Installing Perko battery switch

[Speedboat]

Installing Perko 8501DP Battery Switch?

I've got a Model# 1175P73EY 175DFILPROXS Serial # 2BO18990.

Not sure if this is the correct thread to help me with this issue. I had to remove the batteries, battery tray to replace the starboard side live well valve, actuator cable, and control lever of my 2000 283 Vindicator Bass boat. In doing so I decided to install a Perko 8501DP battery switch. I will need a little help with connecting the wiring, the + cable and the Neg cable, from the Mercury outboard to the Perko 8501DP. With the battery switch in the off position the Mercury motor should not crank /start or even the trim will not function. These functions should only operate with the battery switch at the #1 position. With the battery switch in the OFF position nothing with the Mercury motor should operate, No Crank/Start or the operation of the trim up or down. At present I have attached a battery lead from the Pos. post of the starting battery to the #1 terminal position of the Perko battery switch. I have connected the positive(+) cable of to Mercury outboard to the common post denoted on the Perko battery switch. I then connected the negative (- ) cable of the Mercury outboard to the negative post of the starting battery. When moving the Perko battery switch activation knob to the #1 position the Mercury outboard operates cranking and starting also trim function. But when moving the operation knob of the Perko battery switch to the off position all the Mercury functions, cranking and starting, will not operate, as supposed to. Except the trim barely operates at a slow speed not at all as I think it should. That is my question and issue.

My email is speadtrap@bellsouth.net
My Cell Phone (336) 339-0344

Please any assistance would be graciously appreciated !!

Dan Doherty
1722 Brookhaven Mill Rd.
Greensboro, NC 27406

[Mark Weare]

The battery switch is for switching the positive loads only, you do not hook both positive and negative on the switch terminals or you are looking for big trouble in the form of a direct battery short.

Leave your ground connections in place separately, as they've always been.

Connect your loads to the common terminal. Connect your battery positive to the #1 terminal, this will set it up as a battery shut-off switch. Btw, you only needed an on-switch for what you've described not this battery selector switch.

[Speedboat]

I didn't proof read my original post! As I wrote the original it is confusing let me try again.
I had this battery switch installed some time ago as a guard against my Power Poles operating when I didn't want them to. I had everything working good until had to remove battery tray. All my notes of wiring diagrams were lost so that is where i am now.
I connected the Mercury motor's POSITIVE(+) Power Cable to the COMMON terminal of the Perko battery switch.
I connected the Mercury motor's Negative (-) Power Cable to the Negative (-) battery post of the Starting battery.
The Starting battery's Positive (+) battery post is connected to the Number 1 terminal of the Perko battery switch.
With my motor power cable harness set up to this Perko battery switch when the battery switch is turned to position #1 the motor will crank/start also the trim will operate.
ON the Perko battery switch there's a wire connected to the COMMON post an running to the boat's accessory fuse panel.
Now each of the accessories are fused in the accessory fuse panel with a negative lead connected to the NEGATIVE (-) post of the Starting Battery.
When the Perko battery switch is moved to the #1 position all the accessories will function correctly.
Only concern is with Perko switch in the OFF Position the Mercury motor will not start/crank as it should, but the trim will operate at a slow speed. As it shouldn't???? I don't understand why the trim operates, even at a slow speed, when there is no complete circuit running through the motor power harness?

[Mark Weare]

Sounds like it is getting some power via a feedback from one of your accessory circuits, did you recently add or tap into another wire somewhere? It would be a low current feedback, hence the trim running slow.

You could buse a DVOM, or test light, to see if there's some voltage on the common stud with the switch off.

If you can easily access your fuses you mentioned, pull them and see if the feedback stops. If it does, go one by one until you find the culprit.

Anther issue perhaps, the switch may be defective and allowing power to still flow, low current power. Cracked insulation between posts, carbon trail or wet oily build-up could possibly do that.