Electrical problem

[Canuk111]

I have a 2005 Hunter 33.

There seems to be a fault on the electrical panel.When the stereo/radio switch is ON then the cabin light switch dimly glows even though it is in the OFF position . When this is turned to ON then the stereo cuts out! All eqipment is factory fitted and nothing has been changed. Has anyone else experienced this problem????????

 

[KD3PC]

you have a short somewhere on that 12 circuit. It is likely that there is a "bus" for either ground or 12 volts, that when the load of the stereo is on, it is sufficient to draw down the cabin lights.

IF you are comfortable, remove 110 volt power from the boat, turn off the 110 mains at the shorepower entrance and at the breaker panel, turn off your inverter....and then open the power panel.
Find a stiff piece of cardboard and lay over the 110 side of the power panel and investigate the 12 volt side - where the stereo and cabin light switches "intersect"...could be poor connection, shorted wires or a bad switch (especially if the switches are on the bus)

My hunter is older, so may be one of the newer boat guys can give you more specifics

All the best...

 

[Don12364]

From a visualisation of your circuit diagram I would suggest that the light which glows has a common negative return with the stereo. Also the light switch may operate several other lights.
Then, if the common negative of glow light and stereo was not connected to the boat's negative (loose terminal or corrosion etc) then the current from the stereo would flow through the light and then through all the other lights on that circuit and thence to the negative bus. The light would glow dimly.
Then, when the light is switched on it puts positive on each wire of the stereo (via the light) which will prevent the stereo from working.

So I suggest checking the negative connection of the stereo and making sure it really does go to a good negative bus

 

[wufibugs]

Like Canuk's my Hunter is much older, 86. At that time Hunter was using spade connectors without shrink tubing at the panel. This substantially increases the possibilities for shorts of the kind described. With lots of help from this forum, I changed all mine out to eye connectors [that at least won't disconnect if they get loose] and upgraded a few of the wires I thought were under-gauge, and made sure they were all shrink wrapped with marine grade. I am hoping your boat is much improved on this since 86.

 

[Johnb]

I second Donalex's analysis. There is a good possibility that the negative connection for the stereo has gone bad and current from that device is finding it's way back to battery negative via the lights.

This is just what you get with trailer wiring - when the gorund is missing the tail lights work because they find a way to ground through the brake lights, until you brake, then they all go out