tracing a connection

[JAL51974]

I did a dumb thing- while checking connections at the fuse board on my 12v system, I took off a black wire, the smallest dia. on the board, and the female connector practically fell off. While making a new connector for it I neglected to write down which post it came from!<br /><br />I checked all the electronics I could think of and they all work.<br /><br />Question is where does this connector go now? Any suggestions how I can trace it down?<br /><br /><br />I am having a couple of gauge malfunctions which is why I started investigating the connectors in the first place. But no new ones are malfunctioning due to my goof up. <br />Thanks!<br />Joe

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: tracing a connection

Joe...normally black is a ground or return wire, can you trace the wire back to a device? maybe it doesn't go to anything anymore. Can you take a picture of this board and post it so we can see what you are talking about.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: tracing a connection

I will try to trace it back to something today and post a picture too. Thanks bob.

 

[amirm]

Re: tracing a connection

Unless someone wired the boat that didn't know anything, black would be a ground wire. This seems to be especially true if you are talking about the fuse box. I would attempt to trace it but if that fails, I would feel fairly safe in connecting it to the ground plane on the fuse box.<br /><br />And BTW, it doesn't matter which post it came from for ground wire. Just hook it up to a spare screw anywhere on that side of the fuse box (where all the black wires are screwed). It is the positive (red) wire that has to go the right row (otherwise, it would be using the wrong fuse/breaker).<br /><br />Amir

 

[JAL51974]

Re: tracing a connection

I will try to trace it back tomorrow. Took the boat out today and here's another mystery-<br />the gas gauge and speedometer don't work, last owner said he never got them to work.<br /><br />I am checking the wiring for bad connections, etc. today the gas gauge started working in the middle of the cruise- was always 'E' now after running about two hrs. shows around 1/2 tank. Any explanations?<br /><br />Gas Sender unit is a Medalion Instruments if that is any help. <br /><br />Joe

 

[18rabbit]

Re: tracing a connection

Originally posted by JOE LOIZZO:<br />I am checking the wiring for bad connections, etc. today the gas gauge started working in the middle of the cruise- was always 'E' now after running about two hrs. shows around 1/2 tank. Any explanations?

Yes. I’ve noticed this about my boat, too. The longer I run the motor, the less fuel there will be in the tank.<br /> Sorry, couldn’t help that.<br /><br />I am inclined to agree with Amir...but I won’t. Without seeing your wiring, I would be reluctant to suggest hooking up any black wire to ground. Black is the most common of all wire colors. It could be what color was handy when someone last worked on the electrical. Don’t know. Hate to say it but you need to know what is at the other end of that wire before you can properly connect it to where it belongs.