No power to instrument panel

[collinsnh]

I have a 1984 Grady White Overnighter with a 1984 150 HP Evinrude outboard. I purchased the boat used a few weeks ago and have been sorting out some electrical issues. The last two items on the list was the bow light and the stereo. In tackling the stereo I attached the power supply and the ground to the fuse panel and out came music. Success was short-lived, however, when in a matter of moments the radio fell silent. Getting late I decided to take up the cause in the morning. Putting everything back together for the night I noticed that not only was the radio dead, so too was the marine radio, the pump, wipers, fuel gauge, navigation lights etc (all were working prior). The only thing that was working was the tilt and trim to the motor and the fish finder. After a sleepless night I returned the following afternoon turned on the battery and turned on the marine radio and found it to be working. I then turned on the navigation light switch, immediately the radio fell silent as all systems went down again, including the fish finder this time (the tilt and trim still operate).

I have checked all of the fuses in the instrument panel, none blown. I hooked up my voltage meter to the fuse panel, plenty of juice. I know I am missing something...

 

[Thad]

Re: No power to instrument panel

Sounds like the place to start is with the wire feed to the lights. May have rubbed bare somewhere. When juice is fed to it, it could short out causing issue. If all checks out, I would suspect the switch itself.

At least it as a place to start.

 

[collinsnh]

Re: No power to instrument panel

Thank you for the quick reply Thad. I will certainly check on wires, but for the life of me I can not figure out why all of a sudden nothing works, when all was functioning prior. Even more curious is that after approximately 24 hours power was restored to the marine radio then it went out again when I flipped another switch.

 

[jalbert34668]

Re: No power to instrument panel

If all power was restored over night there is a bare wire that dried out over night or the bare wire quit touch metal and stopped shorting out, try unhooking everything wipers,radio, everything that stopped working then plug them in one at a time let them stay on for a few minutes then try plugging something else in etc... until you plug that certain thing in that kill all power to everything then you will know that instrument is the one with the dead short.. Good luck let me know how it works out for you!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: No power to instrument panel

What is happening is the circuit breaker for the circuit that feeds the fuse panel is popping when the Nav lights (or what ever is causing the outage). After a short time the breaker resets (it is automatic) only to repeat the cycle. So -- to isolate this, remove one fuse at a time and then begin flipping switches. When you have removed the fuse that allows the system to stay live, it is that circuit that is causing the issue. You obviously have a direct short so finding it will not be difficult. Once you find the circuit, then disconnect the hot lead at the switch. Repeat the test. If the breaker blows, the problem is between the fuse panel and the switch. If not, it is after the switch.

 

[cheapbatbuyer]

Re: No power to instrument panel

I have almost the same problem with my boat. I have a 1989 celebrity 18' with the 4.3 alpha one. I just bought this darn thing, everything worked fine!! I pushed in the cigarette lighter... Boom there went everything. No power to the instrument panel whatsoever. I have power to the trim/tilt but that is it.



PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! >.< Thanks in advance.