Switch wiring for boat motor

[Bob Willson]

Hi, sometime ago (about two years) I decided to extend the wiring by a metre on an electric outboard motor, so that I could hold the controller in my hands rather than having to turn round and operate the switches on the outboard itself.

I did myself a drawing and then after having taken everything apart I lost interest.

I would now like to reassemble the original motor so that I can sell it but I can no longer understand my original drawings.

The main problem is that the motor has three wires going to it. 1 x red, 1 x black and 1 x blue

The resistance between the wires is as follows:
Red to Black = 31.9
Red to Blue = 32.7
Black to Blue = 0.6

I have labeled one of the leads with what looks like a 7, but I have no idea why.

Also, as I have two wires going to the motor from the speed control, I do not remember why I also have another (but apparently not connected) red wire going to the motor.

Any help provided would be really appreciated.

[NCArcher]

Bob, the wiring looks ok. What you have drawn should work.
Is the speed selector a switch? Fast/Slow?
Could the '7' be a terminal number on the switch?

[Bob Willson]

There seem to be too many wires to the motor.

On the two way speed switch the terminals are labeled 1a - 1 - 1b with the off (centre) position being the 1.

The other switch is labeled 1 - 2 - 3 on one side only, with the off (centre) position being the 2. The other side is not numbered

The main points of confusion for me are:
The speed switch has three leads on it. I assume that they were connected with the red and black leads on the left and the blue lead (7?) on the right.
That being so, does the 'Red to motor' lead connect to the Red lead on the speed switch?

[NCArcher]

The FWD/OFF/REV switch is connected to the battery via the two bottom terminals(3) which when the switch is in the up position are transferred to the middle terminals (2). When the switch is in the down position the +ve and -ve from the battery are reversed via the two bridging wires on the back of the switch, and transferred to the middle terminals.
From the middle terminals, one wire goes straight to the motor, the other goes to the common on the speed switch. Depending on which position the speed switch is in the power is transferred from the common (1) through either 1a or 1b to the motor. I'm assuming the motor is dual wound for the two speeds or it may contain electronics that alter the speed.
So we will call the red to the motor the return wire and the other two are speed 1 and speed 2 power to motor.
I'm not sure if that answered your question. A photo or two might help

[Bob Willson]

The FWD/OFF/REV switch is connected to the battery via the two bottom terminals(3)

which when the switch is in the up position are transferred to the middle terminals (2).

When the switch is in the down position the +ve and -ve from the battery are reversed via the two bridging wires on the back of the switch, and transferred to the middle terminals.

From the middle terminals, one wire goes straight to the motor, the other goes to the common on the speed switch.

Depending on which position the speed switch is in the power is transferred from the common (1) through either 1a or 1b to the motor.

I'm assuming the motor is dual wound for the two speeds or it may contain electronics that alter the speed.

So we will call the red to the motor the return wire and the other two are speed 1 and speed 2 power to motor.

I'm not sure if that answered your question. A photo or two might help

I would like to give you a photo, but there is nothing to see except the wires disappearing into the outboard motor shafting.

I will try to attach the wires using your insights and let you know if all just goes pffffttt tt t.

[RustyArc]

You can put something in series in between the positive of the battery and the direction switch, like a car headlight or 12V halogen downlight, that will limit the current in case you've made a dead short.

[Bob Willson]

I managed to find the manufacturers web site and wrote to them asking for wiring details.
After a while they sent back the attached sketch for the wiring of the switches on the Aqua Marina T18 motor.
I wired it up and it all works perfectly now.
Thanks NC and Rusty for your help.

(Almost what I had drawn, but not quite.)

[NCArcher]

:2tsup: