I made a rough wiring schematic of the way I would like to wire up my aerators and attached it. My boat has 2 fresh water aerators and 2 recirculating aerators. There is an original timer for the fresh water aerators, but it no longer works. I am wanting to add a timer for the recirculating aerators and maybe tie the timer into the fresh water aerators too.



My question is, is it OK to wire up the timer to be always on when the boat master switch is on? Meaning, can the timer be on and running even when the aerators are turned off? Will it wear out earlier if wired this way? The timer is a
Big Foot Livewell Aerator Timer. I ask because I could wire up one timer to be used on all 4 aerators. I used 2 aerator motors in my diagram.

The fuses for the aerators are shown in the diagram where they are currently installed inline in my 92 Skeeter. I don't think I need the diodes in there, but drew them on the schematic anyway. Wouldn't hurt to have them. Wasn't sure about those but my guess is not needed.

I appreciate any input.

Never mind. After finding a disconnected wire and examining the way the old timer was wired, I found that my diagram is the way they originally wired the boat, without the diodes. So that is the way I wired up the new timer. And the new timer has an off switch built in so it should be alright. I tested it out after wiring it up (and adding an in-line fuse) and it works great. Kinda wish it had a longer off cycles than 5.5 minutes, but it will work. I'm using a Minute Man 2 and installed it in the bow where the old timer was.

I'd just like to vent for a second. Who builds a boat without a freaking fuse box? It was built in the 90s, I know fuse boxes were around. My new aerator timer wiring job turned into a rewire of half the freaking boat it seems like. They had "waterproof" fuse holders below the batteries and all over the place. No wonder my fresh water aerators weren't working right, the fuse connectors were corroded.
I needed a new auto bilge switch put in so I went through the wiring from bow to stern figuring out what the Skeeter people and the previous owners did. Got it figured out and started rewiring where it needed it. Cut out most of the crimp connectors (I hate those) and soldered and heat shrunk new wires. Extended them up higher so that the fuses are easily accessible and made the wiring a bit neater. Though that was easy after seeing the rats nest of wires down there. Got the auto bilge switch in (tight spacing). Got the livewell mostly ready, just waiting on a new motor for one of the two recirculating aerators. The auto drain is mostly frozen. Meant to try to use some break-free on it but forgot and the batteries are back in now. No matter, it's summer and I ice the livewell and recirculate the water this time of year.
Anyway, back hurts from bending over into the bilge area for a few hours. Thought I needed to vent somewhere. Thanks for reading. Glad to be done with that part of it and glad it works now.