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1958.
Im not sure if this can be answered here or if I should wait and call in to Power Pole during next week. I was hoping to get it completed this weekend because it will be hard to do it during the weekday.I have a single power pole with a remote control that was installed at the factory by BCB (pole #1). Im installing a second power pole (pole #2). So now I have one remote control box, two reversing relay boxes, two pumps, and two power poles. The #1 relay box is connected to #1 pump and to the battery.The #2 relay box is connected to #2 pump and to the battery.I installed the dual harness in between the remote control box and it “Ys” to #1 and #2 relay boxes. This seems correct to me. (The only other location for the dual harness is in between the manual switches and the remote control box – but that would seem to by-pass the remote control for pole#2 though.)There is a master switch (Switch #1) between relay box #1 and the battery. I installed another master switch (Switch #2) between relay box #2 and the battery. With this setup I should be able to turn power on to either or both of the poles. The master switches have a light to tell me when they are on. So here is the question for something wierd happening:When I only turn on Switch #2, the light on Switch #1 comes on. Like its getting power to Switch #1 somehow but that shouldnt be. If I only turn on Switch #1, the light on Switch #2 does not come on.Switch #1 was installed by BCB and is their standard on/off switch. Switch #2 is store bought but it should be the same. Have I missed something in my setup?Last edited by 1958 on March 26th, 2011, 5:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The light in a switch is controlled by a ground connection. Each switch should have a ground wire on the “extra” or light spade, then power in and power out on the other two. Without looking at the wiring at the switches I would guess you are having a ground backfeeding problem.JohnJones Trolling Motor Services870 773 3474Motorguide/MinnKota/PowerPole/Lowrance/Humminbird
Each switch has its own ground wire and its own supply wire. Power Pole tech told me that each pump needs to have its own power supply line with the 30 amp fuse. That is why I have two switches. They are both connected onto the same battery. Each switch goes to a different load (the relay boxes). I tried switching the wiring from the switches to the relay boxes thinking perhaps one of the relay boxes was allowing some feedback. But the same thing happened. Turning on switch #2 will turn the light on switch #1…but turning on switch #1 will not turn the light on switch #2.Perplexing.
Im trying to “picture” the connections and intentions. Do the switches also control the power poles, as well as the remote, or does the switch simply provide the power for the remotes to work. I guess what Im askin is are the switches momentary on/off/momentary on or simply on/off switches with lights. Sounds like youre trying to get either, one at a time, or both to work off same remote by supplying power to the one you want to work — turning on both switches would feed power to both and the one remote would operate both pumps. If this is correct, I would think you would wire the second pump, exactly like the first pump, with the switch going in between the positive supply to each of the relays. A “y” cable would be used to connect the remote to each relay. This may be the way you stated, but Im picturing different. Hope this helps.JohnJones Trolling Motor Services870 773 3474Motorguide/MinnKota/PowerPole/Lowrance/Humminbird
The switches are simply on/off with lights. Yes it sounds like you understand the connections. The switches are located between the battery and relay. They act as a breaker to simply turn power on/off to each relay, therfore, I could operate either or both poles. The Y-cable is between the remote and Ys to each relay. I would have just run both relays to one switch and have only one power supply but the Power Pole Tech said I needed to run each relay with its own power supply and 30 amp fuse.Heres something: I tried unhooking the power to the BCB switch (switch #1) so it was not connected to the battery. When I turned the other switch on, the light on the BCB switch still lite up. This tells me somehow power is going to the remote module and back out to the switch.This made me look at the connections to the BCB switch. The switch I installed (switch #2) has connections lined up as follows: earth on top, load in middle, and supply on bottom. The BCB switch is mounted with rivets to a plate and I cant see behind it but the wires are connected as follows: earth on top, supply in middle, and load on bottom.I guess now my question is how do the connections of the BCB switches line up? “earth/load/supply” or “earth/supply/load”? Perhaps the supply and load are connected wrong and thus making the light come on.
Oh – and I appreciate you walking through this with me. I know I should wait and make a call during the week as its hard with this type of stuff over internet but when I get into some problem like this I cant seem to let it go till its done.
It sounds to me that you are switching the ground on one switch instead of switching the hot wire. Make sure you are not switching the ground, and feeding it to switch #1 to make the light come on.
Yes Ive made double sure I have ground to earth, relay to load, and battery to supply.I tried reversing the supply and load wires on the BCB switch. That made the light stay on so it was originally hooked up correct.It probably is ok and all its just odd that one switch on will make the other lite up. Somehow its back feeding power through the other relay.
These switches may have different internal components. Though it sounds like a ground issue backfeeding. The posts have specific requirements and should have supply wires on the center posts. Feed to accessories are the outlier posts except the ground feed to the light which sounds like your issue.
I spoke with Rich at Hydrilla Gear and I have everything hooked up right. He was stumped by the light coming on the switch also. The only difference I can see is one reversing relay has the red positive wire for the battery coming out of different side of the box. So tomorrow I will call Power Pole Tech.If BCB had not installed a lighted switch in the power supply I could have hooked all this up and run it never knowing there may be a problem – possibly burning something up.
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