Adding Port Wiper

[TimC2520]

Need some advice....I searched and found this project done before, but have run into a snag. My 1999 2520 has a rocker switch for the port wiper, I traced the wires from it to the chase above the windshield. They enter on the starboard side and this area of the chase is pretty tight with a good bit of wiring and access is very very difficult to even get a finger in there.

I checked with Eric at Parker and confirmed the wires are "tucked" into this chase. I made the mistake of assuming they were located in the vicinity of where the port wiper WOULD be if I had one. Well, I successfully and carefully drilled into it above the port window and found only my GPS wire which was unscathed. I used a dentist's pick and I'm confident there are no other wires in that area. I suspect the port wiper wires are probably "bundled" together with the starboard wiper wires in the very crowded area of the chase above the starboard window. See photos.

I was contemplating using a Dremel cutting wheel and just carefully cutting a big chunk of this chase out (above the starboard side) so I can get in there and see what I'm working with.....then when I'm finished, making a cover of some sort that's easier to remove. The newer Parker's have a removable cover on the wire chases in the cabin.. What do you think?

 

[grouperjim]

if it is too difficult to intercept the port wiper wires in the chase tube where they appear to be, why can't you pull them out or abandon them if they won't pull, and go the long way around through the back and then port side chase tubes which probably have more room in them. just a thought.

 

[TimC2520]

I can see the colored wires associated with the port wiper just as the enter the chase above the starboard window corner. When I pull on them, the wires for the starboard wiper move but the spot light and GPS wires do not move which leads me to believe they are bundled together along with the starboard wiper wires. I pulled pretty hard but was afraid I'd pull apart the connection for the starboard wiper and I found a good bit of electrical tape glue on the insulation.
I could abandon those and just run new wires but the chase running down the starboard side is pretty full also (though the stern and port/port windshield chases are practically empty). Just looking for suggestions before I plan my next plan of attack.

 

[greatcir]

I suppose the opening is too small to borrow a colonoscopy camera & lights? Maybe borrow or buy a borescope (below)?......................Pete

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 602_263622

 

[TimC2520]

That is certainly an option.
Boat25 recently did this same project and was successful, I emailed him and waiting a reply.

 

[TimC2520]

Found these, thinking if I decide to just cut that chase out, I can replace with this...comes in 5ft sections, easily trimmed and I can secure it with stainless screws...

 

[Megabyte]

If the port and starboard wiper wires are attached to each other, what if you disconnected the stbd wiper wire and attached a pull cord to it.
Pull both wires out and free them, then using the pull cord, run them back in and connect them.

I do like those wire guards you found. The newer Parkers are much easier to run wiring through than our 'vintage' boats.
Slicing open the wire chase and then covering it with a removable cover certainly has its appeal.

 

[TimC2520]

Hi Kevin,

I tried pulling on the starboard wiper wipers and while they moved toward me a bit, it wasn't much. Pulled pretty hard but didn't want to break their connection knowing I didn't have good access to that chase. It's stuffed pretty good with remote spotlight wires, GPS, chartplotter, starboard wiper motor, cabin dome light, etc. I'm leaning toward just cutting it out and installing a removable cover like the one shown. I like the idea of being able to get 100% access not only now, but in the future.
I'll post pics as I do it, but it may be awhile, possibly a winter project since the wiper is on back order and bass season will be starting in a month or so. Seems like it would make a good winter project since I have access to the boat pretty easily over the winter now.

 

[TimC2520]

Well, I cut into that chase above the starboard windshield in search of the port wiper wires. I found the hot for the port wiper, but the ground must be tucked into a different area. I isolated all three pairs of bundled wires (red and black) and that's all I could find.
I've decided to just abandon them and run new wires off the switch instead of cutting another hole in search of. I actually have some split loom going up that way so it should be a pretty clean install. I can glue the carpet back (leave the hole) and you can't even tell it's been cut. This will give me better access in the future if need be.

 

[Megabyte]

Tim,

Could there be a common ground up there that other items are using rather than making separate home runs?

 

[TimC2520]

Hi Kev,

I don't think so.
I pulled on all three pairs of wires you see above.
The bottom black and orange pair go to the horn. I watched them move when I pulled on them. The middle pair are the starboard wiper, saw them move also, the top pair go to the dome light which I unscrewed from the celing, those moved also when I pulled on them. I was able to confirm all of that, 100% sure. The only other wires still in the chase which I didn't oull out are the GPS antenna and the wires for the remote spot light.

 

[Megabyte]

Well, you found the hot so you are GTG.
Why not just piggy back the ground for the port wiper to something else that is close like the dome light?
Electrically, it should not matter.

 

[TimC2520]

I've thought about that, but I'm not real familiar with what would/could work in that situation. Running additional wires through the chases that I really need, to do it properly, is just out of the question. There just isn't enough room. There is a ground buss behind the helm, but it's full, many of those terminals are already piggy backed. I may have to go study it more...

 

[TimC2520]

When you say piggy back, can I cut the ground for the dome light, let's say, and use a butt connector to put two grounds (the dome and port wiper) off one end of the butt connector? Sorta like the following ?

 

[Megabyte]

When you say piggy back, can I cut the ground for the dome light, let's say, and use a butt connector to put two grounds (the dome and port wiper) off one end of the butt connector?

Sure. Electrically, it is the same.
I would. But then... I'm not an electrical engineer.

(they drive electric trains, don't they?)

 

[TimC2520]

Hmmmmmmmmmm,

This could be a pretty easy fix if it's safe and it works, but then the ground coming off of
the port wiper won't be going back to the port wiper switch? Will it only work if the dome light was on?

 

[sparky]

Tim,
Splicing into the existing ground will be fine. It will not return to the starboard wiper switch, but that's because it doesn't go there now. The switch only switches the hot, not the ground.

Grounds can be bundled, as they all go the same place (ground post on the battery). Its the hots that supply the power, and go to different switches.

As you have diagrammed it, it will work fine. So long as you have the hot that's wired to the wiper switch, you could use any ground you want (so long as you don't overload it, which you won't). My bet is that the factory designed both wipers to share a ground. Because you only had one wiper installed, the ground splitter wasn't installed. You are just moving the split to another ground, which isn't a problem.

 

[Megabyte]

Sparky said it better than I could.
Thanks bro!

 

[TimC2520]

Thanks Sparky.
There are ground wires that appear to be piggy backing behind the helm between the switches and each breaker (port and starboard wipers). Since I have equal access to both the dome light ground wire as well as the starboard wiper ground wire, tapping into either one should be fine, no?

 

[sparky]

Thanks Sparky.
There are ground wires that appear to be piggy backing behind the helm between the switches and each breaker (port and starboard wipers). Since I have equal access to both the dome light ground wire as well as the starboard wiper ground wire, tapping into either one should be fine, no?

It makes no difference, but I'd tap into/off of the other wiper, just for consistency's sake. But I'm OCD like that.