Internal lighting

[Bill]

Have a 79 Catalina 30, the internal lighting wiring is giving problems. The light above the dinette on the port side is no longer working. When I removed the light fitting I could only find a single blue wire coming from the deckhead, Ive opened the area around this wire out with a dremal and have found another blue wire, the voltage between them is only 1.8v is there supposed to be another wire (earth).RgdsBill

 

[Dave19589]

Wiring

Bill: I am assuming that the light you speak of is your D.C. (battery operated) light....Answer is "no" there is no third wire....That is for A.C. type circuits only.....You are losing voltage somewhere if you are getting only 1.8....It is grounding out...Suggest that you put in a new set of wires from your switch panel to your light...DAVE

 

[Paul]

Lights

Bill,Had the same problem with my 79 Cat 30. I had multiple lights doing that. I installed all new wiring to all the lights.

 

[Lil Dan]

Where did you run the wires?

I have the same random black and blue wires sticking out where fixtures used to be. Is there any way to plumb the wires through those channels, or were they set in the fiberglass? I have a few things I have added using covered conduit on the bulkheads, but would like a more permanent and "hidden" solution when I redo most of the wiring.

 

[Bill]

Thanks for the reply's

Thanks for the replys, even though they confirmed my fears. Looks like I will have to run new wires, which is something I really didnt want to do. Anyway I will now have to find a way of running the wires to the fittings without having loose wires hanging from the deckhead.If anyone has doen this already can they let me know how they routed the wires, I dont want to go reinventing the wheel all over again.ThanksBill

 

[Gaspare]

I re-wored my '77 C30

A couple of years ago I installed a hatch and accidentally cut the main overhead cabin light wires. I checked them with an ohm meter and noticed a short between the ceiling core material and the wire(s). In other words, the insulation has broken down and moisture in the core in conducting. Try it on your boat. I ended up re-wiring everything, cabins lights, running lights, replacing fuse panels, etc. It's a big job, you have to get creative and just look for the best way to conceal the wires.