Boats For Sale:
Sweet! Got the wiring upgraded today |
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
diggit 
Senior Member 
Joined: August-12-2012 Location: Minneapolis MN Status: Offline Points: 135 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: Sweet! Got the wiring upgraded todayPosted: May-10-2014 at 8:52pm |
|
When I bought my '77 Ski Nautique two summers ago it came with a mid-80's motor, alternator with internal regulator, original wiring harness, and an ammeter. Needless to say, there was no charge going to the battery.
Today, after living it with for almost two years and just trickle charging the battery in between sessions, I upgraded the wiring harness with the upgrade kit from skidim: http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RK173070 And found a vintage voltmeter that ~almost~ matches perfectly: http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m2GiZ5cylIKRvNcZQMdb-Tw.jpg And lo and behold, everything worked! Now that's a good Saturday. |
|
|
'93 Ski Nautique Black/Teal
'77 Ski Nautique. Loved it. Let it Go. |
|
 |
|
|
8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah 
Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-10-2014 at 9:18pm |
|
|
|
Orlando76
Grand Poobah
Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-11-2014 at 10:33am |
|
Ahh, the age old Voltmeter vs ammeter debate. I think a voltmeter is a better route but stuck with my ammeter because it's original.
|
|
|
|
|
Bri892001
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-27-2008 Location: Boston MA Status: Offline Points: 4945 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-11-2014 at 12:34pm |
|
Pete, I remember the old thread on this and I couldn't find it. Oh wait, here it is, I found it:
http://correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31051 The big questions that brought the thread to a stop, is how do you make the ammeter work without the external voltage regulator? It seemed to me that the Ammeter-External-Voltage-Regular deal was one setup, and that the New-Style-Alt-Internal-Reg-Voltameter was another setup. And you had to pick one or the other. I'm sure there's a workaround out there, but no one had one at the time. I say, congratulations on getting it figured it out and charging. I'm glad there was a solution that allows you to use the boat 
|
|
|
|
|
TRBenj
Grand Poobah
Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21108 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-11-2014 at 8:28pm |
|
Those 2 things should have nothing to do with one another. Using an ammeter simply requires you to run the output of the alternator to the ammeter first, then to all of your loads after that- otherwise it won't read what is actually being drawn. It requires a dedicated set of wires in the harness, and you can't tie the orange (alt) to the red (batt) on the engine side (this is how boats with voltmeters are commonly wired).
|
|
|
|
|
8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-11-2014 at 9:38pm |
What is actually being drawn or discharged is the key. A volt meter will not tell you that, The drawback to the amp meter is the heavy gauge wire needed to and from the meter. That's why the OEM's went to the volt meter!! They went CHEAP!!! |
|
|
|
|
diggit
Senior Member
Joined: August-12-2012 Location: Minneapolis MN Status: Offline Points: 135 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-11-2014 at 9:42pm |
|
I'm just stoked that I was able to take off my old wiring harness, effectively neutering the boat, and then put a new one on and have it not only start up again, but actually charge a battery now! :)
I do have one question though... Under the dash there's both an orange and a red wire coming up from the harness and were both on the same pole on the ammeter. The orange then feeds to all the fuses/switches. Seeing this, I taped up the red wire under the dash. Everything seems to be working correctly. Is this the right thing to do? All the references I've seen talk about taping up the orange wire... |
|
|
'93 Ski Nautique Black/Teal
'77 Ski Nautique. Loved it. Let it Go. |
|
|
|
|
MustangMadness
Senior Member
Joined: April-15-2014 Location: Seacoast NH Status: Offline Points: 114 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-11-2014 at 10:19pm |
|
Here's a couple wiring harness images from my 1976 Mustang, One is under the dash and the other is the engine diagram. I hope they help.
 and 
|
|
|
|
|
Bri892001
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-27-2008 Location: Boston MA Status: Offline Points: 4945 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-14-2014 at 7:39pm |
|
Thanks for the harness images Terry.
Between that and the explanations from Tim and Pete, it makes more sense now. |
|
|
|
|
diggit
Senior Member
Joined: August-12-2012 Location: Minneapolis MN Status: Offline Points: 135 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-16-2014 at 2:24am |
|
Ditto on thumbs up for the harness images. Totally makes sense now!
|
|
|
'93 Ski Nautique Black/Teal
'77 Ski Nautique. Loved it. Let it Go. |
|
|
|
|
MustangMadness
Senior Member
Joined: April-15-2014 Location: Seacoast NH Status: Offline Points: 114 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May-16-2014 at 8:38am |
You're most welcome; we aim to please.. 
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
Tweet
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options
TRBenj wrote: