Troubleshooting Boat Electrical Problems Using a Multimeter | BoatUS

Your brand-new bilge pump blows a fuse every other trip, and your VHF goes dim whenever you try to transmit. An easy way to find the source of your problem without shelling out a lot of money to an expert is to get out your multimeter for troubleshooting boat electrical problems. A multimeter is one of the most versatile electrical tools you can own. BoatUS Magazine editor Mark Corke shows how to use a multimeter to save yourself money by tracking down faulty wiring, testing battery voltage, and calculating power consumption on your boat. A multimeter can be used to measure three things on a boat: DC current (amps), resistance (ohms), and voltage. Current refers to the rate of flow of electricity running through the wires in your boat. Think of it like a garden hose, where current is the amount of water coming out. When a current is interrupted by something like a bad connection or improperly sized wiring causing a device to stop working, or at least stop working as it should, this is known as resistance — like a kink in a hose. And voltage is somewhat similar to the amount of water pressure in the hose. The more pressure, in theory, the more power the current can produce. For more on using a multimeter for troubleshooting boat electrical problems, visit https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2020/september/what-can-you-do-with-a-multimeter, https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2016/december/electrical-troubleshooting-using-a-multimeter, or https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2013/november/five-ways-to-use-a-digital-multimeter 🚩Enjoy this video? Become a BoatUS Member today to get 25+ valuable benefits including a subscription to award-winning BoatUS Magazine! https://boat.us/e/sy-join 🚩Visit the BoatUS Magazine website: https://www.boatus.com/Expert-Advice. BoatUS is the nation’s largest association of recreational boaters with more than half a million Members. We provide a diverse offering of services including marine insurance, on-the-water towing provided by TowBoatUS, the nation’s largest fleet, plus boat financing, graphics and lettering, representation for boaters on Capitol Hill, the award-winning BoatUS Magazine and much more. For more than 50 years, BoatUS has made boating safer, more affordable and more accessible. 🚩Download the BoatUS App today to access NOAA marine weather, tides, exclusive Member discounts, and your BoatUS account. Assistance on the water has never been easier with TowBoatUS CONNECT in the BoatUS App — the fastest way to get a tow! https://boat.us/sy-app 🚩Connect with us: https://Facebook.com/BoatUS https://Twitter.com/BoatUS https://Instagram.com/BoatUS https://Pinterest.com/BoatUS https://linkedin.com/company/boatus #multimeter #boatus #boatelectrical #electricaltroubleshooting