Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

Check your grounds! On my 36-1 there was a big ground connection near the side of the engine compartment (so under the companionway steps) that had josstled itself loose and caused a ton of weird electrical issues. I'd recommend spending some time tracing the wires coming from your batteries,

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

Picture helps jog the memory. That is exactly what the panel I have as well. I remember the needle bouncing a bit when I push the glow plug button, but I don’t think it went to 30. Will have to check. I am glad you reminded me of that article. One thing I think I can do is run the orange

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

My ammeter had numbers just like the picture of the control panel shown in that article. The article also shows a wiring diagram. On Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 1:57 PM David Knecht via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > It is wired just like the Universal manual diagram except that the jumper

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

It is wired just like the Universal manual diagram except that the jumper for the start button was moved to the glow plug plus side so the two switches are independent and you can start without pushing the glow plug button. I don’t remember what the ammeter shows when starting but I don’t

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

How is the ammeter at the control panel wired. Does the charge current from the alternator go all the way from the alternator up to the ammeter on the instrument panel and then back to the batteries? I always felt that glow plug button was kind of special and I noticed that my ammeter showed 30

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

Here are a few answers to the comments: All of this started with replacement of old switches for new ones. Same wires but each terminal cleaned before attachment. I find it hard to believe that cleaned terminals and new switches caused a ground fault problem at some remote site that was

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

If you have a Universal M4-30 engine with associated engine control panel with ammeter this article contains some very important information for you to know. Universal Diesel Engine - Wiring Harness Upgrade - Marine How To

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

Yes, good advise. But measuring a voltage can fool you as it will not show a bad high resistance unless there is a load (i.e drawn current). Without a load, a meter could read full battery voltage available at wire ends, but with an actual load, the voltage at the wire could be significantly

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

Ahhh. The old slant 6 trick….Dave - clean all your grounds and clean and tighten all connections.  The bouncing meter is a clue to an intermittent or loose connection.  It can also be a switch oxidizing or otherwise failing.    I assume you are measuring your voltage with reference to a local

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

You need a better meter that registers volts in tenths or hundreths of volts. Sounds like the batteries are OK. Eventually you will find a bad connection between the battery and the switch and the starter. Best to eliminate those control wire harness quick connects and wire the red lead

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

Hi Dave, what brand engine is it? We will assume you have the key switch right. Sounds like a bad connection of some sort, since your starter has been giving you issues I would check there first. Many engines receive all of their power at the main starter terminal. A poor connection there or

Stus-List Re: Start panel mystery

More diagnosis- I found that when I checked the voltage at the engine panel ammeter (where power comes to the panel), it was 12V. When I checked at the input side of the key switch it was 12 V. When I turned the key switch on, I got 10V on the other pole of the key switch and everywhere