 12v. If you have 12v on the red then turn key switch to on and check for 12v on the purple wire. Are you missing a ground wire somewhere?

 

[applesvt]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

I'll try that, switch does seem to be dead, can't get it to power up the gauges.

 

[applesvt]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

checked the 90a (?) fuse block at the starter and have no continuity, so I know I blew that. (I think it's a 90 amp from reading the motor manual). Am i correct that that white block in the photo is the fuse?

Question: would that also account for the lack of gauges coming on? or did I possibly blow the diodes in the gauges? I am able to get the horn to work, blower and bilge-those still work and they only come on if the key switch is "on". so I'm thinking I fried the gauges now. Do you think the alternator and starter are also fried? Just trying to mentally prepare for the ultimate repair bill. What could the worse case scenario be.

Wish I could find a place open that would have the fuse block. West marine carry those? I know they are closed today.

 

[applesvt]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

took apart the fuse block, it is toast. Any one know where you can replace the fusible link? I think that is the problem. Thanks.

 

[sasto]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

Good. Found problem. Local marine or hardware store should have one.

 

[Mark42]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

Reverse polarity hook up is a common mistake. Take the time to paint the positive batter terminal red and do the same with the positive cable, or use red tape on the positive terminal. Should prevent this costly mistake in the future.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

When I got my boat it had that fuse blown, was about $25... I searched hi and lo to find just the fusible part and couldn't find it, had to buy the whole part, guess it's a liability thing.

 

[applesvt]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

Reverse polarity hook up is a common mistake. Take the time to paint the positive batter terminal red and do the same with the positive cable, or use red tape on the positive terminal. Should prevent this costly mistake in the future.

Excellent Idea! I will do that.

I was not able to find the part, but tommorow the shop opens, and I can see if they have it. I really hope that is it though. Thanks all.

 

[Mark42]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

Regarding the fuseable link, if you can determine the actual load on the feed, then you should be able to replace it with an inline fuse. Radio Shack and auto parts stores should have a variety of inline fuse holders that are easily good for 30 or more amps.

Total up all the fuses that are feed by that fuseable link and put in an inline fuse equal or slightly higher. Or a circuit breaker will work too. Fuseable links are a low cost safety valve, and save the boat manufacturers a few bucks, knowing it will only blow under extreme conditions that rarely happen.

 

[applesvt]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

I rigged a 75b amp fuse, and everything seems to be fine. Put the ignition to start just to see if the engine would crank, it did. Did not try to start it though. To be safe I'll try to get the proper merc fuse tommorow. I hope it did its job and saved the alternator, but won't know until it is running, and I can check voltage. The 50 amp breaker did pop too, this must be a safety to prevent serious damge, I'm guessing. What a weekend I've had. I'll let you know how it goes after I try to start her. Thanks to everyone!

 

[AguaSki]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

Good advice here and don't beat yourself up over the mistake. All of us occasionally do something stupid that we know better than doing. A couple years ago I decided to make an adjustment to my boat while I was floating in the middle of Lake Powell. To make the adjustment I needed to disconnect and remove the battery. I did the same thing as you, but I was 25 miles away from the nearest launch ramp when I made my mistake. I have a Johnson outboard and the only damage I had was blown rectifier, but that was enough to completely ruin that vacation. To this day I still can't believe that I reversed the +/- terminals, but I did. I like Mark42's suggestion and will do something similar on my boat.

 

[sgalvin]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

Sadly i did the same mistakes, Besides a fuse, the voltage/current will still pass through if +/- is attached with the wrong side.

A fuse only breaks if the amps are higher than expected to save the over current into the application


Perhaps another safety PCB will help ? Any ideas?

Do correct me if i'm wrong any part.
Alvin

 

[klze]

Re: battery hook up- worst mistake imaginable

To avoid such mistake, I put 150amp NLA fuse on the battery side.
any lower amp fuse would burn because starter pick is at 125amp.

so if such happens, fuse blows and there is an open circuit (no continuity) between red positive+ battery terminal...