Lighting/electrical issue

[Jayg76]

Hi. I am trying to fix the interior floor lights on my 2006 Sun Tracker Party Barge 27. They have recently become extremely dim. I disconnected the lights and used my multimeter to check the voltage at each light and get a reading of 12.97 volts, however, as soon as i hook the lights back up, I get a reading of 4.2 volts. Does anyone know what could possibly cause this issue?

Thanks for any advise!

Jay G.

 

[NYBo]

Welcome to iboats! :welcome:

This indicates high resistance somewhere, either a loose or corroded connection, or a bad switch. Where are you measuring the voltage?

 

[Jayg76]

Hi NYBo. Thank you for the reply! I am measuring the voltage at each of the three light strips. They are located at the bottom of my seats. same problem at each light strip. I traced the wires from the switch through the terminals and under the boat...I didn't see any corrosion or any loose wires. I also measured the voltage at the switch, and all terminals and got the same 12.97v reading. My friend recommended I spray wd-40 on the terminals and all connections, but I heard that could cause more problems...could something like that help?

 

[glenn property of pam]

A volt meter measures electrical pressure. So think of this as putting your finger over the end of a hose and just turning the tap on slightly. You will fell the pressure in the hose but when you let your finger off the pressure will drop. Now if you turn the tap on full and put your finger over the hose you will fell the same pressure as before but now as you remove your finger you will still fell the pressure even at high flow.
So like nybo said you need to find the connection that's acting like a tap that's only slightly open in the electrical connections. clean all the connections then take the volt reading with the lights turned on. The voltage should not drop below 12v with the lights on.
When the lights are on if you can get to the back of the switch if the middle connection is 12v and the out going cable to the lights is lower then the switch is the restriction and need to be replaced.
p.s remember that 12vdc is using both the + and - cables so clean both.
wd40 is not going to fix your problem

 

[Jayg76]

Hi Glenn. Thank you for the information. I am going out to start cleaning all the electrical terminals on the boat. I purchased a electrical cleaning solvent. I started pulling some wires off the terminals yesterday and saw a good amount of corrosion on the connection terminals...so I am pretty sure this is my issue. Thank you and NYBo for your help with this issue!

Jay G.

 

[Bondo]

Hi Glenn. Thank you for the information. I am going out to start cleaning all the electrical terminals on the boat. I purchased a electrical cleaning solvent. I started pulling some wires off the terminals yesterday and saw a good amount of corrosion on the connection terminals...so I am pretty sure this is my issue. Thank you and NYBo for your help with this issue!

Jay G.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Don't forget the Grounds too,....

 

[kjsAZ]

and before you assemble it put some synthetic dielectric grease on every connection. Will help to not do this all over again in 2-3 years from now.
My current favorite is Super Lube Anti-Corrosion Gel (available in home improvement stores too). It's not named dielectric grease as the max voltage isn't specified but at 12V there's no issue.

 

[Jayg76]

Thank you kjsAZ....will do!

 

[Jayg76]

Thanks for the tip Bondo!