electric choke wires

I bought an '84 ski nautique last year with the 351 Commander engine with a Holley carb (4160). There is something that has been bothering me and I thought I'd ask the unpaid research department.

The electric choke has two electrical connectors (one male, one female). One wire is plugged into the male connector and nothing into the female. There is a wire with a female connector dangling near by that is labled "ground". Should this wire be connected to the choke? It just bugs me that this wire is just laying there.

I've been having some starting and idleing issues but I'm headed in a different direction with them (tune up, I think she has an intake leak and I know there's and exhaust leak).

Any advice?

Exactly, the choke needs to be grounded to complete the circuit in order to work at all. Since the choke is just a heating element, I really do not think polarity matters as a short circuit is a short circuit and that is how heating elements work with DC.

Uh, I disagree. The heating element in the choke does not care which way the power flows and the other components in the circuit would NOT know the difference. A short circuit is a short circuit no matter how the wire are connected.

Polarity is not important with the choke. 12V will travel through the heating element in either direction to ground. Think of the choke heating element as a big resistor (which it is). Have you ever seen a resistor that is polarity specific? No. Just like the ballast resistor used on ignition systems with points...the resistor is not polarity specific.

PS: If your choke cover has a "+" or "-" (mine does not), then by all means hook it up that way.

Yes, the plate should be gently closed and not preloaded too much. rotatin gth echoke chenged the preload.
Newer carbs have Male/Female connectors.
Older carbs have two make connectors.
I suspect the carb is not original and was replaced with something more modern.

Since its not a good idea to run high current through a carb, the element is isolated from the carb body, hence the need for a ground.

As been said, follow the polarity, if indicated.

I agree with the last sentance in GottaSki's post.

I am NOT an expert when it comes to marine electrical work but let me please give you the benefit of my limited knowledge in the area.

NOTE: This stuff is much more dangerous than it first appears. An electrical short near the carb could be lethal for you and your family - so be sure to know what you are doing or hire an expert to do it for you.

It would be best to protect the electrical wiring by adding an inline fuse to the choke electrical circuit. (Assuming the electrical point from which you are deriving your 12 volts is not already properly fused). There probably exists a specification somewhere on what size fuse to use but I do not know what it is. If you fuse the circuit be sure to use a fuse rated for DC 12 volts (minimum). A fuse rated for a higher voltage is OK as long as it is rated for DC. Someone on the forum may have an idea as to the proper amp rating of the fuse. My GUESS is 3 to 5 amps will be OK. The choke manufacturer will know.

Marine applications may even require a special fuse holder - this I do not know but I would like to hear from others on it.

The fuse should not be connected in the choke circuit between the choke and the electrical ground.

If your ignition coil (spark plug coil) does not use an external ballast resistor you can connect one side of your choke to the positive terminal on your coil (and the other side to a ground on the carb frame. If the positive terminal of your coil is wired to an external resistor the voltage at your coil will be less than 12 volts and is not suitable for connection to your choke. The resistor usually looks like a small rectangular shaped block of white ceramic porcelyn.

I hope others will expand on the above.
    

Good find

You're either grounding out the ignition or pulling too much current for the rediculously small gauge ignition wire from the dash that powers the alt,ignition,choke, gauges, etc.
Just a little resistance from correoded connections will cause significant voltage drop under load, but show correct voltage when the loads are removed.