Diagnosis of Loss of Electrical Power Distribution

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Small Boat Electrical
  Diagnosis of Loss of Electrical Power Distribution

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Diagnosis of Loss of Electrical Power Distribution

nats posted 06-04-2013 06:39 PM ET (US)
Got a 2006 Montauk 170. New battery, was running good the other day. Now I have no electrical power. Checked the dc main breaker under the console and it was poped out.checked all wires they are clean and tight. anyone have any suggestions on what I should look for or do thanks.
jimh posted 06-04-2013 07:48 PM ET (US)
Read this article in the REFERENCE Section:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/electricStart.html
Perform the procedure described under the sub-heading Electrical Diagnostic Technique.
Chuck Tribolet posted 06-05-2013 12:04 AM ET (US)
Does the battery have good voltage?
And if the breaker was tripped, it's a short to ground, not
an open (e.g. loose connection). And if there's a main
breaker and then some smaller fuses/breakers, and none of
the smaller are blown/tripped the short is somewhere that's
not past the smaller (they would likely blow/trip before the
main.
Where was the boat between when things worked and when they
didn't? Did anybody work on it?

Chuck
swist posted 06-05-2013 07:50 AM ET (US)
For one thing, you didn't say what happens if you try to reset it? Does it trip again?
And in addition to the advice previously offered, I would mention that I have the same boat, one year older, and my main breaker broke when the boat was 4 or 5 years old (would not reset). I wasn't impressed with the robustness of the unit - I believe I replaced it with a better one.
Bad breakers are insidious because usually you don't suspect them and waste time chasing down all sorts of other things.
jimh posted 06-05-2013 11:40 AM ET (US)
The Boston Whaler company has published the electrical schematic diagram for your boat. Having the electrical schematic diagram is priceless in performing electric power distribution problem diagnosis. See
http://whalerparts.com/Diagrams/2006/170%20Montauk/0740117MTKsht1.pdf
Armed with a multi-meter, the schematic diagram, knowledge of electrical circuits, ability to read a schematic, and the skills of an electrical technician, you should be able to locate the problem without too much difficulty.
jimh posted 06-05-2013 12:51 PM ET (US)
If the primary power distribution circuit breaker has tripped open, the normal cause would be due to excessive current flowing in the circuit. However, it can occur that the circuit breaker itself is defective and has tripped open without any abnormal condition in the circuit.
It is difficult to test a circuit breaker for response to current without having test equipment that can generate a variable current flow and being able to accurate measure that current, recording when the circuit breaker trips, that temperature, how much time, and so on, and comparing them to the original specifications for the circuit breaker. If the primary power distribution circuit breaker seems to be operating abnormally, it may be expedient to just replace it, rather than to invest in all the equipment, time, and expense of testing it.
nats posted 06-06-2013 10:16 AM ET (US)
The problem was a wire shorted, trace and replaced the wire and harness. replace the main breaker and so far so good. Thanks for the input
jimh posted 06-06-2013 01:03 PM ET (US)
Was the wire conductor that short circuited and blew the primary power distribution circuit breaker part of the OEM wiring from Boston Whaler? Or was it something added after the boat left the factory?

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Diagnosis of Loss of Electrical Power Distribution
nats	posted 06-04-2013 06:39 PM ET (US) Got a 2006 Montauk 170. New battery, was running good the other day. Now I have no electrical power. Checked the dc main breaker under the console and it was poped out.checked all wires they are clean and tight. anyone have any suggestions on what I should look for or do thanks.
jimh	posted 06-04-2013 07:48 PM ET (US) Read this article in the REFERENCE Section: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/electricStart.html Perform the procedure described under the sub-heading Electrical Diagnostic Technique.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 06-05-2013 12:04 AM ET (US) Does the battery have good voltage? And if the breaker was tripped, it's a short to ground, not an open (e.g. loose connection). And if there's a main breaker and then some smaller fuses/breakers, and none of the smaller are blown/tripped the short is somewhere that's not past the smaller (they would likely blow/trip before the main. Where was the boat between when things worked and when they didn't? Did anybody work on it? Chuck
swist	posted 06-05-2013 07:50 AM ET (US) For one thing, you didn't say what happens if you try to reset it? Does it trip again? And in addition to the advice previously offered, I would mention that I have the same boat, one year older, and my main breaker broke when the boat was 4 or 5 years old (would not reset). I wasn't impressed with the robustness of the unit - I believe I replaced it with a better one. Bad breakers are insidious because usually you don't suspect them and waste time chasing down all sorts of other things.
jimh	posted 06-05-2013 11:40 AM ET (US) The Boston Whaler company has published the electrical schematic diagram for your boat. Having the electrical schematic diagram is priceless in performing electric power distribution problem diagnosis. See http://whalerparts.com/Diagrams/2006/170%20Montauk/0740117MTKsht1.pdf Armed with a multi-meter, the schematic diagram, knowledge of electrical circuits, ability to read a schematic, and the skills of an electrical technician, you should be able to locate the problem without too much difficulty.
jimh	posted 06-05-2013 12:51 PM ET (US) If the primary power distribution circuit breaker has tripped open, the normal cause would be due to excessive current flowing in the circuit. However, it can occur that the circuit breaker itself is defective and has tripped open without any abnormal condition in the circuit. It is difficult to test a circuit breaker for response to current without having test equipment that can generate a variable current flow and being able to accurate measure that current, recording when the circuit breaker trips, that temperature, how much time, and so on, and comparing them to the original specifications for the circuit breaker. If the primary power distribution circuit breaker seems to be operating abnormally, it may be expedient to just replace it, rather than to invest in all the equipment, time, and expense of testing it.
nats	posted 06-06-2013 10:16 AM ET (US) The problem was a wire shorted, trace and replaced the wire and harness. replace the main breaker and so far so good. Thanks for the input
jimh	posted 06-06-2013 01:03 PM ET (US) Was the wire conductor that short circuited and blew the primary power distribution circuit breaker part of the OEM wiring from Boston Whaler? Or was it something added after the boat left the factory?