Starter solenoid connections for outboard

[tony1969]

Hello
Just managed to resize my photo so I. can now upload it

So my dad and I are renovating a small fishing boat ,we are now working on the electrical items

We plan to install new batteries ,wiring ,fuse board ,lights , etc

The boat came with only one battery to crank the engine and a push button start

We are starting with the outboard it's a 55 hp Johnson 1987

In our haste to remove the battery wire we forgot to take photos or mark where the cables went

In the photo you can see the starter solenoid

The small brown wire connects to the push start button with another negative wire

My question is does the 12v positive from the battery go to the top or the bottom nut on the starter solenoid

Then I assume the positive goes on the other nut to the starter motor

And the 12v negative goes direct to the starter motor casing fixing bolt

Thank you Tony

 

[simonfraser]

the stater solenoid is just a switch, passing the power from one side to the other
makes no difference
battery +ve on one side, starter motor +ve on the other

 

[tony1969]

Thank you

The small brown wire which comes from the starter is a positive to the push start button this obviously needs a live feed from somewhere

I assumed I needed to connect the positive from battery to same side as brown wire ?

So if I connect the positive feed from the battery to either posts it will also give power to the brown wire ?

Thanks Tony

 

[simonfraser]

Eh, no, you need to provide a switched +ve to the brown wire to activate the solenoid
that will then close the switch inside the black box and provide a +ve connection from the battery to the starter motor by connecting whatever you have wired up to the two big nuts at the top
the thicker black wire out of the side should provide an earth for the switch that activates the solenoid

 

[tony1969]

thank you

On the original cable for the push start button there was spade connection brown which obviously goes to the brown spade connection on the starter and a black wire with a ring connection this must then go on the same side as battery positive for the starter ?

So live feed from positive battery cable on starter going to push start switch then going to brown spade connection on starter

Thanks Tony

 

[simonfraser]

On the original cable for the push start button there was spade connection brown which obviously goes to the brown spade connection on the starter and a black wire with a ring connection this must then go on the same side as battery positive for the starter ? - No, black needs to be -ve

So live feed from positive battery cable on starter going to push start switch then going to brown spade connection on starter
no, see below

Brown is a +ve supply as a switch wire to the solenoid
black wire is -ve for the circuit inside the solenoid needs to go to a -ve busbar

+ve from battery to one of the big terminals
other big terminal to the +ve of the starter

the starter is v likely getting its -ve by virtue of being bolted to the engine

 

[tony1969]

Thank you again for the help

I have made a quick drawing is this correct ?

This is just for cranking engine

Tony

 

[simonfraser]

Yeh that would work
but no fuse on the lead to the start button
and v unconventional to take the power for the start button like that

the high current to the starter motor is sometimes not fused due to the high amps needed

the power to the starter button would normally come via a fused board ….

 

[tony1969]

Thank you kindly for the help and continued support ?

That drawing was the original set up when my dad purchased the boat ,the previous owner also used the wrong colour wire from battery live on solenoid to push starter button which was black which got me confused , anyway

So it would be best to use a live feed from a designated fuse on the fuse board ( which I don't have yet ) to the push starter button then to the solenoid brown spade connection

Thanks Again Tony

 

[tony1969]

That's probably why the previous owner wired it that way as there is no fuse board just cranking battery

And Push button start and kill switch

My dad plans to install new fuse board ,lights etc