Electrical puzzle. PCM351W

Hi again all, thanks for the replies to my last! This time I can't figure out how to wire the engine circuit breaker (the 40amp one that mounts on the back). In the PCM manual (same one that's on this website) the electrical schematic has a drawing of the start relay (mine has no solenoid on the starter) with the main cable coming from the battery, the main cable going to the starter, the small wire coming from the start switch (via the neutral safety switch) and the small wire going to the ballast resistor. Fine so far but the breaker seems to be attached to the same terminal as the main cable coming from the battery, which to my way of thinking is useless if the starter is hotwired to the battery. Can anyone help with this one? (By the way, this thing was in many pieces when we bought it so I didn't see the original set-up). Thanks again.

One terminal of the circuit breaker should go to the battery (via the cable mounted to the starter relay). The other terminal should go to the output of the alternator. All other electrical connections coming from the alternator output should be on the protected side of the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker protects your charging system and really has nothing to do with the starting circuit (other than it handles the current that charges the battery). Make sure your circuit breaker has not been bypassed!   

Gotcha. Forgot to mention also that mine has a single wire alternator (internally regulated - definately not original) and uses an ammeter.
So I take it that seeing as the output from the alternator isn't shunted directly to the battery, the breaker goes inline between alternator output and the ammeter? Starting to sound logical now........
Thanks.

Knida confused by Jeff's comments and think he is talking about the relay and not the breaker. What I remember is there are two 10 or 8 gauge wires going to the breaker and the battery + cable goes directly to one side of the relay then the other side of the relay goes directly to the starter. One side of the breaker is for a red wire out of the wiring harness directly from the alt I believe, then the other side of the breaker goes to the relay.

I would suggest that you to refer PCM manuals in the reference section and look at the wiring diagrams.

How many amps does a start draw?
   <30? <50? >50?

I'm guessing over 50 amps and if I put a 30 or 50 amp in series with it then it's going to trip every time the starter is engauged.

Check out the manuals. .02

I guess since he has a single wire from the alt (new style/conversion) then that wire would go directly the the curcuit breaker then that would go to the solenoid or relay depending upon which type of starter you have (ford/gm) and that would be a battery (+) wire 8-10 ga. but there is also a battery (+) cable 0/2 ga. that goes directly to the relay or solenoid depend again on which make and type start the engine has maybe that the confussing factor???

.02

Not at all!! Thanks everyone, once this beer wears off I;m gonna read it all again and then go out to the carport.....By the way, my man has just told me to ditch the ammeter and go with a voltmeter (wish he had told me a few months ago, ##$#!!). Seriously though, thanks.

Sure 79, I was thinking along those same lines but seeing as the entire harness was thrown away and we are starting from scratch the strong recommendation was to use a voltmeter then the output goes directly to the start relay (only about 1 1/2 feet). The alternator has an output for a warning light which will at least tell us when the battery is discharghing. Incidently, we are using elevator cable. The cable is neopreen and not harmed by water/oil etc, and there's 11 individually numbered wires plus an earth. It's pretty neat.

Thanks Jeff, the plan is to run two large wires from the battery to a main cut-off switch at the dash and take the voltmeter pickoff from here. The feed will then go to a fusebox and off to all the circuits. Sound OK?

Oh yeah, make dam sure you fuse (or breaker) the main feed hot wire at the engine. A 60 amp is usually a safe short circiut protection for # 8 wire. Your engine may already have it, but be sure!! Keep the unprotected wire on the engine as short as possible, and put it in black split wire loom for extra protection!!

I just read that you have a 40amp breaker already in the boat, then you are golden!!        Jeff...