Blowing fuses in my Auto pilot.

[Hoohaa]

Well. I am pretty hopeless at electronics.
I am trying to find out why the fuse inside my Auto pilot control Box
Currently the unit gets 12 Volt power directly from a buss and it the returns directly to the earth buss. The fuse in the unit is 1.5 amp but I and using 2 amp.
There is an additional breaker switch that I can run it through (5amp). But it blows every time it's used.
Any ideas?

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

Well. I am pretty hopeless at electronics.
I am trying to find out why the fuse inside my Auto pilot control Box
Currently the unit gets 12 Volt power directly from a buss and it the returns directly to the earth buss. The fuse in the unit is 1.5 amp but I and using 2 amp.
There is an additional breaker switch that I can run it through (5amp). But it blows every time it's used.
Any ideas?Attachment 204201Attachment 204202

Fuse in the unit blows whenever power is hooked up.
I have disconnected all of the systems that run off the control Box. motor, compass,remote, ECT. So it's not them.

[Hoohaa]

This is a really crude sketch of the circuit.
I am not even shore that the switch and breaker do anything.
I can unplug the control unit, effectively taking it out of the system and the fuse at the switch continues to blow the instant the power is connected?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

This is a really crude sketch of the circuit.
I am not even shore that the switch and breaker do anything.
I can unplug the control unit, effectively taking it out of the system and the fuse at the switch continues to blow the instant the power is connected?Attachment 204203

If that circuit is drawn as it really is, then, yes the fuse will blow every time the switch is on.

As drawn, the switch is putting a short circuit via the fuse directly across the battery.

Either you have drawn it incorrectly or the person who wired it was a complete idiot!

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

Fuse in the unit blows whenever power is hooked up.
I have disconnected all of the systems that run off the control Box. motor, compass,remote, ECT. So it's not them.

Your control box is faulty.
Can you see any burnt areas inside it or any smell of burnt components?

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Your control box is faulty.
Can you see any burnt areas inside it or any smell of burnt components?

I can only assume that I am the complete idiot.
But you have already explained why the switch is blowing.
I will take it out of the system and see if the fuse within the unit blows. Pretty shore I have tried that already. Report back soon.
Can't smell anything burnt out in the unit.

[Hoohaa]

Blew the internal fuse instantly. With the external switch completely disconnected

[Wotname]

Opps, didn't think that you might have wired the switch like that - sorry to be so blunt!

But it is what it is

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

Blew the internal fuse instantly. With the external switch completely disconnected

Here is a pic of the unit. Looks good to my untrained eye.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

Blew the internal fuse instantly. With the external switch completely disconnected

Yep, the control box is faulty ASSUMING you have the polarity correct!

And assuming you have put the +ve and -ve wires on the correct terminals.

Have you got some better photos showing how you have connected the wires on the control box end.

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

Here is a pic of the unit. Looks good to my untrained eye. Attachment 204204Attachment 204205

This is the only thing that looks like it may have some damage. It's the sensitivity nob.
Is it possible to check these board's?

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Opps, didn't think that you might have wired the switch like that - sorry to be so blunt!

But it is what it is

Be as Blunt as you want.
It's hasn't worked since we put in the new engine and it's probably a casualty of the effort to rewire the engine controls.

[Wotname]

I have just downloaded an installation / operational manual for the unit and the wiring is pretty simple but going from what is written in the manual, it is ESSENTIAL to get the polarity right when connecting the power wires.

At this stage, if you connect only the two power wires direct to the +ve and -ve buss and the internal fuse blows, then you do have a faulty component in the control box.

You could try measuring the resistance between the two pins of the power connector while it is DISCONNECTED from the battery (with a new fuse fitted). If is a short circuit (zero or 1 or 2 ohms), then that confirms what we already know - it is stuffed

I will now look online for a schematic of the control box to see what potentially might have burnt out if the polarity was reversed.

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Yep, the control box is faulty ASSUMING you have the polarity correct!

And assuming you have put the +ve and -ve wires on the correct terminals.

Have you got some better photos showing how you have connected the wires on the control box end.

I can confirm that the polarity is correct. I can see the positive on the board and have worked back with the ohms Meyer yo check the wiring.
So it's looking like the board. Need to do some research.

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by Wotname

I have just downloaded an installation / operational manual for the unit and the wiring is pretty simple but going from what is written in the manual, it is ESSENTIAL to get the polarity right when connecting the power wires.

At this stage, if you connect only the two power wires direct to the +ve and -ve buss and the internal fuse blows, then you do have a faulty component in the control box.

You could try measuring the resistance between the two pins of the power connector while it is DISCONNECTED from the battery (with a new fuse fitted). If is a short circuit (zero or 1 or 2 ohms), then that confirms what we already know - it is stuffed

I will now look online for a schematic of the control box to see what potentially might have burnt out if the polarity was reversed.

Measuring the ohm's is my way of measuring the resistance. So having done that I am shore I haven't reversed the polarity.