Indicator light

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Joetech

Joetech

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Apr 13, 2007
142
Catalina 27 TR Lorain, Ohio
I have a new to me boat with an electric hot water heater. It's an on demand unit that works on AC only. There is a push button switch on the 12VDC panel. This seems to turn on a relay to activate the 120v heater. Trouble is, I cannot tell if it is on or off. I suppose I will only be able to tell when the water gets hot, or not. I would like to put a neon indicator under the switch.
I have some experience with electrical installations beyond changing a light bulb. I am fairly certain all I have to done is wire in a neon light by attaching the lead to each side of the switch.
I would like some second opinions.
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

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Sep 25, 2008
7,695
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Any 12v bulb wired in series on the hot side to grd will indicate power when on. That's the way most panel indicators are wired. If you are uncertain how to do it, check out one of the commercial panels in WM or any marine store and take a look at the back.

Note using a 12v relay to power the 120v AC heater sounds strange. Are you sure what you are looking at isn't a 120v breaker switch?
 
Sailvayu

Sailvayu

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Jul 25, 2007
320
-Irwin -Citation 40 Wilmington, NC
Interesting, I have not seen a 12 VDC relay for 120 VAC but I know they make them. Is it possible someone put a 120 VAC switch in the 12 VDC panel, I have seen that before, I am afraid I have seen it too many times really. If you can verify the voltage I think we can answer your questions better.

No matter the voltage putting a lead on each side of the switch is not going to work. You will need one side to ground or neutral and the other to the side of the switch that is closed or on when the switch is on.

And you thought this was going to be easy lol It is a boat after all thats what makes them interesting :)
 
Charles Erwin

Charles Erwin

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Jan 30, 2012
1,154
Nor'Sea 27 "Kiwanda" Portland/ Anacortes
The push button control is probably not a relay. It is likely the push button is a push button circuit breaker. Nearly all such push button breakers are designed to use with both AC (120V) and DC. Blues Seas for example makes seven. I am sure Newmar is similar.

Indicator lamps are also available but they are LED not neon. Blue Seas has 120VAC, 250VAC, and 12/24DC in threes colors.

Charles
 
C

captcoho

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Oct 29, 2012
356
Catalina 30 TRBS MkII Milwaukee
If you put one lead on each side of the switch you would be reading across the switch.
You would need to go from the load side of the switch to ground to indicate when the switch is on or off. With the indicator light on with the switch on.
If you put the indicator light across the switch as you stated, the light would go off when your switch is on........
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
I agree with the other posters it is probably a 120 volt CB. Do you have any open slots in the AC panel? If not they probably just put an AC CB in the 12 volt section for ease of installation.
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
Bill Roosa said:
I agree with the other posters it is probably a 120 volt CB. Do you have any open slots in the AC panel? If not they probably just put an AC CB in the 12 volt section for ease of installation.
Click to expand
correct me if i am worng here ...i thought that thye 12vdc and 120vac had to be isolated from each other in the panel ....is that correct.....

regards

woody
 
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