switches constantly flashing - battery good, DDEC good

[denver]

Ok epic Gods I need a little help.  I bought my boat last summer and had a blast... there were several issues with it that I have been trying to sort out, most successful, one complete failure.

Boat - 2001 SX22

When I bought my boat, the two banks of 6 switches on the dash would only work with one bank at a time plugged in.  If both banks were plugged in to the communication harness simultaneously, the LED indicators would just flash constantly.  The boat functioned all summer like this, I just plugged in whatever set of switches I needed at the time.  I pulled it out of storage from the winter and now they flash no matter what even with just one of the 6 bank switches plugged in.   I checked all the connectors and they all have contact.  I know the switches communicate through some type of CAN so I tried plugging the communication cable from the Main DDEC to the ballasted switch bank, and the ballast tank switches do not not flash and several functions work when the switches are activated. For example drill activated the bilge pump and another switch runs the blower.

The original advise I received was the flashing was an indication that the battery needed to be replaced.  I have not replaced the battery, but the battery holds a full charge of 12+ volts, it cranks the engine no problem, and even with everything powered up and the engine not running the battery still maintains 12  volts.  I do not think there is anything wrong with the battery.  I check the two studs at the DDEC and they are tight and have 12volts on them (Measure with my multimeter). The MDC (the multi-gauge) under engine menu shows 12volts.  I checked every connector I could find for contact or loose connections and came up with nothing loose.

I assume since the ballast switches comunicate with the DDEC the DDEC is functioning and there is an issue with the switch banks? 

Has anyone had this problem before?  Or know anything to point me in the right direction? 

[denver]

Typo DDEC =  DECC

[denver]

Update - I plugged the 2 6 switch banks into the DECC that controls the ballast system.... the function. 

So basically what I am left with is all components appear to function individually, but with not together with the proper DECC.
 

I dont understand what is going on...... HELP!
 

[Capt Rick]

try this:
1.turn battery switch off:
2. unlug the two white output plugs from the orange wires:
3. turn on battery swithch
4. press on button at a time and see if each button lights.
5> if  4 works you have a short in one item like ballast pump, or bildge pump.
6. If nothing still works. remove thew decc, harness , 2 button swith and send to me :
7 Toyota Marine c/o Rick Cohn 10200 Newington drive Orlando, Fla 32836
8 I iwll terst and determine what is wrong.
9. if the items all check out the fee is $70. plus frt $!5.00
if something is bad you will  be advised.
Capt Rick

[denver]

Thanks Rick I will try that tomorrow. 

The thing that I dont understand is if I hook up the top 6 switch bank of switches to the ballast DECC, they function, and when I hook the ballast switch bank up to the main DECC the bilge pump and blower works, and I can hear the relay click for two other things but I havn't figured out what they are yet. 

What language do the switches communicate on? is it a proprietary language or is it CAN?

[wakejunky]

this may be hard to explain without pics. but have you removed any small black jumper blocks off the backside of the switches. there 1/8" by 3/16" or so. if you flip the switch over you will notice these they let you jumper between 2 of 3 posts. i believe they set the switches up for specific functions. i removed one and experienced the same issues. if you have let me know and ill dig out my switches and see where the jumpers are located.

[denver]

Wake -

I have not removed them, but I noticed one set of switches has a jumper and the other does not.  Also the one set with the jumper, the jumper was about the fall off.  It would be great if you could tell me the proper jumper locations. I have som extra jumpers laying around off old hard drives. 

[wakejunky]

ok, my 2001 SX has a "top" 6 switch panel and a "bottom" 4 switch panel. on mine the top panel has no jumpers. on the bottom panel the jumper is on the bottom two pins and is horizontal. on each panel there are actually six pins on the top you can jump and four pins on the bottom. its the bottom 4 pin with the jumper. hope this helps. if this doesnt make sense let me know ill post some pics.

hope this helps

[denver]

That makes sense..... I still have to double check, but I think that is the configuration that I currently have....

CaptinRick -  I pulled the white plugs and the switches still flashed at me...

[Capt Rick]

Send the decc w orange wires, plugs harness w 2 6 button switchs Ill test it. Posssible bad six button switch.

[westtx]

Denver, is that K-Town's old boat? You've got it looking great -- stick with Capt. Rick and he'll get you back to 100%

[denver]

Yeah its K-towns old boat.  Thanks!

I have an idea for the switch problem.... Im going to run it past Rick after I get some things figured out....... 

[farnorthfarmer]

Denver, I've got the same dash / switch config and only 20 miles away from you. Could compare one weekend if we can make it out.

[denver]

Now that would be a good test!!

I got your message, we'll have to meet up some time for sure.

[denver]

Ok so it is summer again...... I still have not figured this out, but I have decided that I am just going to build my own switch banks and get rid of the DECC completely........ I know Rick could probably fix it for me, but figured if I build something that I can support with off the self parts, in the long run it will be easier to support when something goes wrong and there aren't any parts left in Rick's stock pile. 

Essentially from what I can tell this DECC is nothing but an overly complicated system of switches. It take a signal in from the button on the dash, coverts the signal to an address in some sort of CAN language..... then interpets the address and turns on the divice that relates to the address (aka a complicated on/off switch)..... so what I did was make two simple circuit boards that fit the stock switch location, and found small momentary and on/off switches to mount to the circuit board that fit in the stock location.... then I run cat 5 network cable to a relay distribution box that turns on and off the device (bilge, lights, horn, etc) so to the naked eye everything looks original but behind the senes the system is much simpler.   

The question I have is, does the DECC switch ground or positive for the components, and is it high amp switching (greater than 1 amp) or does the DECC control a relay that controls the component?  I do not have my boat at my house so I cant test this....