Electrical Switch

[bassemir]

Q1: where can a replacement electrical switch be purchased for the panel on a 1991 Outrage 17?

Q2: where can an entire replacement electrical switch panel for a 1991 OUTRAGE 17 be purchased?

The switch panel has two bad switches, one for a pump and one for the VHF radio

The bad switches do not illuminate.

The bad switch do not provide 12-Volt power to their loads.

The band switch are rocker switch that illuminate when ON.

[jimh]

Contact your local Boston Whaler dealer for help in locating a replacement switch for your particular boat.

Typically the switches are not made by Boston Whaler and are available via many sources.

The problem with sourcing the switch independently is you must identify the manufacturer of the switch, the exact model of the switch, the exact action of the switch, and the particular illumination characteristics. Also if there is a LEGEND on the switch itself, this will be another option.

Specifying a rocker switch with illumination is actually quite a complicated process.

Typically if you disassemble the panel and remove the two switches that need replacement, you may be able to find a part number on the switch.

Also, it is entirely possible that the fault with the switch is not in the switch itself but is caused by a poor connection to the switch. Before trying to buy a new switch or an entire switch panel, you should carefully inspect the rear side of the panel to make sure there are no loose connections associated with the two bad switches.

[bassemir]

Thanks jimh. I pulled the switch panel out and removed one of the switches. I tested the switch like you suggested and it is bad.

I will contact a local dealer.

[Phil T]

The original dash switches for the Outrage 17 I were push-pull Cole Hersee switches.

Through the years, owners have upgraded switches to include rocker style.

A good vendor of switches and panels is http://www.newwiremarine.com

Many Whaler owners have used them and I highly recommend them for their product offering, quality service, fabrication, reasonable prices, and efficient shipping.

They also have a switch panel and a semi-custom and fully custom fabrication service.

The VHF does not require a switch and should be wired to the bus with an inline [7.5-Ampere] fuse.

[jimh]

If the switches--which so far are unseen and undescribed--are pull-ON switches with brass knobs, they are problably Cole-Hersee switches. For more information about Cole-Hersee switches as used by Boston Whaler to control various electrical circuits on a classic era Boston Whaler boat, see this article I wrote in 2016 on that topic:

COLE-HERSEE Switches
https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2410

If an electrical switch has only two positions, OFF and ON, the designation is SPST for single-pole, single-throw. The normal position (pushed in) is the OPEN circuit position. When the switch is operated (pulled out) the switch contacts close and energize the circuit they are controlling. A COLE-HERSEE switch that has this configuration is their model M-482. See

https://www.littelfuse.com/products/swi ... m_482.aspx

You can find links to other Cole-Hersee switches in the article I have linked to above.

[Phil T]

Here are two photos for comparison.

Fig. 1. Original helm console panels, switches, ignition and throttle from a 1993 Outrage 17.

RyanVo_console.jpeg (57.15 KiB) Viewed 2349 times

Fig. 2. New KING StarBoard panels, BPR gauges, ignition switch, and a custom switch panel with select switches I designed and ordered from New Wire Marine.

1992Outrage17_New_panels_new_gauges.jpeg (51.62 KiB) Viewed 2349 times

[jimh]

The electrical switches in Figure 1 are at the lower right of the steerning wheel and are hard to see. They look like rocker switches, not COLE-HERSEE push-pull switches.

Boston Whaler typically used rocker switches from CARLING of the CONTURA family. Marine rocker switches can be very complicated in their designations, and many options are available for them. The options include:

• the basic switch action, which can be two-position or three-position, with the contact action being momentary or continuous, single throw or double throw, single pole or double pole and combinations of those arrangements;
• the electrical switch contacts and their arrangements;
• the type of terminals on the switch housing, and
• the option for switch illumination, including multiple color of illumination, and the inclusion of additional contacts for control of illumination.

A further difficulty in specifying a particular marine rocker switch is the actual switch mechanism and the physical rocker exposed actuating surface can be ordered separately and combined in many ways.

Because so many options for CARLING CONTURA rocker switches are possible, it is impossible to deduce from the narrative provided so far what the part number would be for a replacement switch.

The best approach in getting a replacement Is to make a careful visual inspection of the existing switch for evidence of a part number, then try to obtain an identical replacement from that manufacturer using that part number.

If no identifying marks remain visible, then locate a vendor who will let you send them the existing switch and they can deduce a replacement for it .