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Author Topic:   Battery Polarity Reversal

mmyers146 posted 05-31-2007 12:03 AM ET (US)
My friend has a 1995 Boston Whaler. He removed the battery and charged it. He hooked it up backwards, turned on the battery switch. Nothing worked.
He has now switched the battery to the correct position and there is still no power. The battery check out fine. It has full power. The only thing that works is the lights on the rocker switch for the running lights. Everything else is dead.
Is there a fusible link for the entire electrical system?
Any ideas on what the [problem] may be.
Thanks
jimh posted 05-31-2007 12:19 AM ET (US)
There typically is not a fusible link, but you may be in luck. Check around. Some newer boats might have a fuse.
In most cases a battery connected backwards will immediately destroy the diodes in the alternator in the motor. That is probably about a $250 repair bill, at a minimum.
You friend's misfortune is a good demonstration of why I urge people to clearly mark all the wires and all the battery terminals with RED and YELLOW tape to identify the POSITIVE and NEGATIVE polarities and conductors. Use Scotch 35 Vinyl Electrical Tape, which can be purchased at electrical supply houses. One roll of red and one of yellow will last a lifetime of boating. You will save their modest cost 50-times over by avoiding this sort of expensive mistake.
Henry posted 05-31-2007 05:11 PM ET (US)
My 1988 Whaler has a circuit breaker. According to the wiring diagram I obtained of a typical Whaler it is original. Have you checked to see if your boat has one?
jimh posted 06-01-2007 08:04 AM ET (US)
Henry--Where is the circuit breaker located? My boat has many over current devices in it, but none of them protect the outboard motor from a battery connected in reverse polarity. I doubt that the circuit breaker in your boat protects the outboard motor starter motor or the alternator diodes.

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Author	Topic: Battery Polarity Reversal
mmyers146	posted 05-31-2007 12:03 AM ET (US) My friend has a 1995 Boston Whaler. He removed the battery and charged it. He hooked it up backwards, turned on the battery switch. Nothing worked. He has now switched the battery to the correct position and there is still no power. The battery check out fine. It has full power. The only thing that works is the lights on the rocker switch for the running lights. Everything else is dead. Is there a fusible link for the entire electrical system? Any ideas on what the [problem] may be. Thanks
jimh	posted 05-31-2007 12:19 AM ET (US) There typically is not a fusible link, but you may be in luck. Check around. Some newer boats might have a fuse. In most cases a battery connected backwards will immediately destroy the diodes in the alternator in the motor. That is probably about a $250 repair bill, at a minimum. You friend's misfortune is a good demonstration of why I urge people to clearly mark all the wires and all the battery terminals with RED and YELLOW tape to identify the POSITIVE and NEGATIVE polarities and conductors. Use Scotch 35 Vinyl Electrical Tape, which can be purchased at electrical supply houses. One roll of red and one of yellow will last a lifetime of boating. You will save their modest cost 50-times over by avoiding this sort of expensive mistake.
Henry	posted 05-31-2007 05:11 PM ET (US) My 1988 Whaler has a circuit breaker. According to the wiring diagram I obtained of a typical Whaler it is original. Have you checked to see if your boat has one?
jimh	posted 06-01-2007 08:04 AM ET (US) Henry--Where is the circuit breaker located? My boat has many over current devices in it, but none of them protect the outboard motor from a battery connected in reverse polarity. I doubt that the circuit breaker in your boat protects the outboard motor starter motor or the alternator diodes.