Sunset Cruise
New member
I bought a pontoon a year ago with a 1980/1981 50 HP electric start outboard. (Serial # 5832737) This years project involves installing navigation/anchor lights, battery #2 and a battery switch- nothing else was drawing on the battery other than starting up. When preparing to install the battery switch I noticed the battery cables to the motor were not colored positive or negative so just to be safe I did some research (on this forum) to verify the motor wouldn’t run if the battery was connected wrong. Went down to the boat today to check the battery charging as one method to be sure and the readings (12.4 before starting, 12.04 at idle and revved up) prompted more questions. The boat’s battery has been connected this way for more than a year without issue.
My questions:
1) is it even possible for this motor to run with the battery cables reversed?
2) If the cables are connected properly, do the voltage readings lead you to believe I have a bad diode or other problem with the charging system?
Thanks in advance for your help.
My questions:
1) is it even possible for this motor to run with the battery cables reversed?
2) If the cables are connected properly, do the voltage readings lead you to believe I have a bad diode or other problem with the charging system?
Thanks in advance for your help.