Anchor and Steaming light both went out!!

[Captnkev25]

I had an empty switch labeled deck light so I utilized it to install a 12 volt socket for charging cell phones and to run a small inverter. There were no wires attached to the switch so I just installed the hot line on the switch and grounded it on the bus bar. Since then both my anchor and steaming light are out!! I am going down tomorrow with a multimeter and some contact cleaner for the deck plug. I'm hoping that in my futzing around while installing the socket I just knocked the ground loose or something. Will a single 9 volt send enough power up the mast to light the bulbs even dimly? I'd like to get it fixed by the fourth if I can as we have plans to go anchor out and watch the fireworks .

 

[sailaway78]

Don't think

a single nine volt will do the job. I do think you are correct in thinking that you have knocked a ground loose, or possibly the positive. I would think that with a multimeter and a little time you should find the problem.

 

[Captnkev25]

Thanks. I'm hoping it's just that. It's my understanding that it's two hots and one common ground so my inexperienced theory would lead me to think it's the ground. If I only knocked off one hot the other light should in theory still work?? I have only rudimentary knowledge and experience in household electric and the installation of the 12 volt socket was my very first foray into DC lol.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Kev,

Try this: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=130998

Also, just"undo" what you did to see if it makes any difference.

Then, as suggested, check all the connections. That's what it usually is, 'specially if it was working before.

 

[Captnkev25]

Thanks Stu. Already a satisfied member of the C25 forum and I have the identical posting up over there . I like to cast a wide net when looking for help and both of these forums have been great for that. My game plan is to carefully inspect the panel first making sure all is well then if that's not it then use my multimeter to check the deck fitting. I'll clean both sides with contact cleaner while it's apart. If I have no power I'll disconnect the newly installed socket and see what happens then lol. If I have power I'll check the mast wiring with a 9 volt. If I get lights then I will assume it's the connection at the base of the mast or on deck and will probably remove them cut back the wires a bit and reinstall. After that I have no idea lol. Probably crawl back to these forums and whine about it

 

[Auspicious]

From your description I would guess (and it is a guess) that the ground for the mast lights dropped off the bus bar when you were hooking up the ground for you new socket. Spend some time looking for a loose wire near and under the ground bus bar. It is possible the wire still looks connected but is no longer making a good metal-to-metal electrical connection.

 

[jibes138]

To see if your bulbs burned out just check for continuity at the deck switch. Put the meter on the ohms setting and see what resistance you get when you touch one lead to the positive connector terminal or socket and the other lead on the other. If you get no reading the bulb is burned out or not making a connection in the mast fitting, or you have an open circuit for another reason. This will rule out whether the bulbs are a question. If those are ok indicated by a resistance reading for the wire going through the bulb element then you will need to check upstream, reconnect the deck connector and go to the panel, check for continuity the same way. If you still have continuity then you have a power supply or ground issue at the panel.

 

[Ron20324]

When You Said "no Wires Were Attached To The Switch", Did You Mean The Circuit Breaker Perhaps?

 

[Captnkev25]

Thanks Jibes I'll check it out later today and yes Ron. There was a switch on my panel labeled deck light that on the back of the panel had nothing connected to it. I don't have a deck light anywhere so I just connected my hot for the outlet to the switch and the negative to the bus bar. That way I can control the outlet by switch and it is also fused if it gets over loaded.

 

[Captnkev25]

All fixed. It was the deck plug. Little plumbers grit cloth on the male contacts and some contact cleaner and a tiny allen key on the female end and I was back in business. Thanks for the input guys. It was useful to know how to check the resistance up the mast with the multimeter to rule that out right away.

 

[Deleted member 78819]

... in case you can't find the problem before the fireworks, use the jib halyard to haul a lantern up the mast. Be sure you have a down haul attached to the halyard, not the lantern, so you can bring her back down or tension the rig to keep the lantern from swinging into the mast...