I took my cover off today to fill the motor with oil and discovered this. It appears as if there was a small fire under the cowl. (It's a 2003 Merc 50hp 2 stroke.) I have no idea if this was a random problem and happened the last time I went out or caused by the on-board charger. It looks like it started at the voltage regulator.
The last time I went out in the boat, the main battery died when we were at our duck hunting spot. I went to start it up and it would only crank over a few times. (I hadn't charged the battery fully, but it started fine in the morning and expected it to charge enough on the boat ride out.) To get home, I moved the trolling motor battery back to use it. When I cranked it, the battery sparked and smoked a little at the terminals. I thought the spark might have come from loose connection, but the terminals seemed tight, so I disconnected the accessory wires from the battery just in case. I only had the motor wires connected. It started fine and ran perfectly for the 30 minute boat ride home. Tilt worked fine.
One thought is that I crossed wired it somehow, but I really doubt it. The wires are positioned where it would be hard to do. It didn't spark until I cranked it.
At no point did I ever smell anything in the garage. I was thinking that if there was a charger issue, it would have caused a smell in the garage.
Has anyone experienced this problem? I am obviously concerned that this is going to be a huge bill. I suspect 90% if the wiring in the motor will need to be replaced, the voltage regulator and rev limiter at a minimum.
I plan to take it in tomorrow, but please let me know if you have seen this before and what it took to fix it.
thanks!
KRS
The last time I went out in the boat, the main battery died when we were at our duck hunting spot. I went to start it up and it would only crank over a few times. (I hadn't charged the battery fully, but it started fine in the morning and expected it to charge enough on the boat ride out.) To get home, I moved the trolling motor battery back to use it. When I cranked it, the battery sparked and smoked a little at the terminals. I thought the spark might have come from loose connection, but the terminals seemed tight, so I disconnected the accessory wires from the battery just in case. I only had the motor wires connected. It started fine and ran perfectly for the 30 minute boat ride home. Tilt worked fine.
One thought is that I crossed wired it somehow, but I really doubt it. The wires are positioned where it would be hard to do. It didn't spark until I cranked it.
At no point did I ever smell anything in the garage. I was thinking that if there was a charger issue, it would have caused a smell in the garage.
Has anyone experienced this problem? I am obviously concerned that this is going to be a huge bill. I suspect 90% if the wiring in the motor will need to be replaced, the voltage regulator and rev limiter at a minimum.
I plan to take it in tomorrow, but please let me know if you have seen this before and what it took to fix it.
thanks!
KRS