[brandon9]

Building my first fan. Got everything wired to the start switch up front and it just clicks. The battery and solenoid are 10ga wire and the rest is 14ga. Turn it over And click click click. I ran a jumper from negative to the boat and it turned over. I've got 11.99 volts with the jumper and 11.96 without it from battery to boat. Did anybody have to run an additional ground to the fan motor to get it to run? Thanks in advance

 

[cocoloco]

I used 4 gauge just to be safe. That is the stuff that welders use for the stick welding whip.

 

[whiteriverrambo]

yes the block itself must have a good ground. does your battery test higher directly to the terminals?

 

[brandon9]

I understand the block needs to be grounded good. But I Don't have to take it to the block. From negative straight to boat and it turns over. And the battery is 12.04 across the terminals

 

[Kajun]

The block is already grounded to the boat via the bolts holding it down. You really need to run a ground wire directly from the block to the battery to avoid letting voltage travel through the fan shaft and bearings. It is possible that it could arc in the bearing housing and cause damage.

 

[whiteriverrambo]

I don't agree with a "grounded hull". I prefer to keep every piece independently grounded. The pos and ground from battery to block should be a minimum of 6ga. you think about how much your going to flex these wires back and forth and bigger is better. I use 1/0 wire. its hard to see your schematic but if it works right with a jumper wire then im betting your wires are just to small to carry the load.

 

[Kajun]

Rambo, I'm with you 100% on not grounding anything to the hull, but on every elec start small motor that I know of, the starter is already grounded to the block and therefore the block will be grounded to the hull unless you were to put some rubber bushings and not allow the block or the bolts to touch the engine mount. By grounding the block, it gives the current a more direct route to travel instead of passing thru the hull. And the hull will only feel minimal current while the starter is engaged.

 

[whiteriverrambo]

yes your right Kajun, and you bring up a good point. even if you ground everything 100% the engine block will ground the hull. but I would not rely on the entire hull as a conductor. I think his ground is weak because he does not use a quality dedicated ground wire. we are trying to point out that the power follows the path of least resistance, so a direct ground is a must.

 

[Kajun]

Exactly. Agreed!

 

[brandon9]

That's what I was wondering about grounding directly to hull. I really don't wanna do that but if its a must then well....I have no choice!!!

 

[brandon9]

Come off the block to the negative side of battery is what I need to do!!! Correct?

 

[eshaw]

I agree with you guys, the 10 gauge wire isn't the best choice. I'd go with a minimum of 2/0 multi-strand wire and go with the ground to the negative side of the battery or a remote post for it.

 

[brandon9]

10ga is going to switch up front not starter. I haven't run a cable to starter. Been using jumper cables for testing

 

[markland]

This is a normal problem with running switches from front to back, just add a relay to your fan starter solenoid switch wire and run a 10g wire from battery to the relay and that should take care of it.