Switchpad problems

[spoll]

The switchpad panel on the starboard side under my steering wheel seems to be shot, each control has slowly died until everything went yesterday. The fuse lights on the EIM are all lit so I'm hoping that it's just the pad. Marine Max is telling me that they have been discontinued! What to do?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I can't tell you specifically what to do as I don't have your exact boat. I have given this a lot of thought though as the switchpad(s)/EIM technology seems to have been an experiment that has not worked out.

The switchpad/EIM combination has a lot of functions;
1. it acts as circuit breakers
2. consolidates dash wiring by creating a single multi-purpose switch.

When you press the switchpad, it send s signal to the EIM. The EIM in turn functions like a relay and closes the correct circuit to power.


To replace the EIM and switch pad you would need:

1 - marine fuse block
2 - grounding buss bar (if fuse block does not have one integrated)
3 - marine grade wire with proper color coding and solderless shrink type butt and eye connectors
4 - marine grade switches for each of the switchpad functions
5 - some kind of mounting panel for the new switches
6 - wiring diagram from your owner's manual

In general terms :
1. remove EIM (have battery disconnected while doing this!)
2. remove switchpad
3. Install fuse block (with integrated ground buss)
4. install main power and ground lines to fuse block
5. using wiring diagram locate and remove all ground lines from the EIM plug (you may have to install extensions on these to get to ground on fuse block) and install on ground buss with eye terminals

Now the real work begins
6. Let's use cockpit light as an example. Working with the wring diagram locate the pinout for the cockpit light. Locate the and remove the wire from the EIM plug. Attach an extension to this wire that will run up to the dash board. At the dashboard attach the cockpit light extension to one pole of the new cockpit light switch. Now run a second wire from the other pole of the cockpit light switch to the fuse block. terminate that wire on the fuse block, mark it cockpit lights, and install the proper size fuse. Now do this for all of the functions on the EIM.

For some things like nav/anchor light you may need to use a double pole double throw switch with a diode jumpering the anchor and nav light poles. This will allow the switch to do nav and all around white together, and in the other position to do white only.

As you can see it is a lot of work, so you want to really see if you can find the parts you need before you give up.

Henry

 

[spoll]

Wow Henry, thanks for that info. Honestly I think I'd give up first before attempting anything like you mentioned, I just simply do not possess the skills.

I was hoping to find another switchpad first but so far I'm coming up dry.


Thanks again though.