Access to "Acc" switch on Helm panel

[gerryb]

Anyone find an easy way to access the Elec Distribution panel to use the "Acc" switch on the Helm Panel to power-up an electronic accessory? Looks like I have to take the box out to run the wiring into it. I'm going to use the dist box on the starboard side, under the shifters.

 

[boatmailster]

Anyone find an easy way to access the Elec Distribution panel to use the "Acc" switch on the Helm Panel to power-up an electronic accessory? Looks like I have to take the box out to run the wiring into it. I'm going to use the dist box on the starboard side, under the shifters.

check your wiring diagram
there is already wire attached to plug on ED box but is buried among other wires
You can try to contact sea ray to find number labeled on that wire

 

[Hampton]

Did you get the answer to this? I'm trying to find out the same thing.

 

[bluebelly]

on my 04 340, the unused switches on the helm panel already had wires attached them. The wiring diagram in the owners manual indicated the three digit number that is taped to the end of the unused wire. I was able to wire accessories to all four unused helm switches, including my underwater lights that I added to the transom. On this boat, two of the wires were found in the engine room bundled up with a bunch of other active wires. The other two wires were found behind the cup holder/map holder on the starboard side of the helm seat. Hope this helps.

 

[Hampton]

That helps a lot, thank you! Did you have to put a fuse in line, or is that already covered before the switch? Did you need a relay?

 

[bluebelly]

No fuse needed since the helm switches are "FUSED" by way of the black box with white buttons that is mounted under the helm behind the swing down door under the steering wheel. You will see corresponding amp values for each switch on this black box also. Some were 5 or 10 amp and a couple were 15 amp. My underwater lights were twin 50 watt xenon that on start up would draw about 25 amps for the first 5 to 8 seconds and after they settled in they would draw a combined 7.5 amps. If I remember correctly the helm switch marked acc2 was a 15 amp switch. I never blew this switch even though these lights would draw twice that amount in amperage on start up. I also had a lot of accessories such as raymarine sirius weather and raymarine dsm 300 fishfinder which were "switched" at the helm with the unused switches and no problems. Because I added so many 12 volt electrical accessories to this boat, I added two more batteries and a inverter. I highly recommend this if you have not done so yet. Hope this helps you.

 

[Hampton]

Once again, thank you very much. This could be easy from here. I know that if you have the dealer do this work, they charge you as if none of the switches and wiring was there from the factory. They build them this way because it's cheaper in the long run, then people who buy the option pay the additional amounts.

 

[bluebelly]

You are right about the dealer charging too much for this job. I remember my dealer wanting to charge me 4 hours of labor just to connect my already installed accessories to the helm switches. Once I read the wiring diagram it took me about 15 minutes to complete the job. Very easy to do.

 

[comsnark]

Been there. Got the estimate.

Of course, estimates are not worth 1/2 the value of the ink used to print them. . . .but still . .. that's the way it usually works.