Re: catalina27-talk: Battery / Electrical Problem

[Ralph E. Ahseln]

Gerhard,   One of the basic rules of Troubleshooting is to  go to the source and check every connection on the route to the Termination. Visual inspections are poor but can help "Locate" the path. Get, and learn how to  Operate a test voltmeter  A simple MULTIMETER Using a  Voltmeter/Multimeter is the best (at your stage of search) way to solve electrical problems .  A "Multimeter" has a DC and/or an AC voltmeter scale you  can use to Test any electrical circuit on board.. It's an "Easy to Learn ".. Tool..  One which you really don't have to know much about Electrics to be able to use.    When you know how to operate the Voltmeter/Multimeter...... Follow a path such as:   Black (negative) ( - ) ..   on a voltmeter..  Secure it to the Negative post of the battery.   Red (positive)  ( + ) ..     on the voltmeter..   First touch the Positive terminal of the battery. You should see at least 12 Volts on the meter scale. If NOT , You have a Bad Battery.. It could be Internally Shorted.. If YES, ... Trace that wire (cable)  to EACH place it is attached by touching the Red (positive) test probe of the meter. You, again, Should read approx.  12 Volts  at every connection from the Battery to the Switch.. If NO,... There may be a Cable problem (unlikely)..  If you read 12 volts AT the switch, Turn to "2" or "Both" . I If NO 12 volts there, ... You have a bad switch .. OR... the cables have been connected Wrong..   I suspect the switch .. because when on " 1 " it works.. But NOT on "Both"  .. "Both" Should connect "1" to your starter .. so if it isn't..   Well  .. sure sounds like the Main Switch.. Busted or Mis-connected...   But,be advised,  Long distance Troubleshooting.. and with little other info known........    My guess is worth about as much as you are paying ....  LOL   Best Luck,   Ralph ahseln Oblio Gresham OR           From: Goss, Gerhard To: catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 3:27 PM Subject: catalina27-talk: Battery / Electrical Problem My Atomic4 starts fine with main switch on “1” but is absolutely dead silent on “2” and on “ALL”.  That can’t be right.  Anybody out there with a recommendation where to look (besides dead battery)?   Both batteries are marine house batteries that were installed this year in April.  The ignition switch is brand new.  And I don’t know anything about electricity   Gerhard Goss “The Mystic” 1981 #4882 Macatawa/Holland, Michigan