If your emergency bilge pump is controlled by a mechanical float switch, then 
it should not be drawing current. If the control is
electronic then the spark you see may be from the charging of a power smoothing 
capacitor. The capacitor once charged should not
draw significant current, but you can check it easily with a multimeter.

Do you have any electronics with an internal clock, that is maintained by the 
battery and bypasses the battery switch? A lot of
car sterios are like that. I would track down whatever it is in any case. It 
might be ok, but I would want to know.

Steve Thomas


-----Original Message-----
From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com]On Behalf Of David Knecht
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2013 11:34 PM
To: CnC CnC discussion list
Subject: Re: Stus-List Starting a Universal


I wanted to report back to the list on what is hopefully the resolution of my 
engine starting problems. To recap, I was having
intermittent problems where pressing the start switch led to nothing until last 
week when I could not get it to turn over at all.
Following various list suggestions, I started with the engine panel and found 
that the start switch seemed to be working fine and
the contacts looked clean.  I looked at the starter and solenoid and it was so 
hard to get to the contacts that I passed on that
possibility for the time being.  I then had a discussion with the mechanic at 
the broker where I bought the boat and he said that
in his experience 9/10 times the problem was the engine ground connection.  So 
I went back to the boat and took that apart and
cleaned the cable ends.  When I tried the starter again, the engine turned over 
immediately and started up.  So I think the
problem is solved.  It was a PITA job as usual with engines, since the 
placement of the ground connection forced me to rest
sideways with my head supporting my upper body while my hips and legs rested on 
the rear mattress.  I am beginning the think that
if I have a next boat, engine access will become my primary concern over 
sailing characteristics.
One unresolved issue I would like advice on.  When I took the ground wires (3) 
off the engine I got a significant spark as they
were pulled away from the block.  The same thing happened when I tried to 
reconnect them.  I resorted to disconnecting the
batteries until I had the ground back in place.  This was with the battery 
switch off, so nothing should have been powered except
the emergency bilge pump.  The mechanic seemed unconcerned when I reported back 
to him, but I wonder if anyone has an idea what
the presence of this apparently live circuit means.
Thanks for all the help from the list resolving this issue.  Dave


On Jul 6, 2013, at 8:20 PM, Chuck S <cscheaf...@comcast.net> wrote:


_______________________________________________
This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album
http://www.cncphotoalbum.com
CnC-List@cnc-list.com

Reply via email to