H340 Cockpit Courtesy Light and Speaker Locations

[Cool_Change]

Just picked up our new (to us) 340....Two questions:

Whille exploring I've found what appears to be a courtesy light on the forward lower edge of the binnacle. Is this what it is? How do you turn it on / which circuit is it?

I've been reading posts on various spots to place cockpit speakers...has anyone considered or tried mounting them in the face of the sheet storage boxes? I'm thinking could mount them with a liner so the lines don't get tangled on the back of the speakers...

 

[Steve Dion]

Feel around on the pedestal. Our Hunter Vision also has a similar light. There is a cubby hole on the forward side of the pedestal console and the switch is in there.

 

[John T1594]

Light switch

On my 2000 H340, there is a switch mounted on the upper forward port side of the pedestal (binacle). The clip for the VHF microphone is also mounted there. You should be able to see the switch and the mic clip in the lower left side o the attached photo.

As to speakers, my boat and others of that vintage have an overhead pod, mounted on the arch, that contains two speakers and a courtesy light.

 

[Solace H340]

Re: Light switch

Light switch is on pedestal near microphone clip. I believe you may also need to turn nav lights or some other lighting circuit on for the pedestal switch to work.
I put my speakers in the two access ports at the base of the arch. To wire the speakers: There is a tube that runs from the back of the breaker box to the battery compartment. There is a sting in the tube that will let you pull the speaker wires. Be sure to run another string through when you pull the speaker wires using the existing string in case you want to run other wires later. Not too hard to run the speaker wires to the base of the arch from there. I had to drill into the arch from the rear berth access cover (in the ceiling on the port side). My stereo is essentially a car stereo and there are rear speaker connections. That's what I connected the speakers I put in the arch to. I used outside speakers bought at West marine. Took out the ports, including the rim. Had to file the opening just a bit to fit the speakers in, but wasn't too hard. Good luck.

 

[Cool_Change]

Courtesy light....ah ha!...I have that switch on the pedestal too but thought it was related to a port that's although there for autopilot remote (missing). I'll try some combinations of breakers and the switch...thanks!

Speakers...I should have mentioned yr 2000 but with stainless arch. I suspect Solace that you have the fibreglass one? I made a plexi prototype of the overhead pod but thinking that the sound would be better coming more from the sides somehow...perhaps the upper corners of the arch instead and although making the boxes for there could be even more of a challenge given the pecular shape at that point...easier wiring I suspect than from the sheet holders. Oh well, it's raining today and I have time to poke around....

 

[John T1594]

I don't know about your boat but on mine, that courtesy light switch is a problem. I works when I test it but won't work in the evening when I need the light. I have to pull the switch and clean the slide on contacts from time to time. I don't remember which breaker it is tied too but it may be wired to the VHF, the instruments or other breakers.

 

[noprob2]

Cockpit light

Previous info re switch is correct
It is on cabin light breaker
It is a festoon type bulb (double ended )and might be corrodded
Open cover(just pries off)
Don't lose rubber gasket
check bulb
Spin it around might be corrodded or put in a new one
Has tendency to get damp
Enjoy what I have found to be a great family boat
t

 

[Cool_Change]

LOL...What rubber gasket?! ;-) Guessing that someone has been there before me. Ok..add that to the list. Tried every breaker and bulb looks fine so next time I go down to the boat taking along multimeter to see where the problem is. Not a priority job but good to take care of.

So I made the pod for the arch speakers but have yet to drill the arch and run the wires through. If someone has done this on a 2000 340 could you advise whether easier to drill and wire through the forward or aft arch tube please? I found one post suggesting aft but want to check that as looks to be a pretty creative angle to drill the lower end of it in the locker...not sure my arms bends in that many different directions!

 

[Steve W]

My '97 376 has a similar light. Look around the pedastal and you "should" find a rocker switch. Mine in on the back side so it's within reach when sitting behind the wheel. One of these days I'll turn it on with a bunch of other stuff and then start flipping breakers off to see which circuit it's tied into.

 

[Cool_Change]

The courtesy light is working (cabin lights breaker and a loose connection inside the pedestal).

And...cockpit speakers are mounted into a pod I made out of plexi on the arch, wired down through to the locker and forward to the stereo. Only trouble was the previous owner pulled I suspect the zantrex cable thru and not another messenger line so had to do a little fishing! ;-)

Thank you all for your help.

 

[Bill19233]

My son and I finally finished installing 8 speakers in the cockpit on our 2000 340 last weekend. 2 in the arch, 2 - 6 X 9's in the helm, 2 box speakers under the rail seats, and 2 in the seahood instrument pod. Ran the arch wires in the front starboard tube. Sounds great!