voltage drop from perfect pass????

[onenautiqueone]

I have a problem where when I start my boat voltage reads about 14v and when the perfect pass kicks on the voltage will drop down into 10.9 to 11.2 range. Any info would be great.

2001 pro air ( wakeboard pro perfect pass)
GT40
STOCK 55 AMP ALT (I have changed) still same problem.

[jhiestand]

There was a post a while back about someone encountering a very similar problem(Wakejunky?). Apparently PerfectPass uses a fair amount of power and the power lead from your battery to the dash isn't large enough. I believe he solved the issue by running an additional 8 gauge wire from the battery to the circuit box.

I have pretty much the same problem in that anything I turn on that is powered from the helm (bilge pumps, blower, heater, lights, etc.) drop my voltmeter like a rock, even if they are low-draw devices.

[patoloco]

I have the exact same problem. It even happensiwth the boat running. My buddy hit the horn the other day the the pp turned off mid run.

I measured,and with nothing on, the dash gets a full 12.5 volts..which is what the battery is reading.

[inboardsonly]

If you look at how the boats are wired, you will see that the wires are all daisy-chained, that is, the wiring is in series...
The problem is, the PP system gets the voltage at the end of the chain, and the wire size is not very big.
My solution, was to put in a switched bus bar off of the ignition switch, and a proper ground bus bar.

I think this is why some units "burn out" the display.... the buttons won't turn on the unit, because a low voltage/high amperage symptom occured.

[MNSuperAir]

Could this be why all my switches tend to trip breakers from time to time. Bilge a few weeks ago and the ballast pump breaker a few weeks before that.

[inboardsonly]

MN- yes.
I have tried running a 10 gauge from the battery, directly to the voltmeter, and
the voltmeter jumps to 14.4 when the engine is running. It does not show a drop when I turn on pumps, blower, etc.. This tells me there is a wiring issue. Once the wiring is done
correctly, there are no more issues.
Both + and - need to be "upgraded"...

[wakejunky]

When I had the same problem, I ran both a Pos. and Neg. to the front control module, basically in parallel with what was currently there. Since then I havne't had a single problem with voltage drops.

Chris

[MNSuperAir]

Funny thing is I had seen it happen before on the ballast but never on the bilge. Then one day while surfing I noticed the wake going to crap and within a few sets I could barely get the boat to surf speed. I looked in the engine compartment to see what was wrong and there was a bunch of water. I take water in through the port side vent like everyone else but that is what the bilge is for (when it doesn't trip). So now I look to make sure it's working every now and then.

[onenautiqueone]

Upgraded the + and - wires to the control box and no more problems.

Thanks guys for the info!

[BP22]

Bump...

I am having the same issue where my Perfect Pass is not getting enough voltage so it is cutting out and shutting down. I talked to my dealer and Perfect Pass and they both think it is a power issue as well.

I have a 2006 SAN Signature Edition with the DBW Wakeboard Pro.

Perfect Pass told me they run a 9 pin connector into the Correct Craft wiring harness and this is where the system gets its 12v power, but they are not sure if it runs through the fuse box under the dash.

What I want to do is run 8 gauge +/- from the battery to my fuse box, but I am not sure if this is the correct way to do this. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[DanielC]

The Perfect Pass motor needs a lot of current to operate, and the wiring to the dash, is barely adequate. If you run many accessories, in addition to Perfect Pass, voltage problens are very common.
On boats with an actual key switch, running the Perfect Pass power wire as close to the ignition switch as is possible, and making a good soldered connection will help. Switched ignition power, is on the purple wire.
Just a thought. try cleaning the battery terminals. Check other electrical connections from the battery to the dash, to the Perfect Pass.

[BP22]

The Perfect Pass motor needs a lot of current to operate, and the wiring to the dash, is barely adequate. If you run many accessories, in addition to Perfect Pass, voltage problens are very common.
On boats with an actual key switch, running the Perfect Pass power wire as close to the ignition switch as is possible, and making a good soldered connection will help. Switched ignition power, is on the purple wire.
Just a thought. try cleaning the battery terminals. Check other electrical connections from the battery to the dash, to the Perfect Pass.

Thanks Daniel. I have been talking with Perfect Pass and the dealer today and the suggestion from PP was to run the PP power wire (red 12v from 9 pin harness) to the switched ignition power (purple wire) like you suggested.

I have no additional accessories running off the dash.

Should I re-run the ground as well?

Thanks!

[DanielC]

Redoing the ground would be a very good idea. I have moved some of the grounds for accessories on my 1997 Ski to the engine block. There is a place by the raw water pump on a GT-40 engine where the engine is connected to the aluminum frame, and I think the battery negative cable goes to. I grounded my heater to the block, and the shower motor to the block.
There is also a place on the flywheel end of the engine where a lot of grounds come together, for the fuel injection, the engine computer, and the ignition system. Leave this ground alone. Sometimes the computer can get picky.
The positive side is only one half of the circuit. Improvements done to the ground side can be just as benificial.

[BP22]

Thank you Daniel.

[DanielC]

I believe the red wire you mentioned is "always hot" Connecting your Perfect Pass power wire to it may make is difficult to turn the Perfect Pass off, and that could cause your battery to go dead before you would expect it to.
Does your boat have a "switch box" and touch pads to run the electrical system, or does it have a normal key, and switches for the accessories?