Electrical Issues

[BigDaddy]

While underway listening to the radio, my wife yells "Turn it up"....So I proceed to turn it up and all of a sudden I lose my radio all together...Also lost power to the Depth finder and half the courtesy lights...I'm pretty certain, I blew a fuse. I reset all the fuses on the helm and even crawled under the helm to check a few down there. (2008 Suntracker, 22' Regency). Anyone have any other ideas or electrical diagrams? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but this one is stumping me.

[jrolin1]

Get a meter or a test light and track your problem down. An obvious place is to check battery connections for corrosion. Many pontoons also have a 20 amp or larger fuse near the battery for the house power. I have had that one get corroded also.

[MichaelB]

You can reset breakers, you replace fuses. You've got an open somewhere. Start at the battery and work forward, or the panel and work back.

[ronb]

I just had a similar problem, engine functioned perfectly but no radio, gauges, lights, or horn. Mine tuned out to be that the quick connector on the main power switch came disconnected under the helm.

Good luck,
-ron

[belercous]

Did you check the fuse at the battery? Your stereo, if wired correctly, should have blow a fuse on the buss bar. Perhaps it wasn't. So check back at the battery. The only component, besides the gauges, which doesn't have a Buss bar fuse should be the lighter. When that one (the fuse at/near the battery) goes most of your boat won't have power. The engine should still crank & the trim indicator & fuel gauges stil should work. Even if all power is out on the Buss, your gauges would still work since they don't get their voltage off of the buss bar.

I've got an electrical schematic for a SunTracker but they're for an older & bit bigger boat. If no fuse is blown, I'd bet the trouble would be in the Buss bar grounding wire. You can likely fix this problem for under $1.00. Or you can take it to a repair shop & pay good money for a (likey) easy fix.

Just so everyone knows, the Buss bar is a piece of copper which holds the fuses, or circuit breakers. There usually is a ground side on the bar. A lot of times a bad ground wire will be the problem. If a fuse keeps blowing soon afeter a device is activated it's a sign of a short to ground.

I dunno, just my thoughts.

[BigDaddy]

Thanks guys, Looks like I have some searching to do!