Looking For Mast Wiring Junction Box

[jssailem]

I am positive he will find his connections inside of his mast at the bottom.

Sure enough that is the typical place for them and the connections. While there are many specific unique designs possible, it is not normal for builders to make the connections unique. The BMW (boat marine workers) work on so many boats that they want to have teh usual stuff common. Lifting a mast is a common task. disconnecting the wires that run in the mast is a common task. More often than not you will find the wires stuffed in the bottom of the mast connected with a simple connector like a trailer wire plug or simple wire plugs.

or
and

 

[SG]

Trailer hitch type connectors for lights. But for the wind instruments?

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Trailer hitch type connectors for lights. But for the wind instruments?

I think they typically leave that up to the individual. Simrad provided a small plastic junction box but did not provide a connector. So the 2 cable segments just ended in stripped wires where the connection was to be made. I thought about using the junction box below the deck, but I didn't want to get into a project to make a new pass-through at the base underneath the mast and the connections for lights and VHF were above the deck inside the mast anyway. I was having problems with water leaking through the hole, so I passed the interior end of the Simrad cable up thru the hole and sealed it all (Simrad cable, light wires - 4 in an insulated sheath, and VHF cable) with a big glob of silicone. I had to find a good connector that served the 5 or 6 wires and made a nice water-tight seal (I forget if it was 5 or 6). I found it at an electrical supply house and the junctions were made for 16 G wire, which is much larger than the much smaller wires in the Simrad cable, but it seems to work fine for these past 10 years or so.
I haven't had any problems since then, but I admit that it isn't a very good application. At some point in time, I'm going to have to remove that glob of silicone if I have to replace any of the cables that pass through the deck.
Mitch, your point was clear from the beginning, no worries! Yes, the wires will be buried in inaccessible locations … it's the location of the connectors that matter in regard to the original post.

 

[dlochner]

… it's the location of the connectors that matter in regard to the original post.

I'll own up to part of the confusion. In my original response, done on an iPhone, I had assumed the OP had already looked in the mast and was looking for the rest of the wire. Part of the brief post was that typing on an iPhone is not all that easy.

 

[jssailem]

Dave, you should try dictating into the iPhone. Siri/Apple is not conversant with Sailor. SO some words come out horrible mangled.
I got dinged on another post for entering “her” when I dictated “here” and failed to catch it on the review.
Oh the humanity of this internet/tech world.

 

[FDL S2]

@Scott T-Bird convenience for the boat owner? I don't think builders thought of that.

https://audioseastories.com/feature_april18/

Great article! I can relate having owned several old boats (sail and power). Outlawing previous owner "engineering" should also be a law!

 

[dlochner]

Outlawing previous owner "engineering" should also be a law!

That would be the Golden Rule of DIY of boat owners,
"Do not do unto the next owner what the prior owner did unto you."

 

[JimInPB]

Dave, you should try dictating into the iPhone. Siri/Apple is not conversant with Sailor. SO some words come out horrible mangled.
I got dinged on another post for entering “her” when I dictated “here” and failed to catch it on the review.
Oh the humanity of this internet/tech world.

Yea, one of my less eloquent acquaintances was texting with his girlfriend a few years ago. He intended to send "I'm really looking forward to pumping you later tonight" (like I said, not so eloquent), but what he actually sent was "I'm really looking forward to dumping you later tonight" to which she responded "I was thinking that we should spend some time apart anyway". That took a loooonnnngg time to straighten out.

Space technology - here's what's in it for you

 

[FDL S2]

That would be the Golden Rule of DIY of boat owners,
"Do not do unto the next owner what the prior owner did unto you."

I definitely try not to replicate the crap I've found in boats. I've replaced miles of speaker wire that was used instead of DC wire in boats.
Also, wtf would you put this here!?!? For a number of things.

 

[belwood studio]

I try to reconnect mast lights on a 1988 Tartan 30 # TAR31054E888. There is a connection bus under the port settee.
I tried to use a voltmeter to determine:
1 (Brown) = neg
2 (Orange) =
3 (Yellow) =
4 (Green) =

Coming from the mast :
(Blue)
(Brown)
and
(Grey)
(Blue)
(Yellow+Green)

I tried all combinations, and none is activating any light on the mast. Would anyone have a s schematic before I climb and replace all the bulbs ?
Thank you.

Robert Coles - rcolesny at gmail

 

[jssailem]

There is a connection bus under the port settee.
I tried to use a voltmeter to determine:
1 (Brown) = neg
2 (Orange) =
3 (Yellow) =
4 (Green) =

Let’s start here. You’ve identified the brown as neg.
when you put your voltmeter black connector to brown and

1. the red lead to Orange - what do you get.
2. the red lead to Yellow - what do you get.
   
3. the red lead to Green - what do you get.

Are these wires connected to any switches. Do the switches have labels?

 

[jviss]

But for the wind instruments?

I use waterproof-housing RJ-45 connectors.

 

[belwood studio]

This jssailen... I am still puzzled. Nothing lights on the mast whatever combination I try:
6 wires = (5*4*3*2)/2) combinatory possibilities... I'll wait for the mast coming down this winter... ghrrr
It is possible that the bulbs are all shot or all connections are corroded... or that the common negative is disconnected.

 

[Jacktar]

My money is on your common negative, one bad short and it kills all the circuits.

 

[SG]

belwood studio:
John (jssailem) wisely suggested above,

Let’s start here. You’ve identified the brown as neg.
when you put your voltmeter black connector to brown and

1. the red lead to Orange - what do you get.
2. the red lead to Yellow - what do you get.
3. the red lead to Green - what do you get.

Are these wires connected to any switches. Do the switches have labels?​

I think you need to do this first at the connection "box" in the boat or base of the mast. If you don't see power there (with a GOOD ground), you'll know something. You should check the ground at the base of the mast.

Then you check the continuity to the ground at the masthead by checking what's going on at one of the lights at the masthead. Then you'll be able to check the Orange/Yellow/Green.

It's not electronics, it's simple electricity. It's possible that all three corroded, more likely the ground (as Jactar suggested above) because all three are out. It's also possible that something "mechanically" cut the circuit -- but probably less likely unless when you were mounting the mast...

​

 

[jssailem]

@belwood studio I feel your frustration. Sorry I do not know a quick fix. It is a process of elimination. Most often it is one thing not many.

Occam's razor is the problem-solving principle that the simplest solution tends to be the right one. When presented with competing hypotheses to solve a problem, one should select the solution with the fewest assumptions.​

My bet is on the ground wire either corroded or broken at the head fixture. It will be a lot easier to identify and correct with the mast down. Best of luck.