Electrical Problems

[pmartinelli]

My boat is a 1990 - 34' Catalina, with a Universal Marine Diesel Engine Model No. 35.

Last weekend the boat engine would not shutdown and burned up the starter, which I have replaced.  After installing a new starter and new starter switch, and turning on the power, the starter would start automatically.  I traced the current from the batteries to the 8 Prong Connector located in the engine compartment, which was fine, but on the other side of this 8 Prong Plug, which is rectangular in shape, there was no power to starter switch, nor was there any power to the boat itself.  When I turned the power switch from the number 1, to the number 2 or all there was not current at all.

It appears the this 8 Prong Plug might be damaged because of the above problem.   If it is the plug where do I find one? (the 8 Pron Plug, that resembles a trailer plug for an automobile, except it is 8 prong and one of the wires is 10-12.  I am sending pictures of the plug.

I had to turn the main Power switch off, when the engine would not stop, what problems does that cause, is the Power switch located at the nav station damaged now also?

[Ron Hill]

Peter : I hate to tell you, but the lack of the "engine wiring upgrade" just bit $$ you!!
Look at our web site and contact Seaward (562)699-7997 for the wiring harness upgrade kit. 
It's not that difficult to install. Look in Projects for the writeup.   

[Ron Hill]

Peter : I just thought of something else you might want to consider. 
The old connectors (which are the fire hazard as well as the rerouting of the alternator output) and the new connectors are so the engine or engine instrument panel can be removed by just disconnecting the wires.  You could just "hard wire" (solder with heat shrink cover) the other connecting wires together - after rerouting the output from the alternator to the starter solenoid. 
If you ever have to remove the engine or engine instrument panel then you could cut the wires and reconnect them later on re installation.  A thought 

[Stu Jackson]

Peter:

Start reading here: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-harness-upgrade.html

With your older boat, start reading searches on this message board on "weblog" and read all of the old projects and FAQS.  You NEED to know this stuff.

Also try this:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2629.0