No power to ignition/throttle after spark installing headlights '08 18' Harris toon

[kwitvoet64]

I was trying to install headlight to my boat by splicing into an unused accessories switch. There was a small spark when two of the wires touched and now I have no power to the ignition or throttle/trim but the nav lights and stereo still work. Thinking I must of blown a fuse somewhere but can't seem to find one anywhere near the wiring. There are "breakers" located under the switches on the panel but none of them seem to be tripped. I'm off from work all week and need to get this figured out asap, any help would be appreciated!

 

[MH Hawker]

head lights are a not allowed on a boat, that blinds other operators at night and can get you a healthy fine if caught. a set of docking lights may be used when loading on the trailer or putting the boat in at the slip or spotting navigation aids. docking lights needs to be on its own circuit not spliced in some place, and it sounds like its blown the ignition control fuse in the motor,

 

[HotTommy]

If the accessory switch you wanted to use received power through the ignition switch (i.e., it was on only when the key was ON), then you were trying to draw a great deal of power through an ignition switch that was not intended to carry that much load. As MH Hawker said, it likely blew the fuse that protects the ignition switch and it is likely at the engine. ... If you want to install any high amp accessory, its good to use a relay that uses a small amp current from the accesory system to close a high amp switch that receives power directly from a fuse protected connection to the battery.

 

[kwitvoet64]

It was the fuse in the motor, the one place I didn't look! Thank you both for sharing your knowledge. I'm back on the water and can enjoy the rest of my vacation.

 

[MH Hawker]

a boat has two electrical systems with a common battery, the motor system and the accessory system, the motor system has very limited power, its mostly for only the interments, the accessory is for ever thing else limited by the wire gage