Jim Marshall
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- Joined
- Aug 30, 2001
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Ok, electical experts, two questions for you. The other day, after just launching my well-used '88 TV-17, smoke started coming from under the console. There must have been some kind of short, and the insulation was literally melting off of the wires. I found the hottest wire (ouch) and cut it. Smoke stops, everything's cool, courtesy lights don't work, so there's the culprit, right?
Here are my questions...
1) Shouldn't the fuse have blown? I'm in the process of replacing all the fuses now, but I'd like to know what amp fuses you use on accessories, lights, sonar, GPS, bilge, livewell, etc. 5 amp? 10 amp? What do you have in your boat?
2) Could a bad voltage regulator have caused this meltdown? The meter regularly reads 13-15 amps when idling. Could the charging circuit send too much juice, causing a problem like this? I'm changing out all the toasted wiring from under the console (my aching neck!), but I wanted to eliminate the regulator as the trouble spot.
Thanks for any advice...
Jim
Here are my questions...
1) Shouldn't the fuse have blown? I'm in the process of replacing all the fuses now, but I'd like to know what amp fuses you use on accessories, lights, sonar, GPS, bilge, livewell, etc. 5 amp? 10 amp? What do you have in your boat?
2) Could a bad voltage regulator have caused this meltdown? The meter regularly reads 13-15 amps when idling. Could the charging circuit send too much juice, causing a problem like this? I'm changing out all the toasted wiring from under the console (my aching neck!), but I wanted to eliminate the regulator as the trouble spot.
Thanks for any advice...
Jim