LED Cupholders

[robert843]

Take out the throttle quadrant and use a mechanics grab tool, a light, and a mechanics mirror. Your not in Virgin territory!

Is this difficult? The wires are clipped I know it's not the best idea to leave them down there but no bear wire showing trying to decide if I should just leave it for now or chase it down at a time I need to remove the throttle. I did like you said in another post I tested in sections. All quadrants worked but the front passenger side. Tested individually and when I tested the cup holder one the wire started smoking. I'm assuming one of the solder joints broke on install. I have cut and soldered a new one and let's see if it fixes the situation

 

[Bill D]

In my 242 there is a small piece of wood that separates the helm cubby from the starboard gunwale. If you're small enough to squeeze in the helm (or have access to child labor) it's only a couple screws to remove and then it is super easy to reach the area under the throttles.

 

[Bill D]

I found a picture I took in that location showing what I'm pretty sure are the wires for the courtesy light. I had actually contemplated splicing longer wires in because these were so taut.

 

[txav8r]

There is a cover snapped on the back of the throttle quadrant. Remove it. Then unscrew the two screw holding only the cover. I can't remember if There is a screw on the front of the cover. But it lifts off exposing the throttles. Then 4 screws will release the plate holding them. Get s towel and wrap them to prevent scratches. And just pull them up and out of the way. You will see what your after.

 

[robert843]

OK so I got lucky I unscrewed the small cubby in front of the throttles reach my hand down and after a little bit of digging was able to recover the wires . So I took my problem piece out that was in the front cupholder out went home recut and soldered a new one brought it back to the boat and tested it worked fine. After install I went back and tested each quadrant again and they all work fine except for that same spot. I tried that cupholder I tried the cupholder spot individually and it started smoking again. so I pulled it out and it worked fine when not in the cupholder . I look on the back of the unit and two of the spots are bar at the end that is not soldered so I'm assuming it was grounding itself out the c I look on the back of the unit and two of the spots are bar at the end that is not soldered so I'm assuming it was grounding itself out in the metal cup holder.

 

[Bruce]

Glad you found it. Where was the smoking at? Did it damage wires that you will need to replace?

 

[robert843]

No it wasn't the wires that were smoking it was the actual LED light I found out. Somehow the end that had no wires attached was grounding out on the metal in the cup holder. I have rewired everything I did use both courtesy lights as my power since I found the issue. I also did split them up all port side lights are powered from the port side courtesy light and all starboard ones are powered from the starboard courtesy light. I will post pics in another thread later this evening when after dusk hits and I can get a better view of them. Glad I got it done I'm too ocd to have an open project it would have haunted me for the next weeks. I took my laptop down to the boat and was working from the boat while doing the project I'm blessed to have a job to get to do somethings like that on occasion.

 

[txav8r]

Congrats on the troubleshooting! Glad you found the culprit. I am assuming your lights are waterproof in the cupholders at least? The tail end of all whether waterproof or not, needs to be sealed, so that can't happen. Easy to do, just put a piece of heat shrink over the end, squirt a little silicone in it, and heat until the end shrinks and oozes some silicone out. That will seal it 100%. Congrats again!

 

[robert843]

Congrats on the troubleshooting! Glad you found the culprit. I am assuming your lights are waterproof in the cupholders at least? The tail end of all whether waterproof or not, needs to be sealed, so that can't happen. Easy to do, just put a piece of heat shrink over the end, squirt a little silicone in it, and heat until the end shrinks and oozes some silicone out. That will seal it 100%. Congrats again!

I only sealed the ends that were wired so I will have to go back and seal the other ends. I did use the waterproof ones so I didn't think I needed to but I will def go back and do it now thanks!