Electrical Question

[scrapheap51]

Im not a boat owner but I am doing a wiring repair for my Son in law and Daugter.
The lights on the boat need to be hooked up and I cant find the light switch, but I see some sort of switch that say navigation i think, is this the light switch? If so how are the lights supose to work, meaning are the front lights supose to work independently from the one in back that is on the little pole? Or do they all come on at the same time. Sorry if I sound so dumb but I am a car guy, I dont know all this boat talk. Sorry. Thanks for any help.

 

[Mylo53]

Re: Electrical Question

That very well could be the switch. If it is a pull switch then it most likely has different stop positions for all lights on and another stop position for anchor light. When in the all on position all lights will be on, when in anchor stop position only the anchor light (the one in back on the little pole). It could be a lever or paddle type switch, works same way, different stop positions for all on or anchor.
My boat has a paddle switch, center position is off, up is NAV (all on), down is ANC (anchor).

 

[G-Daddy]

Re: Electrical Question

What Mylo said. You can try to run jumpers from the switch to the lights to see if it is a wiring problem. I did this and isolated an electrical issue to a bad ground. Ran a new ground to the hardtop and fixed problems with windshield wipers, anchor light and cockpit lights.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Electrical Question

If it's a 3 position switch (NAV, ANCHOR, OFF) then here is the wiring diagram:

 

[scrapheap51]

Re: Electrical Question

That very well could be the switch. If it is a pull switch then it most likely has different stop positions for all lights on and another stop position for anchor light. When in the all on position all lights will be on, when in anchor stop position only the anchor light (the one in back on the little pole). It could be a lever or paddle type switch, works same way, different stop positions for all on or anchor.
My boat has a paddle switch, center position is off, up is NAV (all on), down is ANC (anchor).

It is a pull switch all the way in is off first pull to stop is Anchor light and second (full ) pull all lights on? is that the correct order? The switch only has three poles on the back, 1 for power and 1 must be for anchor lights and the other 1 for front lights. the switch is currently not hooked up from the p/o trying to repair the wiring shorts. It was a mess. so now I am trying to connect the loose ends.

 

[jhebert]

Re: Electrical Question

A electrical switch labeled "NAVIGATION" most likely controls the branch circuit of power distribution that feeds the navigation lamps. From your narrative it seems your boat has two lamps: a combined sidelight lamp at the bow and a white all-round lamp at the stern. As a power-driven vessel both lamps are illuminated when underway. A vessel at anchor shows only a white all-round light.

 

[scrapheap51]

Re: Electrical Question

A electrical switch labeled "NAVIGATION" most likely controls the branch circuit of power distribution that feeds the navigation lamps. From your narrative it seems your boat has two lamps: a combined sidelight lamp at the bow and a white all-round lamp at the stern. As a power-driven vessel both lamps are illuminated when underway. A vessel at anchor shows only a white all-round light.

Thanks to all you for the info, Sorry Im so new at this, but I guess your never to old to learn new things huh? Have a great summer. Thanks again for the info. Ron