Where's the ground?

Arminius

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2019
1,059
Seattle
Boat Info
Bowrider 200 Select, 2003
Engines
5.0L MPI, 260 hp w/Alpha 1 Drive
2003 Select 200. Is there a ground block or heavy grounding point under the dash? I'm finishing up the installation of docking lights with Positive from the extra Acc lead of the fuse box but about to go searching with my VOM for negative. Maybe the screws holding the box to the firewall?
 
There should be a ground strip somewhere near the fuse box, look at the other items and see where they ground. I did the same thing on my 185 when I installed cockpit lighting, wired them to the ACC fuse, used the common ground the other switches connected to, and installed a Carling switch in a blank spot to match the existing switches.
 
These are LEDs, low amp units. The boat manual's schematic draws in a typical ground block but where? Other low amp projects have been grounded with a ring terminal on one of the hold down machine screws behind an instrument. Not entirely shipshape but easily understandable later.
 
I couldn't find a good ground nor had I planned ahead. But the #8 winch ground I had added was routed across the top of the pocket behind the port docking light so I jumped them together. Now the red wire hanging out of the fuse box is not switched (as I had believed for years), just fused. Do I find the orange wire for the wipers I don't have or ponder what the button icon with the screen and oscilloscope wave might do (lower star.) and what color wire relates?
 
I couldn't find a good ground nor had I planned ahead. But the #8 winch ground I had added was routed across the top of the pocket behind the port docking light so I jumped them together. Now the red wire hanging out of the fuse box is not switched (as I had believed for years), just fused. Do I find the orange wire for the wipers I don't have or ponder what the button icon with the screen and oscilloscope wave might do (lower star.) and what color wire relates?
I believe your manual points out that that is for a fresh water system pump? I assume that's what you're talking about, anyways. Like Scof said, it makes no difference whether you use the non-existent wiper switch or the non-existent water system switch. You just need to get into the 12V output side of the EIM - the switching is already pre-wired.
 
It was the thick orange wire. The lower starboard fresh water pump switch would not light up and no green wires were in the loom. There was a black ground. But I've got a good circuit here with the immediate ground to the heavy winch lead back to the battery and this wiper circuit that is fused at 10 amps. Better get a label on it.
 
Wipers should have an unused orange wire. Fresh water pump is that oscilloscope button I identified above which could have the universal fresh water code of green. http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/what-is-this-button.86598/
We get in the Jeep and Susan always asks which button is the butt-warmer? Guys gotta know their buttons.
It was the thick orange wire. The lower starboard fresh water pump switch would not light up and no green wires were in the loom. There was a black ground. But I've got a good circuit here with the immediate ground to the heavy winch lead back to the battery and this wiper circuit that is fused at x amps. Better get a label on it.

Who is Susan?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,946
Messages
1,422,759
Members
60,929
Latest member
Henchman
Back
Top