Electric problem on 520

While I was putting a new GPS on my 2003 520 I must of shorted out something. I cut both red & black (at the same time)DUMB DUMB DUMB. I left about 4" to pigtail the new red & black wire too. I install the GPS the same way that my old GPS was Installed.(RAM Mount) When I tried to fire up the new GPS NO POWER anywhere.I checked the main switch in the battery compartment and checked each fuse in the fuse panel(in driver side rod locker) I still no power to power trim, acc. 1,2,or 3 bilage,live wells or anything else. HELP HELP HELP

sometimes there is a small pop out breaker on the battery cable clamp.. mine did the same until I found and popped it back...hope this helps:-)

I had similar problem with my boat. It may be a tiny fuse under your engine hood. Mine was a small in-line fuse that had blown and for some reason nothing worked.I replaced the fuse and all was fine.

Good Luck

Short Answer:
Check the fuses again and then check for any shorts in the wiring:


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Long answer: Hehe

Do you own a Digital Volt Meter DVM? If not can you borrow one from a friend or relative? If not see below.

Here is my suggestion. Go to Walmart and get on of those cheap DVM electrical meters. They sell for less than 20 bucks I think. Maybe even 10 bucks. I own two DVM's. One cheap one that I keep in my truck and one that costs over 500 bucks that I used for working on $10,000 Air Pollution Analyzers. Beckman makes good DVM's. But for your purposes any analog meter will tell you if you have 12 v DC or not on a wire.


With a tester or DVM You can then check the power from the battery all the way to the item of interest. Just touch the red wire on the test to the wire in question and then touch the black tester wire to any ground. You can see if the wire has power this way.

Some DVM come with cords that have different interchangeable ends. One that clamps on, one that ends in a sharp point to test the inside of power connectors etc. If yours only has a clamp type ending you can use a pin to test inside small connector holes. Just clamp the lead onto the pin and stick the pin inside the 12 volt DC hole to check for power. Hold the lead by the insulated part here. LOL

That or a 12 volt tester light that can be touched onto any 12 v dc hot wire and then grounded to see if there is power on the wire being tested. If the 12 volt light is lit then you have power. If not then that wire is dead.

Trace the red wire from the battery to the device in question.

Liquid tape works great. Might get some of that stuff and if you find a wire with the insulation rubbed off you can coat the wire with the liquid tape and fix the short. Or just use some electrical tape or shrink wrap tubing to fix any shorts found and to help waterproof any new spices in the wires. I love using heat shrink electrical connectors and tubing to make the job work better.

Not sure what you are working on as I am not familiar with the term 520. Not sure if that's is a boat model number, GPS model number or depth finder model number. It might help if you edit the post or make a new post with more information on what you are working on. Ie Make and Model Number would help.

Is this a Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance or a Triton Boat that's called 520?

Maybe this will get more detailed help for you.

Right now without knowing what you are really working on I can help but with general stuff.

You checked the fuses so that's a good start.


Regards,

Moose1am

Where on the engine is that inline fuse located?
Thanks

I have a 518,If the fuse is good go back to the breaker at the cranking battery and turn that breaker on and off real hard a couple of times, some time it is hard to get those to reset. Not breaker at trolling motor batterys.