Nav light problem

[1Coastie]

I just ran new wire to the bow light and anchor light. I put in a new switch on the console because the other switch was bad. I cleaned the terminals that plug into the switch. After all that, my bow lights work fine, but the stern anchor light is barely lit. You can barely see the light on. I tried unplugging the stern anchor light and touched the wires directly to the batt. and it turns on bright,so the light is fine. I need to figure out how to get this anchor light to get more juice and be brighter.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Nav light problem

Originally posted by 1Coastie:<br /> I just ran new wire to the bow light and anchor light. I put in a new switch on the console because the other switch was bad. I cleaned the terminals that plug into the switch.

If you ran new wires to both, and new switch, I would assume you had new ends on the wires. Why did you need to clean the terminals that plug into the switch?

 

[vipzach]

Re: Nav light problem

.....and welcome to iboats!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Nav light problem

You probably have the lights wired in series. How did you determine the other switch was bad, and is the new one an exact replacement. If the new switch has just two terminals, its the wrong type. If it has three terminals, it still won't function as it should unless a diode is added to the circuit. If it has six terminals, the diode won't be needed. Having said all that, if you have a simple on/off switch, 12V goes to one terminal (either one). The hot lead from each of the lights goes to the other terminal, and the ground wire from each light goes to -- yup ground. The best you can do with that switch is to have both lights either on or off. If you have a three position, center off switch there will likely be three terminals on the back. Again, 12V goes to the center terminal. Hot lead from bow light goes to one of the other terminals and the hot lead from the stern light goes to the other terminal. The two ground wires go to --- yup, ground. Now the diode. Since with this setup you can only have the bow or stern light on, but not both, that problem is solved by adding a simple diode between the two end terminals. Now the stern light can be turned on and the diode will block current from reaching the bow light. If you switch to the bow light, the diode allows current to flow to the stern light as well -- just like the rules specify. If you have a six terminal switch, post back. This is getting long.