I am replacing the distibution box on my H23 with a West Marine 6 switch panal. In the original box all the black wires, including the black wire from the battery, are fastened to a screw and screwed to a piece of wood in the box. The red wire goes to the fuses, then jumps across to the switch. The other wires are connected to the other prong of each switch but the switches are not connected together. The top switch also has a white wire connected to it. The new panal has all the red wires connected to the fuses and jumps across to each 3 prong switch. The swiches are all tied together with a black wire. The jumper from the fuses connect to the other prong and the center prong is empty. I am asuming that that non-red lead of each of the accesseries connect to the center prong of the switch. The top switch has 4 prongs, one for the black jumper wires that connects all the switches to each other, the red wire from each fuse, the center for the other accessory wire and one empty prong. The question is, does the white wire connect to that prong or do I run a jumper from the bundle of black wire attached to the screw. If I run a jumper, what do I do with the white wire?
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Something doesn't sound quite right
I'm having a hard time visualising the wiring in the new panel so I have a few questions: 1. Was the panel prewired? How? Where were the jumpers initially? 2. Where do the two wires from the battery connect to the panel? 3. You mentioned "all the red wires are connected to the fuses". Are these the red wires from the various circuits in the boat? 4. Is the top switch the same size as the others? You may also want to buy or borrow a DC voltmeter as it will come in very handy. I redid the wiring in my panel last year and replaced several switches. The center prong on the new switches didn't do anything. Peter H23 "Raven"
I'm having a hard time visualising the wiring in the new panel so I have a few questions: 1. Was the panel prewired? How? Where were the jumpers initially? 2. Where do the two wires from the battery connect to the panel? 3. You mentioned "all the red wires are connected to the fuses". Are these the red wires from the various circuits in the boat? 4. Is the top switch the same size as the others? You may also want to buy or borrow a DC voltmeter as it will come in very handy. I redid the wiring in my panel last year and replaced several switches. The center prong on the new switches didn't do anything. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Brian
send a photo
I think that if you can get a hold of a digital camera and post a photo it will be easier to diagnose. I too upgraded the switch board last spring and was pretty sure that I didn't have any "extra" wires dangling. Brian kickin' back
I think that if you can get a hold of a digital camera and post a photo it will be easier to diagnose. I too upgraded the switch board last spring and was pretty sure that I didn't have any "extra" wires dangling. Brian kickin' back
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Crazy Dave Condon
White wire which is new on me.
I too wonder what the heck this is. can you identify the manufacturer and model and I can look in my bag of info and then advise what the white wire is. IF you have the west marine number, I can look it up. At that point i can better advise. Crazy Dave Condon the Beenie Weenie
I too wonder what the heck this is. can you identify the manufacturer and model and I can look in my bag of info and then advise what the white wire is. IF you have the west marine number, I can look it up. At that point i can better advise. Crazy Dave Condon the Beenie Weenie
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Lee
Reply to Dave
The switches in the original distribution box all have two prongs except one which has 3 prongs. The red wires from the fuses connect to one prong and various other colors attach to the other prongs. The white wire only is connected to the middle prong of the switch with 3 prongs. Hunter thinks this is a power feed wire. I'm assumming that it is negative. All the switches in the new box have 3 prongs except for one switch which has 4 prongs.
The switches in the original distribution box all have two prongs except one which has 3 prongs. The red wires from the fuses connect to one prong and various other colors attach to the other prongs. The white wire only is connected to the middle prong of the switch with 3 prongs. Hunter thinks this is a power feed wire. I'm assumming that it is negative. All the switches in the new box have 3 prongs except for one switch which has 4 prongs.
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Daniel Jonas
Marine Electrician
This is one of those times when it makes sense to hire a good marine electrician for an hour to explain to you what you are looking at. Without pictures or better yet, circuit diagrams of what you have, I can't imagine we are going to figure this out for you. Be safe. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
This is one of those times when it makes sense to hire a good marine electrician for an hour to explain to you what you are looking at. Without pictures or better yet, circuit diagrams of what you have, I can't imagine we are going to figure this out for you. Be safe. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
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Crazy Dave Condon
Lee
Hunter is correct that the middle wire is a feed wire of sorts. This could be to the switch that operates the light on top of the mast which is an off/on/off switch. If that is the case, I bet ya that you got one light base with two bulbs that are seperated by a wall which in one case acts as the steaming light and the other, anchor light(both bulbs are on). As a rule of thumb, the negative is never on that distrubtin box.. The distribution is for the hot or red(feed) wires. Each switch merely disrupts the flow of the positive or hot circuit thus turning off whatever you have attached to it. Without pictures of the white wire and how it is attached, I will not stick my neck any further. That white wire is not properly color coded. Also, you may have a new wrong distribution box. A model number would help and then I can tell you if you really need that sucker or a different one. Crazy Dave Condon
Hunter is correct that the middle wire is a feed wire of sorts. This could be to the switch that operates the light on top of the mast which is an off/on/off switch. If that is the case, I bet ya that you got one light base with two bulbs that are seperated by a wall which in one case acts as the steaming light and the other, anchor light(both bulbs are on). As a rule of thumb, the negative is never on that distrubtin box.. The distribution is for the hot or red(feed) wires. Each switch merely disrupts the flow of the positive or hot circuit thus turning off whatever you have attached to it. Without pictures of the white wire and how it is attached, I will not stick my neck any further. That white wire is not properly color coded. Also, you may have a new wrong distribution box. A model number would help and then I can tell you if you really need that sucker or a different one. Crazy Dave Condon
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