mast head light switches

[lloyd ferencik]

I have just purchased a perko combination anchor steaming light.It combines to seperate lights to be used as needed.The instalation literature says to use dual pole switches to avoid feedback and having both lights turn on when only one is needed.But perko themselves only seem to sell single pole switches.I want to up grade all my electrics including the panel and will be willing to install a new panel but this dual pole thing is giving me fits.Any ideas?

 

[Eric Lorgus]

One circuit or two?

Lloyd,Mast lights can be tricky if you're adding a device but don't have any spare circuits in your existing wiring. The challenge then is to connect two devices (like a steaming light and a deck light) to one circuit, and have a fancy switch to turn one or the other or both on.On my H54, I have a button that can activate up to seven different combinations of devices (not my idea -- the previous owner installed this). You first have to turn the breaker on for this single circuit, then use the button to toggle on exactly which light or combination of lights you want.When we tried to replace this with individual switches, we discovered the reason for the fancy switch -- there weren't any spare circuits on the existing mast wiring, which was pressed into a narrow conduit (i.e., not easily accessible without unstepping the mast).I'm not sure if this is your situation, but if it is, then you can see the dilemma, and the need for "fancy switches".Good luck.

 

[Les Murray]

I replaced my mast lights last week

Lloyd,I replaced my lights last week. I did the same thing, except that my original light also was a combination light. I have two separate switches on my panel for the two lights. At the mast I have three wires, one for the masthead light, one for the spreader light, and a common ground. It was just a matter of matching the wires to the switches and the connectors in the light.Les Murrays/v Ceilidh86 C-36 #560

 

[Dale Wile]

New Panel, More Circuits

I installed a new panel the first season I owned my 23.5 (6 years ago). The switches kept falling out of the piece of junk panel that came from the factory. I installed a Seadog (now called a Seafit) six circuit panel (available from West Marine, among others). I also installed a three-way switch for the bilge pump. This allowed me to wire my Perko masthead light to two different switches on the panel, one circuit for the anchor light and one for the steaming light. Using an additional switch for the running light circuit, I still had three spares for such things as the VHF radio, the stereo, and several cabin outlets.The system has worked well, trouble-free for six years.Dale WileSandpoint, Idaho

 

[Rick Webb]

Had not Thought Much About it , Untill Now

I have a 23.5 and it has a double throw switch for the mast/steam light but do not remember it being a double pole switch there is some sort of transistor between the poles. I will try to give it another look and see how exactly it is set up, maybe if it were earlier in the evening it would seem clear how it works right now the only thing I can think of is it is a logic gate between the two posts on the switch. All the other ideas light both lights or involve more than the three wires that go to the light. Looked at the owners manual and it shows nothing but the color of the wire. I am sure it is a simple solution.