SMOKING/DON'T LET BUDDY HOOK UP BATTERY

[toonfish]

I was getting the boat ready last weekend. I was messing with the trailer while my buddy attempted to hook up the battery for me. When I was done and walking to the rear of the boat I noticed smoke coming from the counsel (sp?) I yelled at him to rip the cords off the batt. I then re-hooked just the motor back up and it seemed to run fine. But have not hooked the components back up, fearing that he fried something. I think he mixed up the + and - when hooking them up. I couldn't see anything melted, but should I just take it in someplace before attempting to hook it up again? Also does anybody know of a good (affordable) place to take it in around the Prior Lake area. How much damage could have he caused? Thoughts?

[toonfish]

Any electrical experts???? How much damage could have been done?? Anyone know of a place around Prior that is cheaper than 100.00 to look at it and 85.00/hr to fix if it fried something. Great way to start the year!

[hoggs222]

Do you have fuses running in line with your components? If so, It should have blown the fuses before doing damage to the components. I'd start by checking the fuses first.

[toonfish]

Yeah there are fuses, but would it smoke like that if the fuses were working. Wouldn't the fuse just pop??? I just was suprised by the smoke...I am no electrical expert, so I wil try and check the fuses and hook it up correctly this time and see if it works. I hope so, sounds spendy if I have to have any wiring done.

[DTro]

I know from experience you can smoke your rectifier from doing that. Keep a close eye on your battery, your motor may no longer be charging it

[marine_man]

I'd check for melted wires first... then connect the power cables and see what works and what doesn't work... it's likely that whatever damage could be done has already been done... so I doubt you're going to do any more damage by connecting the cables the right way...

I agree on verifying that the rectifier still works... use a multi meter and measure the battery voltage with the motor off, then start the motor and run it at high idle and measure the voltage... if it's more your rectifier is probably in good shape.

What was smoking?

marine_man

[BDR]

I had the exact thing happen before. It shorted ou the Tach. Everytime you would turn the key it shorted and blew the fuse at the starter on the motor. It cost around $350 to have a marina replace it. It was one with all the electronic warning alarms. Price sounded high but I was on vacation and just wanted it fixed now.

[toonfish]

Marine- I am not sure what exactly was smoking...because it came from underneath the consel and by the time I got uder there I could not figure out the source. I looked for melted wires but found none. Thanks for the input guys....I was wondering about the rectifier and thanks for the tip on how to test that.

[bigb56303]

anything fused should be okay as long as it was fused properly, other than that you dont have to be a electrical genius just goe one compnent at a time and see what works doesnt work etc if you did fry the rectifier then you might want to go to the shop un less you can fix your self

[Down Deep]

What do you have hooked up to that battery? It might have just been the casing at a terminal end that heated up. Did your buddy hook up the motor cables or just the accesories? If you didn't pop the fuses you are probably OK. If the motor cables were hooked up, I'd pull the cover and inspect the leads entering the motor. If you don't find anything suspicious, fire (no pun intended) everything up and see if it works. If you see smoke or something doesn't work, you melted something and you will have to track it down. Otherwise I would just ignor it.

[stmichael]

I would think that you would only have to check the wires going to the fuse panel. Check them thoroughly, if the wires are exposed they could come in contact with each other, and, give you further problems down the road. Are you able to follow the wires from the battery to the console?

[toonfish]

Thanks guys.....I checked everything to the fuse panel and found nothing melted or burned. Initially the motor cables were hooked up at the same time....but smoke was only coming from the consel...the motor started and ran fine when hooked up by itself after the smoke....so I think the only concern with the motor will be if the rectfier is still working....I will get a chance to get out to the boat tomorrow and test the rectifier and the accesories....I hope I am just buying some extra fuses...Thanks a lot with your info I may be able to save myself some $$ by not having to bring it in.. I appreciate it. I will let you know what happens..

[toonfish]

One more thing...I know that the motor cables were hooked up correctly because when it started to smoke....my buddy pulled everything off EXCEPT the motor cables. So when I got in the boat they were hooked up correctly and seemed to work fine...IF at least these were hooked correctly I think the rectifier should be ok...unless there is some way the current could be carried to the motor from the other cables...which I don't think there is...unless it can pick it up from the connection at the battery????

[stmichael]

I am sure that your rectifier is fine there is no connection to the starter from your accessory wires. Try running some accessories while your boat is on land, bilge pump, live well pump, radio (if equiped), and/or lights. You do not want to have any issues 100 ft. from shore.