I was surprised to find supporting operator and service related manuals for my boat in the glove box, all this time I've owned it.. It didn't include, anything about the boat itself. I only see the Mercury operator and service locations manual for the Mercury 150, a Motor Guide operating and battery diagram to hook it up. But what blew me away, was a copy of the original certified check for $5000 dated March of 1990 with the owner from Indianapolis, buying from the dealer in Kokomo. The boat itself was only $5000 then? That couldn't be right, could it?
No boat ownership manual was there to describe how the systems worked. The live well, automatic vs manual, is self explanatory.There wasn't any sort of manual showing how to set up the charging system for the TM batteries while you are running down the water. I've now dug into the front bow control panel. The trolling motor I bought wasn't a 12/24vdc system. so I just disconnected the TM receptacle from one of the batteries, and wired an after market TM plug /receptacle in another spot next to the panel. Now that I see the feasibility (if I understand it right) of charging the TM batteries while you are running the outboard, I want to reverse the changes, to make the charge /run switch work again. I just wasn't familiar with how this system actually worked. All the flat paddle switches need to be replaced to repair the corrosion. I'm still going to continue using my Minn Kota All Terrain 55#. It doesn't have the bigger plug for 12vdc/24vdc system receptacle. The smaller circle receptacle for the plug spades I'm using will be connected with a jumper wire from my added receptacle to reconnect the 12/24vdc receptacle on the control panel. I'm kinda thinking if I don't have a TM with 12/24vdc selection, I wouldn't have to do anything other than the jumper connecting my 12vdc receptacle in order for the charge/run switch to work with my TM receptacle. I think it shuts off the voltage by the Charge/Run switch to the OEM receptacle, which will disconnect voltage to my added smaller circle receptacle. From what my VOM showed me the bigger OEM 12/24 vdc receptacle is showing 2 red 12vdc, and 1 black ground. What say you? I mean I don't want it to burn up.
Biggest problem I've seen so far is finding sealed waterproof paddle switches with DpDt and off/on/off momentary and just SpSt on/off switches with the proper amp strength for the system. I am currently looking. Replacing with new, will hopefully make the beast come alive on the bow controls!