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power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 11:13 am
by aloysius
I do not have any power going to my port engine starting/ignition switch at the helm of my 2000 Carver 406. The starboard ignition switch has power going to it but not the port.
The port switch must be switched on to check fuel levels, transfer fuel between tanks, and who knows what else besides being used to start the port engine.
Any help would be highly appreciated.
Also, is there a wiring schematic out there for a 2000 406? My owners manual has a simple one for some of the lights and things, but nothing concerning the helm switches, gauges, and the like.

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 12:13 pm
by tomschauer
I believe you have a breaker panel under the seat in front of the helm.
Good place to start

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 12:22 pm
by bud37
I think you may have a breaker ...the white button on the dash above the switch itself ...there should be one for each switch....They are resettable....

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 1:35 pm
by aloysius
Thanks you. The two white button's above the ignition switches were a mystery up until now. Regretfully, I do not have any power at this breaker for the port switch.
Any other ideas? The line that feeds the breaker has one connection in the dashboard. I checked it thinking it might have lost connection there but it is dead also. From there the wire in question goes into a hole along with a large number of other wires.
I have checked all the breakers I know of in the galley electric panel and also under the companionway steps.

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 2:37 pm
by Viper
Don't know what brand of engines you have but there should be a breaker mounted on the engine.

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 8:16 pm
by km1125
Do you have separate battery switches for each engine? Do you have any voltage at the starter? Could have a bad battery switch too.

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 9:27 pm
by aloysius
I have Cummings engines and I have electricity to the starter. I can short across starter solenoid and the engine starts but shuts down immediately.

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 10:29 pm
by bud37
The only other simple thing that comes to mind would be the neutral safety switch.

Do you have the lower helm station ?

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 27th, 2020, 8:31 am
by aloysius
I will check the neutral safety switch itself. The switch for the starboard motor on this boat has power no matter where the starboard gear switch is. But....maybe someone has wired around that switch and not the port one. I have tried to move the port gears all over the place to start the port motor but have not actually inspected the switch down below.
Thank you for communicating your ideas. They give me confidence to carry on in my pursuit before manually following the wires through the boat maze.

Re: power to helm

Posted: July 27th, 2020, 8:57 am
by aloysius
"NO lower helm on this boat.