[Tiara Open] Electrical Issue: Some helm switches not working

[twilson0929]

I have an 01 3800 Open. Just went back in the water and have no power to about 1/4 of the helm switches. This includes trim tabs, engine room lights, port wiper (only port), ACC switch that powers my autopilot, and maybe 1 or 2 others. Took Quick look behind helm and no obvious wire off type thing. Find it odd some are impacted and some are not. They aren’t right next to each other knowing the wiring hops from one to the other. Fuses do not appear blown. All else works. No issues with electronics (Garmin), batteries seem ok, volts charging when running. Have not been able to climb behind the console yet and track wires. 

Any suggestions, lessons learned etc. before I get started with a meter would be appreciated.

[ReelMagic]

I own a 2003 Open that is almost idsentical to the 2001 38 Open.. Not sure if you are aware but there are 3 circuit breakers under the stairs which provide power to the helm (marked Helm A, Helm B, & Helm C)... Check to make sure they are on.... Additionally, I had several of these breakers go bad years ago... The"Stud" on the back of the breaker(s) came out.... To get to the back of the breaker panel under the stairs is easy... Go into the engine room and on the bulkhead (behind the access ladder) is a white box... Remove the screws and ypu will get to the back of the circuit panel.... It's a guess what your problem is but I'd check to ensure the breakers aren't broken.. M2C

[twilson0929]

I own a 2003 Open that is almost idsentical to the 2001 38 Open.. Not sure if you are aware but there are 3 circuit breakers under the stairs which provide power to the helm (marked Helm A, Helm B, & Helm C)... Check to make sure they are on.... Additionally, I had several of these breakers go bad years ago... The"Stud" on the back of the breaker(s) came out.... To get to the back of the breaker panel under the stairs is easy... Go into the engine room and on the bulkhead (behind the access ladder) is a white box... Remove the screws and ypu will get to the back of the circuit panel.... It's a guess what your problem is but I'd check to ensure the breakers aren't broken.. M2C

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Very helpful. I will check that first. I have my autopilot mounted to that wood piece behind the ladder. May have been a bad location for that.

[hiccup]

Some of those are off the Helm B bus, some off the Helm C, so I think your problem is further down the line. From the Helm A/B/C busses behind the dash, there are jumpers that feel the circuit breakers down by your left shin. That is where I would start looking--visually for connections that have popped off and if that doesn't produce anything, then with a multimeter looking for good voltage on both sides of the breakers (with the device's switch turned ON).

If that doesn't turn up a problem, next stop would be switches themselves.