Freaking fuse redux

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

DO NOT GO PUTTING IN BIGGER FUSES! This is a last resort for emergencies only, and most of the time results in melted wires or fires. You need to find out where the excess current draw is by finding out what all is powered off of that circuit. It could be a bad guage or a simple chafed wire somewhere in the harness, but putting in bigger fuses could cost you your whole boat if your not careful. Fires on boats is dangerous business and not something to be taken lightly.

DAMN FERM... Now you're starting to sound like me... Safety, safety safety.. it pays off big time guys!!!

Nipper, fuses blow when there is an excess current draw flowing through them. So you need to start with the wire(s) leading to that fuse and trace it/them forwards and backwards to wherever they terminate. Your problem will be in those wires or the units they terminate to.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

DAMN FERM... Now you're starting to sound like me... Safety, safety safety.. it pays off big time guys!!!

Nipper, fuses blow when there is an excess current draw flowing through them. So you need to start with the wire(s) leading to that fuse and trace it/them forwards and backwards to wherever they terminate. Your problem will be in those wires or the units they terminate to.

When it comes to fire hazards in a boat, I'm a bit paranoid. 6 years ago I was 40 miles out from Montauk when a 43 footer we were farrying from Boston to Englewood Fl caught fire because the tops of the tanks leaked and we had just filled em to the brim in Montauk. Close to 50 gallons of diesel splashing around in the rear bildge where the generator was running splashed up into the armerture of the 8KW Westerbeke and we had smoke pouring out. Fortunately the engines running sucked enough air through them that they kept it from getting nasty since it couldn't get any air. We got it put out and finished the trip, but I'm still paranoid about electrical issues on boats from that incident.

[nipper]

Thanks, guys. I was VERY reluctant to put in bigger fuses (even the 25A and then 30A fuses at the dock the MECHANIC gave me at the dock). That's why, after the 25A blew, I put the 30A in only in an attempt to get back to the dock, to no avail. My neighbor, who was in the boat with me at the time, has been urging me to just up the amperage a bit and go with 30A fuses in the panel and the wiring harness. NOT a good idea. Even with my limited knowledge, I know that wires are only rated for a given amount of current for a reason, and that is why there is a fuse to limit the amount of current to that which the wire can handle. Given that I suspect the short is in one of the 5 wires leading to/from the ignition switch, I will begin with those and go from there.

Thanks again for your help.

[spareparts]

may be easier to rewire than to try and fine the culprit. Separate the house electricity from the engine side, pull the engine harness out and lay it on the ground where you can really see it. Look for any signs of shorts. Run a main hot wire and ground to the dash for accessories and wire from there

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

When it comes to fire hazards in a boat, I'm a bit paranoid. 6 years ago I was 40 miles out from Montauk when a 43 footer we were farrying from Boston to Englewood Fl caught fire because the tops of the tanks leaked and we had just filled em to the brim in Montauk. Close to 50 gallons of diesel splashing around in the rear bildge where the generator was running splashed up into the armerture of the 8KW Westerbeke and we had smoke pouring out. Fortunately the engines running sucked enough air through them that they kept it from getting nasty since it couldn't get any air. We got it put out and finished the trip, but I'm still paranoid about electrical issues on boats from that incident.

Glad you made it ok. Lucky the engines kept the fire down. I completely understand. My brother almost lost his life in a house fire in Maine. He and his wife survived.. the other couple that were with them did not. I had to go get them and bring them home from the hospital...saw the results of the fire. House completely gone. Been paranoid of fire ever since.