Zapped the switch panel and stereo, can't find fuse!

Lake_Bum

Okay so I pulled a rookie mistake today. I was testing the terminal on my switch for courtesy interior lights, and shorted something out that I touched with the test light. I heard a small zap, and it killed power to ALL my switches, for nav lights, bilge pump, blower, courtesy lights, and power to the stereo.  Dumb dumb dumb......what is even dumber, is I cannot find the fuse!  It didn't trip any of the little pop out breakers on the panel, and I crawled under the helm, and there are NO fuses. It didn't trip the big 50 amp on the motor, and I cannot for the life of me find the fuse that got zapped.  
The reason I was messing with it, is I plan on adding a few LED lights to run off the same courtesy light switch, but I screwed up from the get go    What am I missing?   Thanks! 

Cableguy Greg

There should be a fuse in the engine compartment that runs the helm. It is either by the battery or where the main wiring harness connects together. It will be a thick red wire in the harness that heads to the helm. It has been a few years since I have been in the engine compartment of a 232. I sold mine four years ago. Worst case, reach out to @Alswagg. He will be able to point you in the right direction. 

Lake_Bum

Thank you. I looked and looked, and couldn't find one earlier. It's frustrating when you know its something simple haha

Lake_Bum

I did find one fuse right by the battery, I didn't trace it back to where it came from, but it did look factory, as the wires went through the back wall, through a sort of plug. It wasn't blown. I will look more tomorrow

Lake_Bum

@Cableguy Greg is it one of these? 

Lake_Bum

The fuse by the battery was okay, that is the same one with the wires threaded through the wall. The first pic is a fuse that is a PAIN to reach, down way low, behind the block. I'm not sure if it was blown, because I broke the dang thing trying to get it apart! My contortionist skills aren't up to par haha. 

Lake_Bum

Another view of the one I broke 

Lake_Bum

The one I broke goes to the Mercathode on top of the block. No clue if that fuse could be tied into the gauge panel...this is the first boat i have ever owned, that doesnt have a traditional fuse panel.

Handymans342

What kind of boat is this?

Lake_Bum

Handymans342 said:

What kind of boat is this?

@Handymans342 it's a Captiva 232 

Lake_Bum

The fuse right by the battery, was from my factory VHF ship to shore radio, so that one is out of the loop...

Cableguy Greg

One of those was for the Mercathode. It gets power directly from the battery. Did you find the main harness that goes from the engine room to the helm? It should be on the starboard side of the boat. Follow it back to the engine. There should be a large molex connector with about an 8 AWG red wire in it. Check for power there. You should be able to trace that wire from the connector back to the alternator or the battery. Somewhere there is a fuse.

Lake_Bum

Snow is coming tomorrow, so I'm sort of on hold now. Don't ever believe anyone who says it never snows in Arizona 

Lake_Bum

STILL cannot find any blown fuses.  This is pissing me off, I'm going to have to PAY a mechanic to troubleshoot something as simple as a fuse 

99270fv

on my 270 there is a fuse block behind the steering wheel. extremely hard to find and see. found it while installing switch for underwater light. I had the gauge cluster and the key switch panels out running wires and things and found it. 

Lake_Bum

I was in there, and didn't see a single fuse under the dash. It's like the fuse block is invisible!  UGH 

Cableguy Greg

Did you ask @Alswagg if he has any tips? Send him a PM and see what advice he can give.

Lake_Bum

Cableguy Greg said:

Did you ask @Alswagg if he has any tips? Send him a PM and see what advice he can give.

I just now did, thanks. I can't believe a stupid fuse has me stumped 

Cableguy Greg

If anyone on here would know, it's Al. He used to work at the factory.

Handymans342

You could very easily have a bad reset breaker that shows good visabally but did not pop out. Understand?

Lake_Bum

Handymans342 said:

You could very easily have a bad reset breaker that shows good visabally but did not pop out. Understand?

Yes.  That could be a possibility as well.  I somehow shorted the switch with a test light....it was a definite ZAP.  

Handymans342

Any luck on this yet?

Lake_Bum

No I never could find the source. My boat is in the shop getting a full spring tuneup, and he's looking at that as well. I'll report back soon 

Lake_Bum

Turns out, there was a fuse, tucked in down below the starter. My contortionist skills weren't up to par to see it apparently!  

Handymans342

Wow

bella-vita

At least it was only a fuse

Cableguy Greg

Glad you found it.

Lake_Bum

It definitely hurt my pride to hear it was that simple haha!  He didn't charge me for it, but the list was long of other things. The boat is completely serviced, and ready to roll for the season now 

Dream_Inn

Well, you learned something today & that's good!  & even better, your boat is ready to go!!