TOPIC: Wiring?

OK, so I've switched out my old Evinrude crossflow for the Bearcat. It has the original five wire harness and I'm using the late controller with the key on the dash. I have the wiring diagram for this but I'm used to a neg. battery wire through the harness to ground the fuse block. Maybe I'm tired and missing something but it seems like I need to run a separate ground wire back to the battery with this new set up. Anyone have a different solution?
Thanks,
Steve - WizardIII

Use the diagram, connect your battery, connect your five wire harness.
Make a dwg of what you have and post if in doubt.

To run this engine with the controls you have it doesn't need a separate ground wire. The ground lead from the battery is connected to the engine block. You have one constant positive 12V power wire to the ignition switch which in turn directs the flow of power to the components. The components are grounded to the engine block and only need the positive feed from the ignition switch to complete the positive flow of power to the component.

The Bearcat uses only one fuse between the alternator rectifier and the positive battery cable connection at the starter solenoid. Thinking about this you really have no protection through the harness to the ignition switch. A direct short in any component running off the ignition circuit would fry the harness. The ignition switch gets it's power also from solenoid connection. I'm thinking it would be a good idea to have a fuse here too.

You will need a separate ground wire for other accessories such as lights and horn.

"Thinking about this you really have no protection through the harness to the ignition switch. A direct short in any component running off the ignition circuit would fry the harness. The ignition switch gets it's power also from solenoid connection. I'm thinking it would be a good idea to have a fuse here too. "

He's right. This is why boats today are required to have a fuse or circuit breaker at the source of power. The fuse is there to protect the wire run. Yes it would be a good idea.

Thanks for the reply Bill. I don't think I was totally clear on my posting. The five wire harness is connected to the key switch and the motor starts and runs fine. On to 4stroke....

Dick, your first paragraph was just answered....motor is connected to ignition switch correctly and starts/runs great. Your second paragraph includes a great idea about a fuse in the battery + line to the ignition switch.

Thank you Peter/Ike for confirming that.....it will be done.

But 4stroke's last sentence was what I was looking for. I am used to ALL connections coming through the wire harness to provide + & - DC to the fuse block (for lights, gauges, horn, etc.). It was slowly coming to me that I needed a separate wire back to the battery to ground those accessories and now I know.
Thanks everyone,
Steve - WizardIII

I'm glad you asked the question and rattled my brain on fusing the ignition circuit!

Me too. I have everything fused under the dash so I think I'm good there. But the battery + is from the ignition switch. A fuse in the switch to solenoid line makes too much sense to avoid the little work it would take to do.
WizardIII