Probably for chpthril

[jslayde1]

I finally got my TAPS to work here at the end of the season (went through 2 pumps) but have had a problem with some sort of voltage draw/short/grounding issue from the start. When I engage the TAPS pump with the toggle switch, I loose all other electronics for a moment, then they come back. I mean everything, radio/music, needles flicker to one side of the gauge and then all return to normal after a second or so.

Got any ideas? Ever seen this before?

Thanks in advance.

[boatwakes]

Ground to the dash.

[chpthril]

I would definitely test the ground and B+ that feeds the helm. I would to a voltage drop test on those circuits. A basic digital volt/ohm meter is all that needed. Im thinking a poor connection due to corrosion on a battery terminal or high resistance/low current flow due to corrosion thats wicked its way down the cabling under the insulation.

Next would be a current draw test on the TAPS motor. But the if the breaker or fuse is not popping, then it doesn't sound excessive enough to rob from all the other electronics.

[jslayde1]

Yeah my first thought was ground, but all battery connections are clean and tight. I will make a good check of the cables running to the helm. Is there any where in particular I should check under the dash before I go to searching?

The TAPS motor is brand new so the amps shouldn't be high, but I'll put a meter on it. Before the last motor quit, I had amped it out and don't remember it pulling to many amps until it shorted out. Then of coarse, new motor and same issues with the voltage drop. Is there a grounding cable somewhere other than the battery that could be loosing contact?

[jslayde1]

Boatwakes- are you speaking of a cable in particular? If so, where at exactly?

[chpthril]

Yeah my first thought was ground, but all battery connections are clean and tight. I will make a good check of the cables running to the helm. Is there any where in particular I should check under the dash before I go to searching?

The TAPS motor is brand new so the amps shouldn't be high, but I'll put a meter on it. Before the last motor quit, I had amped it out and don't remember it pulling to many amps until it shorted out. Then of coarse, new motor and same issues with the voltage drop. Is there a grounding cable somewhere other than the battery that could be loosing contact?

Think about your truck towing and not towing. When you are not towing, the load placed on the drive-train is less then with a trailer hooked up. Too heavy a load make the engine labor, but it doesnt mean the engine is bad. If there is an issue with the ram or hinge, it will place a greater load on the motor, regardless of its age or condition. But lets work from the easy/obvious to the less obvious.

Boatwakes- are you speaking of a cable in particular? If so, where at exactly?

There should be a large red and a large black cable connecting to a BUSS bar or a fuse block that all the helm electronics are feed from. These cable will come directly off the battery supply.

[jslayde1]

Perfect, I'll have a look and see what I can find. Thanks for your help man, I appreciate it.