Ignition breaker keeps blowing

[fireman749]

Need help. I was dewintering my 2000 chaparral 280 SSI with twin Volvo Penta 5.7 SX I/Os. Port motor started up and ran fine. Starboard would not do anything. Checked all battery connections first and they were fine. Checked breakers all around motor and they were good. Checked breaker under starboard ignition switch and it was popped. Reset it and turned motor over but they fuse popped again within 15 sec. Switched the fuse with another identical fuse on the charger. Same results. Reset and tried again. Same thing. When i reset the breaker it blows within 15 seconds wether I am trying to start the motor or not. Fuel pump never comes on when I reset the breaker and turn the ignition on. The motor ran perfect when I winterized it in December. Pulled the boat about 30 miles to have some bimimi work done but he didn't touch anything electric or ever attempt to turn the motors over. Any suggestions on where to begin looking would be greatly appreciated. Is it possible one of the hot wires on the starboard motor gauges came off and is shorting it out?

Thanks,

Craig
2000 Chaparral 280 SSI
Twin 5.7 Volvo Penta SX

 

[Fun Times]

Pulled the boat about 30 miles to have some bimini work done but he didn't touch anything electric or ever attempt to turn the motors over. Any suggestions on where to begin looking would be greatly appreciated.

Hi there, welcome to iboats!

One theory to consider inspecting would be he may have accidentally chafed a or pinched some wire/s running between the dash and engine had he installed a new screw/bolt somewhere on the boat side.

Checked breaker under starboard ignition switch and it was popped. Reset it and turned motor over but the fuse popped again within 15 sec. Switched the fuse with another identical fuse on the charger. Same results. Reset and tried again. Same thing.

Sort of confused as you've mentioned both a fuse that is normally replaced when blown and a circuit breaker that is normally resettable by pushing a button when tripped.

You installed a new circuit breaker?...And fuse?
When you say charger, is this a battery charger mounted by the engines/batteries?
What color are the wires going to the failing fuse or circuit breaker.

 

[fireman749]

I'sorry. You are correct about the circuit breaker and not a fuse. No fuses involved anywhere. Everything has circuit breakers. The man that did the bimini work did not screw anything into the boat. He only pulled the old canvas off and replaced with new canvas.
I'm not sure what you are asking about a charger. I do have 3 trickle charges (one for each battery) but I unplugged them when I was attempting to start the motor.
I'm going out this morning to pull the gauge and toggle switch panels on the dash to see if any of the wires have come unplugged and is causing the short. I will look then and see what color wires are going to the circuit breaker that is popping.

 

[gm280]

One line in your comment stands out to me; "When i reset the breaker it blows within 15 seconds wether I am trying to start the motor or not.". That tells me you have a short even before trying to start anything. And it also sounds like you mentioned that the fuel pump is connected to the same circuit. So disconnect everything off the setup and see if the breaker pops. If not, then one at a time, start connecting each wire back up until it does. That is your shorted circuit and you need to trace it out and see what is wrong. JMHO! Always go the simple route instead of hit and miss trouble shooting methods. Rule thing out one at a time.

 

[fireman749]

Found the problem. Pulled the toggle switch panel. The hour meter on the starboard motor had cracked where the wires plug in causing the two wires to touch each other. Moved them to keep from touching each other, turned on the key, fuel pump ran, and engine fired right up. Thank you for your help.