Engine Wiring
Many older boats have unreliable, inefficient, unsafe wiring harnesses. Typical issues include:
- high current in the wiring harnesses for older style ammeters at the helm
- high current in the start circuit
- high current in the glow plug circuit
- multiple, unnecessary, trailer style plugs
- unnecessary extension wiring harnesses
- unreliable alarm systems
- excessive amount of wiring. Our last job we replaced over 1,000 of wire with about 200 feet of wire total to do the same job.
- Inadequate fusing relying on one large fuse too big to protect the smaller wires of the harness.
We often recommend complete replacement of the engine wiring harness with new gage and alarm packages.
The investment is worth it, considering the price to replace an engine.
IHT recommends:
- low current start circuits with solenoids to run the starter
- low current ammeter circuits with shunts to measure the current
- low current in the glow plug circuit using a solenoid
- individual alarm circuits for temperature and oil pressure
- direct runs without plugs
- fuses for every wire
- automatic charging relays to charge the house battery
