Wiring Gauges Question.........

[mrcj001]

1976 Evinrude 70HP

I am rewiring the whole boat.

The OMC Manual says that only the tach should be hooked to the remote.

Can I wire the tach,fuel gauge and volt meter to the power wire from the remote or is this too much of a draw and will pop the fuse at the engine?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

You'll blow the fuse if wiring a great many accessories (radio, lights, etc) to the "A" terminal of the ignition switch BUT it's proper to wire voltage input wire of the tachometer, voltmeter, gas gauge to that "A" terminal..... anything that pertains to the engine that you need to have on as soon as the key is turned on.

Anything else..... Run separate wires from the battery up to a fuse panel and take the power from there or take the voltage off off a fused battery switch.

 

[mrcj001]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

Please check me if I`m right.........

Wire the tach from the remote:

Wire the volt meter to the starting battery and fuse the connection:
Will this cause a constant draw on the starting battery?

Connect the fuel gauge to the accesory battery and fuse the connection.

I have no fuse pannel or a good place to put one. probably why there was none in the first place.

BTW, I use three batteries, one for starting only, one for accesories, (T&T,fish finder, ect) and one for the trolling motor only.

 

[Craig-]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

Please check me if I`m right.........

Wire the tach from the remote:

Wire the volt meter to the starting battery and fuse the connection:
Will this cause a constant draw on the starting battery? Very small draw.
Connect the fuel gauge to the accesory battery and fuse the connection.

I have no fuse pannel or a good place to put one. probably why there was none in the first place.

BTW, I use three batteries, one for starting only, one for accesories, (T&T,fish finder, ect) and one for the trolling motor only.

Highly recommend battery switch which can shut electrical system down and provide charging circuit for accessory batteries. In line fuse can be used if there is no room for panel. Size fuse to protect wire gauge size.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

Come on folks think about this. Outboard ignitions have an ACCESSORY "A" terminal which is used to power the gauges. I/O's power the gauges from the "I" terminal. That includes all of the gauges. If you wire some to the accessory battery you will need a separate switch to turn them on and off. The "A" terminal is intended for power the gauges which draw very little current. The light circuit in the gauges is powered from the NAV-ANC switch.

Go to the Electrical forum and look at the "Generic Boat Wiring Diagram" in the stickies at the very top fo the page.

 

[mrcj001]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

Come on folks think about this. Outboard ignitions have an ACCESSORY "A" terminal which is used to power the gauges. I/O's power the gauges from the "I" terminal. That includes all of the gauges. If you wire some to the accessory battery you will need a separate switch to turn them on and off. The "A" terminal is intended for power the gauges which draw very little current. The light circuit in the gauges is powered from the NAV-ANC switch.

Go to the Electrical forum and look at the "Generic Boat Wiring Diagram" in the stickies at the very top fo the page.

I looked at the diagram in the FAQ forum. It showes the tach,fuel gauge and volt meter running in a series from the ignition switch, which is what I want to do. I wont wire the lights for the gauges with the ignition circuit.I will wire them with the navagation lights which are on a completly different curcuit.

Its just the OMC manual says only the tach should be wired to the ignition.

I can see not wiring navagation lights to the ignition which wouldnt make since.

I guess I`ll try wiring the meters in a series and see if the fuse pops, if it does I`ll try something different.

 

[Craig-]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

I looked at the diagram in the FAQ forum. It showes the tach,fuel gauge and volt meter running in a series from the ignition switch, which is what I want to do. I wont wire the lights for the gauges with the ignition circuit.I will wire them with the navagation lights which are on a completly different curcuit.

Its just the OMC manual says only the tach should be wired to the ignition.

I can see not wiring navagation lights to the ignition which wouldnt make since.

I guess I`ll try wiring the meters in a series and see if the fuse pops, if it does I`ll try something different.

That will work fine, hook lights up to light switch. Light circuit should be fuse protected.

 

[mrcj001]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

I got it wired up this evening and everthing seems OK. Tach works,volts work but my fuel gauge doesnt. It wont even flinch.

It work last year with the old engine/set-up, but it was REAL eratic. The needle would move all around then it quit.

Is it safe to say I need a new Gauge?

Is there a way of testing the fuel sender and or gauge?

 

[F_R]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

Probability is the sender in the tank. You can remove it and test the resistance as you move the float up and down. Also, the float might not even be floating any more.

BTW, those gauges are actually wired in parallel. But we know what you meant.

 

[mrcj001]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

I found this here on iBoats


http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16757&d=1219091426

Do I need to ground the sender on the tank to the battery??

I believe the PO had a wire under one of the screws that holds the sender in the tank.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

The tank flange must be grounded for the gauge to work.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

Here is a diagram for the fuel gauge system. Short the "S" terminal of the gauge to the ground terminal with the key on == the gauge should ped full. If it doesn't the gauge is bad or it is not getting +12 volts or ground is missing. If you verify both of those, then the gauge is toast. If the gauge is good, then verify the send wire is good from the gauge to the sender. If that's ok, then disconnect the send wire at the sender. Measure the resistance to the metal shell of the sender. 33 ohms = full, 109 ohms = 1/2 full, and 240 ohms = empty. If those numbers are ok, make sure the shell of the sender has a good ground.

 

[mrcj001]

Re: Wiring Gauges Question.........

I dont have the sender grounded to the battery. Thats prolly the prob.

I will perform Silvertip`s test to check out the curcuit.

Thanks to all thats helping.

(I`m trying to save money I dont want to buy new parts if I dont need to:redface

Next up:

Bilge pump,livewell pump, and Nav. Lights.........