battery cables on wrong terminals - warning alarm

[hammerhead99]

Hi,<br /><br />1989 Merc 115Hp on 16' Doral bowrider<br /><br />I accidentally put the positive cables onto the negative battery post, and the negative cables onto the positive post.<br /><br />Walked away for a minute or two and came back and heard a sizzling sound. You guessed it, the sizzling sound was melting wires.<br /><br />Now, the boat starts but a warning horn goes off. What all might have I messed up here?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[dilligafda]

Re: battery cables on wrong terminals - warning alarm

You most likely shorted the horn lead to ground. Check the wiring harness (especially if you heards sizzling! )

 

[Mettaree]

Re: battery cables on wrong terminals - warning alarm

Hope you didn't fry your volt reg.(s)

 

[roscoe]

Re: battery cables on wrong terminals - warning alarm

Best check the voltage rectifier/regulator output when you get her running. Even momentarily crossed battery cables can fry the diodes in them.<br /><br />The engine should run with a bacd regulator, but you will have no output to the tach or to charge the battery.

 

[hammerhead99]

Re: battery cables on wrong terminals - warning alarm

Thanks for the replies. All good info.<br /><br />Will be taking a look at this unit most likely this upcoming weekend.

 

[jollymon]

Re: battery cables on wrong terminals - warning alarm

Hamerhead,<br /><br />Without a doubt, you fried the rectifer. I had the smae thing happen with a 86, 35hp. Went to look at the boat to buy it in the pouring rain, The seller hooked up the battery, would not start, we put a jump start pack on it, got it running had it running 20 minutes. After I bought it, we went to pull the battery off and the seller realized that he had hooked it up backwards. I replaced the rectifer and all has been fine. ($35 for the rectifier- seller paid for it)