Carver Owners Forum

Hello i have a carver 3207 thinking about the upper helm and converting it to Push to start. Does anyone have a wiring diagram so i can take a better look at the idea? i'm thinking i'm probably going to need a on off switch for acc mode. i wish I could just go to the boat and look but i cant... does anyone know how many wires are on the back of the ignition?

Did exactly that on my previous boat. Most boat ignitions are as simple as they get, only 3 wires. Connect the ignition wire to hot and simply touch the starter (solenoid wire) to hot until it starts, once going you unhook the start wire and you are golden. Piece of cake.

I used a combination of a momentary for start and latching for ignition push buttons. Works great back then and still does today.

Midnightsun wrote:Source of the post Did exactly that on my previous boat. Most boat ignitions are as simple as they get, only 3 wires. Connect the ignition wire to hot and simply touch the starter to hot until it starts, once going you unhook the start wire and you are golden. Piece of cake.
I used a combination of a momentary for start and latching for ignition push buttons. Works great back then and still does today.

Awesome so what do you mean unhook the start wire¿ Wouldn't The switch release when you let go can't wait to work on this.

The switches do all the work, no need to unhook anything. I was referring to the functioning of them as if you were hot wiring a boat without switches.

Midnightsun wrote:Source of the post The switches do all the work, no need to unhook anything. I was referring to the functioning of them as if you were hot wiring a boat without switches.

So how do you turn the engines off?

You need an on/off switch. Either pushbutton, toggle, or rocker to turn the ignition circuit on or off. You also need a momentary on switch such as pushbutton, toggle, or rocker for the start circuit. Switch the ignition circuit on, then activate the momentary start switch. When the engine starts, let go of the switch. To stop the engine, turn off the ignition switch. Clear as mud?

Viper wrote:Source of the post You need an on/off switch. Either pushbutton, toggle, or rocker to turn the ignition circuit on or off. You also need a momentary on switch such as pushbutton, toggle, or rocker for the start circuit. Switch the ignition circuit on, then activate the momentary start switch. When the engine starts, let go of the switch. To stop the engine, turn off the ignition switch. Clear as mud?

lol ok i got it a toggle switch is what i was thinking at the start. but ok i i will map it out and order the start Buttons Thank you .

Viper is dead on.

I guess my wording threw you off. A latching switch is an ON/Off switch which is what turns the ignition on and keeps it on. When you turn it off it will turn off the engine since you cut the ignition source.

Yes, I've seen this first hand. What was really cool was that there are no more need for keys. Also, if you want, put the ignition toggles where they are hidden, (deterant) for some else to start the boat.

When I first thought this out there were several comments on another forum on how anyone could easily steal the boat. However I thought to my self nobody will figure out how the push buttons work as this is obviously a one of a kind. I also though about putting in a hidden switch which would either kill battery power or ignition to the switch. Nothing fancy or well hidden, in fact you could just use an unused accessory switch as nobody would know this switch activates the ignition circuit. Keys are so passé.

If anyone feels that keys will prevent theft on a boat think again, the circuit is so simple anyone with minimal electrical knowhow can hot wire a boat in minutes. The newer boats and outboards are getting rather complex though.

2 jumper wires and access to the rear of the switch and I will have her started faster than you can pull the keys out of your pocket and use them.