1987 170 Wiring

[wingtime]

My 1987 170 has an aftermarket switch panel with toggle switches that are going bad and work intermittently.  I assume it is from water intrusion since they are not covered with boots.  Also whoever installed the panel used.... you guess it wire nuts!   :evil:  And it looked like they used grease to help keep the corrosion out.  The wires are nice marine grade wire so that part is good.





I bought this "weather resistant" panel with six Carling stye rockers and breakers to replace it:





The circuits on the current panel are:  Bilge pump, nav lights, anchor light, instrument lights, cockpit lights, aerator pump (there is no pump or livewell).

The new panel has a one 6 amp, three 10 amp, one 15 amp, and one 20 amp breakers.  I plan on combining the instrument lights and nav lights into once circuit so the dash and compass lights come on with the nav lights.  So the switches I will use will be: Bilge pump, nav lights, anchor light, and cockpit lights leaving me two available circuits.

SeaBob, what amp breakers would you recommend for those circuits?

[seabob4]

My 1987 170 has an aftermarket switch panel with toggle switches that are going bad and work intermittently.  I assume it is from water intrusion since they are not covered with boots.  Also whoever installed the panel used.... you guess it wire nuts!   :evil:  And it looked like they used grease to help keep the corrosion out.  The wires are nice marine grade wire so that part is good.





I bought this "weather resistant" panel with six Carling stye rockers and breakers to replace it:





The circuits on the current panel are:  Bilge pump, nav lights, anchor light, instrument lights, cockpit lights, aerator pump (there is no pump or livewell).

The new panel has a one 6 amp, three 10 amp, one 15 amp, and one 20 amp breakers.  I plan on combining the instrument lights and nav lights into once circuit so the dash and compass lights come on with the nav lights.  So the switches I will use will be: Bilge pump, nav lights, anchor light, and cockpit lights leaving me two available circuits.

SeaBob, what amp breakers would you recommend for those circuits?

Bruce,

Nav and inst- 5A
Anc lgt- 5A
Bilge Pmp- 10A
Cockpit lgts- 5A
(2) ACC circuits- 10A each

There you go Bruce.  If you want to tie the 12V outlet into one of the ACC breakers, step that breaker up to 15A.  Some serious spotlights can suck some juice...


Effin amazing...wire nuts.  Yeah Pete, I'd be happy with that panel...  

[wingtime]

Bob the switches are backlit..  oh duh never mind I just looked at them....  they will light up when turned on.   I was thinking of tying in the 12v out too.  I'll have to see how it is fused right now.

[wingtime]

Bob, is there a standard order for switches?  or is it just what anyone wants?  I figure the bilge pump is the one you may want to be able to get to in a hurry

[seabob4]

This is the way I do it, Bruce.  Horn far left, the nav/anc, then bilge, then whatever you want.  Might want consider swapping out one of the switches for a (mom) on/off and add a horn to the mix.  Horn would be 5A also...

[wingtime]

I was thinking of a horn too since this boat doesn't have one.  Well it has a whistle...  I could just carry an air horn.  If I do add the horn then I loose two ACC switches. HMMMM

[gran398]

Bob, is there a standard order for switches?  or is it just what anyone wants?  I figure the bilge pump is the one you may want to be able to get to in a hurry

Just a thought, but for the bilge, it may be beneficial to place it on the far left or far right...that way, you wouldn't have to "look" to search for it. You could do it by feel.

[wingtime]

Bob, is there a standard order for switches?  or is it just what anyone wants?  I figure the bilge pump is the one you may want to be able to get to in a hurry

Just a thought, but for the bilge, it may be beneficial to place it on the far left or far right...that way, you wouldn't have to "look" to search for it. You could do it by feel.

That's what I'm thinking too....  like minds.

So I'm sitting there with my dykes in hand snipping away and scratching my head.. WTF?  WHY? JEEZ....  I start following wires and next thing you know I'm head first under the console...  snip snip snip...  hmmm my toes are wet...  Well thats gonna have to go...  Gonna need a new fuse block...  I can see where Bob gets into this stuff..   Lucky for me i have American Discount marine a short bike ride away...    head on up there... come back... under the console.. damn need more stuff...  pedal back over there..  get back home and under the console...  dang my toes fee wet again...  OH you DUMB A$$   my feet were in the splashwell/scupper trough...  in that annoying inch of water that wont drain out!  DUH!

[seabob4]

And to think I love doing that stuff...  

[wingtime]

Other than the crick in my neck I enjoy it as well.  Gotta love finding  crap like this...  



Come on really?  

[pete]

Wow!Thats worse than the wire nuts!

[GoneFission]

Wow!Thats worse than the wire nuts!

No, that is wire done nuts!    

[seabob4]

If I took pics of all the goofy chit I find...photobucket wouldn't hold it all!!

[wingtime]

At first glance I thought it was soldered...  nope.  Believe it or not the wires were hard to get out so I ended up just cutting them off.

Bob you could write a book or something!

[wingtime]

Well,

I finished with the "semi" rewire of the 170.  I ended up replacing the switch panel with the new one with rocker switches, the cigar lighter, and a new fuse panel.  things are much better and safer now.  I'll post more pics but I decided to take her out on the water for a test ride...  after all if anything is going to happen its going to happen out there!  Here's a few crappy cell phone pics taken in the dark:







I'm glad with the order I chose for the switches.... I can find the bilge pump switch with my eyes closed.

BTW be sure to carry some spar parts on the boat... they may just save a trip.  I noticed the other day while idling the motor was smoking a bunch...  I was wondering if an air leak was causing the high oil ratio....  well I found the hose clamp on the fuel filter was gone!  luckily I had a clamp with me