Are you as careless as me? total loss

[Waternut]

I think I might've ruined my MSD brain over the weekend when I hooked up the battery wires backwards. Everything looked good for the first 15-20 seconds and then smoke started pouring out of the brain. Got fuse? None of the wires were even hot though.

Anyway, afterwards the ski suprisingly ran good for the first 5 minutes or so and then it acted like it was only running on one cylinder but even that was intermittent. Fearing the worst I pulled the brain out today and got a nice burned smelling brown goo that squirted out of a crack in the potting.

I'm hoping that the brain is still good but water got inside and I can dry it out on the stove and seal it up real good. What do you think?


edit: The scratch mark you see is actually from the knife I used to peel the sticker back and the crack is actually under the goo.

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

no warranty?

 

[Scorn800]

no warranty?

:eek2:

 

[Waternut]

Bought the whole system used last season for $300...will probably cost me another $200-$300 to get a used brain these days.

 

[MADMAT]

I did the exact same thing with a friend on my boat one day. I saw black smoke go up. I bought a new one and never tried again. I am waiting for the points to go again. Chit happens man...it sucks...

 

[Matt_E]

This is why you install a fuse.

 

[Scorn800]

This is why you install a fuse.

Would a fuse save it? I've never used a TL system.

 

[Matt_E]

Reversing the battery leads caused excessive current draw through the TL brain.
A properly sized fuse on the power leads would most likely have prevented that.

 

[Waternut]

If you installed a fuse on the power lead to the brain, it would've saved it. I'm guessing it's done for but I'm cheap and since this is my backup ski, I'm going to try everything before buying another one.

 

[Matt_E]

If you installed a fuse on the power lead to the brain, it would've saved it. I'm guessing it's done for but I'm cheap and since this is my backup ski, I'm going to try everything before buying another one.

Too cheap for a fuse? :biggrin:

 

[Scorn800]

Reversing the battery leads caused excessive current draw through the TL brain.
A properly sized fuse on the power leads would most likely have prevented that.

I wonder if a fuse would work with a Advent?

 

[Matt_E]

Fuses are universal. They prevent higher-than-normal current draw.
They're too cheap not to use.

Example from a SJ stock electrical system: reverse battery leads without a fuse and you'll smoke the voltage regulator. Drains your battery really quick and doesn't recharge it.
With a fuse, you change out a 5 cent fuse (if that much) and forget about it.
I speak from experience :biggrin:

 

[Scorn800]

Fuses are universal. They prevent higher-than-normal current draw.
They're too cheap not to use.

See with a the Advent use still use the OEM hardness & fuse. You can still fry a Advent with the OEM fuse. Also disconnect the ground 1st will fry it too.

 

[Scorn800]

As for being cheap on this forum jfw has stolen the award away from mouthfulloflake for king of the cheapskates.

 

[Matt_E]

See with a the Advent use still use the OEM hardness & fuse. You can still fry a Advent with the OEM fuse. Also disconnect the ground 1st will fry it too.

A disconnected ground is a fault that a fuse will not prevent.
Just higher than fuse-rated current draw.

 

[Waternut]

For the record...I'm not too cheap for a fuse. I run fuses on both my bilge pumps. However, both total loss systems didn't come with fuses and the MSD installation instructions don't say to install one. Normally I think to use a fuse when hooking something straight to the battery but with as complicated as the setup was the first time I installed it, I just didn't think about a fuse.

Pretty sure John at JSS doesn't install fuses either so I know I'm not the only one without a fuse. Not pointing finges but I am pointing out that I'm not the only one that didn't think about a fuse. I sure thought about 2 minutes after it happened. Sure would be a good lesson for anyone else that doesn't have a fuse.

 

[Matt_E]

However, both total loss systems didn't come with fuses and the MSD installation instructions don't say to install one.

Pretty sure John at JSS doesn't install fuses either so I know I'm not the only one without a fuse. Not pointing finges but I am pointing out that I'm not the only one that didn't think about a fuse. I sure thought about 2 minutes after it happened. Sure would be a good lesson for anyone else that doesn't have a fuse.

See attached screenshot of MSD's instructions for Total Loss installation.

 

[Waternut]

That's only the multi-channel system. Here's a shot of the single channel digital P/N 4272. No fuse...

 

[sxi4evr]

jfw, you have had some HORRIBLE luck!!! LOL

 

[Matt_E]

Dry it up and see if it runs.