Logo
FULL SITE MENU

Remote Controls - Where do I hook up the battery?

R

rmcderm313

Regular Contributor
Hi All,

I have a quicksilver remote for my 1987 Mercury 25HP. I don't see any battery cables coming from it, the only cable that is not "spoken for" is a short plug adapter shown in the picture below. Is this where the battery should connect and I need some kind of adapter?

photo 2 (9).jpg


photo 1 (9).jpg



If that is the case, what is the adapter called?
Thanks,
Rob
 
Sorry I had neglected this thread for a couple of weeks while I sorted out my engine issues. Here is a picture of my remote controls:


IMG_2833.jpg


I can't see a model number anywhere. So I understand now that the battery cables don't go through the remote control, they connect directly to the motor. I didn't get any cables with the motor (nor a battery), so I need to buy cables. Where do the battery cables connect to the motor? Also, do I need special battery cables for an outboard, or can I pick some up at an auto parts store?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob
 
What is the engine serial number? Some engines connect the cables to a solenoid...yours may be a direct connect to the starter using a heavy duty push button switch to start it. Ground cable connects to an engine block bolt.
 
The starter has been removed in this picture... I'm thinking the pole where the red wire is connected to the solenoid is where the positive battery cable should connect.

IMG_2756.jpg
 
It should if that terminal is not the energized one when the solenoid is energized. Is the yellow cable disconnected on the other end? It would attach to the starter's + lug.
 
There is a picture of the port side above.. Here is a picture of the starboard side. I don't have any pictures of the cable itself available right now, I'll take one later when I get home, but it is just the 8 pin connector. You can see the engine side connector in the port side picture above. All in all there are no wires to connect to a battery anywhere on the cable or remote so I think the connection goes straight from the battery to the motor. Graham sent me some wiring diagrams which show what looks to be a similar configuration, but there are a couple of variations. Mostly where the black ground wire from the battery connects, one shows it connecting to the base of the starter solenoid, and the other shows it connecting to the starter itself (where it connects at the engine I assume).

I'll post those two and see if anyone has any opinions. It might not matter (starter or solenoid) as long as the ground to the engine is good.

IMG_2763.jpg


Thanks,
Rob
 
Also, anyone have any thoughts on the battery cables? What AWG do I need just to start the 25HP motor? I'd like to stay as thin as possible to make it easier to route the cables. Would 6 AWG do it? Do they need to be special marine battery cables? They are a hell of a lot cheaper at AutoZone than at marine stores.

Thanks,
Rob
 
Here are two screen shots that show the wiring diagrams for a similar HP engine, only from the 1990's (one is for 1994-97 and the other 1998). These components look almost identical to my 1987 25HP.

Screenshot 2013-11-26 at 10.14.44 AM.jpg
Screenshot 2013-11-26 at 10.14.31 AM.jpg


The only difference I see is that the ground from the battery goes directly to the starter in the earlier models, instead of to the starter solenoid.
Rob
 
Jeff, Could you elaborate a bit on your warning? As long as I connect the positive cable to the positive pole of the starter solenoid (where the other red wire is currently connected) I should be good, no?

Thanks,
Rob
 
Just connect the + to the red wire terminal on the solenoid and the negative on the starter bolt or one of the bolts that hold the solenoid to the block !!!
 
Correct. A customer of mine hooked up the battery cables of the Merc 500 I repaired for him assbackwards and fried the switch box. I figured out what he did wrong when he said the starter "wouldn't engage".

Jeff
 
Cool, Thanks guys. I found what seems to be a good online place to order marine battery cables. A 5' - 6 AWG cable with custom choice of ends is only $12.50. $6 S&H for the entire order. From what I can tell a marine battery will have a positive lug post size of 3/8" and a negative post lug size of 5/16", my question is what would you recommend I order for the other ends of each cable? The choice are:

#10, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 1/2..

I can just go home and measure the bolts I plan on connecting them to, just curious if there are standards for engine side connections..

Just looking for anything I should be aware of before oredring.
Thanks,
Rob
 
Starter bolt (where I plan to connect the negative battery cable) is 5/16" - .3125"
Starter Solenoid (where I plan to connect the positive battery cable is 1/4" - .25"

For future reference...
 
Back
Top