newbie electrical ???

[Zeph]

Hi guys, I just got an old Starcraft Bahama with a 60hp Sportfour. I took out the battery and charged it, and then replaced it to begin to check lighting, horn etc. I noticed that when hooking the battery up, with the large wires going to the block and solonoid. I am drawing a small spark showing a load somewhere. This is with the key off, and not hooking the lighting wiring up. Am I thinking right that there should be no sparking at the battery? Thanks much.........Zeph

 

[JB]

Re: newbie electrical ???

I think I would start troubleshooting, Zeph.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: newbie electrical ???

If the boat has a clock or a radio with a station memory, that would draw a small amount of current. Certainly not a large zap though. Stalled bilge pump or stalled live well pump would also do it but the switches would have to be on. Bad diodes in the engine charging system would also do it. Remove fuses and begin replacing them one at a time until you find the circuit causing the arc.

 

[Zeph]

Re: newbie electrical ???

I don't have a radio or anything else hooked up. I am hoping it's not the rectifier. I did find I have a bad solonoid though. There is still not light enough after work to get much done with the boat outside. I'm hoping maybe something in the solonoid maybe be "grounded".

 

[bruceb58]

Re: newbie electrical ???

Get a meter and put it inline with the battery cable and measure the current draw. Start pulling fuses in the fuse panel until the current draw is gone to isolate the circuit.