Power Problems - Help!!!

[Bob a Buoy]

Went down to the boat today and replaced the VHF radio, simple job, mount it, connect black to black, red to red. Turned on the battery switches, no power to anything on the helm. Voltage meter on the inside panel shows 12 V. If I turn on the ignition breakers I have power to both motors, but still no power at the but still no power at the helm. Any ideas? Blown fuse?

 

[Bt Doctur]

What else is wired to the connector block and did you install the fuse in the radio lead

 

[fwebster]

The radios should be connected to the electronics/accessory buss and fuse block. The ignition is on a completely separate circuit and breaker. Somehow you have tripped the master 12V breaker for the helm.

 

[Bob a Buoy]

Thanks! It's a 2004 300da, fuse panel under the steering wheel, I suppose I elbowed something I shouldn't have while reaching up behind the radio. An inline fuse was already installed. I performed the install with batt switches off. All the breakers in the batt switch panel are ok as far as I can tell.

 

[ZZ13]

The forward EIM provides all the power for your switch panel. It's under the helm behind the access door. It gets its power from a breaker on the battery switch panel. Maybe you knocked off one of the power wires going to that EIM.

 

[Stray Cat]

As mentioned the forward EIM (under the helm) receives power from the breaker located on the main battery switch panel. Do you have power to the leads on the fwd EIM?

 

[Bob a Buoy]

Yes, as far as I can tell. You are referring to the panel in the port side cockpit w/ batt switches? No lights there indicating a problem. Everything was working fine before I changed this vhf. Are those breaker switches or fuses in the forward iem? If one is out how would I tell? Thanks everyone

 

[Stray Cat]

On the forward EIM below the steering wheel, check to see if you have power at the positive lead first. This EIM receives its power from the breaker panel where the battery switches are located. The EIM's have resettable breakers for each labeled circuit. The breaker pops up under the protective cover when that circuit has experienced an issue. Pressing it down resets it.

 

[Bob a Buoy]

Thanks do much, I'll check and report back.