Electricity is not my freind

[redneck joe]

Don't really like it; can't see it so my mind has a hard time wrapping itself around the concept.

I purchased a

for my boat. The leads off it have one wire marked positive (+). My wires to it are the same - one does not have a stripe or anything. The wire is already under the new headliner so no replacing it. I know where it goes to at the fuse panel, and which is + and which is -.

Question is - how do I tell that up at the front of the boat where I need to connect it to? Is it critical to have the +/- hooked up correctly?

 

[agallant80]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

What is it? Your photo did not post.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

hmmm It shows for me. see if you can follow the link



http://www.mackspw.com/ItemImages/Large/p138085C.jpg

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

the instruction sheet doesn't talk about it

http://www.golight.com/products/pdfs/2049_Instruction_Sheet.pdf

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

Question is - how do I tell that up at the front of the boat where I need to connect it to? Is it critical to have the +/- hooked up correctly?

Says in your manual that correct polarity has to be observed.

The 12 Volt DC power wire should be joined to the leads on the
20’ cable with appropriate automotive wire attachments. It is
critical that polarity be observed. The (+) lead of the Golight?
is marked with a red tag. The power should be fused at 10
Amps and be on a dedicated circuit or wired to an appropriate
automotive relay system

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

ok missed that so then yes. How do I tell up at the bow which is which?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

Are you running new wires? If so, just color coordinate them. Red positive...black negative. Red to a fuse. Black to a ground bus bar.

Run something like this.
http://www.genuinedealz.com/marine-wire/flat-duplex-dc-boat-wire

 

[Maclin]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

If I understand, you have 2 wires already in place in your boat and want to connect this new device. If you can span the distance from each wire to a good ground then whichever one shows 12 volts on a voltmeter (or lights up a continutiy tester) when the red lead touches it (with the black meter lead touching a good ground in the boat somewhere) is the + .

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

If I understand, you have 2 wires already in place in your boat and want to connect this new device. If you can span the distance from each wire to a good ground then whichever one shows 12 volts on a voltmeter (or lights up a continutiy tester) when the red lead touches it (with the black meter lead touching a good ground in the boat somewhere) is the + .

you are correct, currently installed wire that cannot be replaced.

So if I'm reading this correctly, I ground out my tester (probably with a lead to the engine ground) using the black lead then which ever wire I touch with the red that shows voltage is the positive?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

So if I'm reading this correctly, I ground out my tester (probably with a lead to the engine ground) using the black lead then which ever wire I touch with the red that shows voltage is the positive?

That would work,

Personally, I'd test to the 2 wires you're connecting the light to, less monkeying around not running jumper wires all over the baot. Connecting the volt meter one way will show 12V, and the other way around will show -12V (the wrong way). The red and black meter leads will tell you which wire is positive and which is negative,,, when the meter is reading 12V.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Electricity is not my freind

That would work,

Personally, I'd test to the 2 wires you're connecting the light to, less monkeying around not running jumper wires all over the baot. Connecting the volt meter one way will show 12V, and the other way around will show -12V (the wrong way). The red and black meter leads will tell you which wire is positive and which is negative,,, when the meter is reading 12V.

We have a winner. Thank you. I played with the meter on a AA battery to see what you were talking about, worked the same with the 12V on the boat. Installed, tested, butt spliced with dielectric grease....