Last year I replaced the bulbs in my mast head light as well as the lenses . I just assumed (wrong ) if I put some bulbs in all would be fine . There was also a splice I cleaned up at the botton where it goes into that 3 prong fitting . The light did not work so now I am back on the trailer and wondering if I attach some aligator clips to a 12 volt battery and clamp them to two of the 3 prongs should I be able to get the lights on or at least trouble shoot the problem ? Thanks as usual , Mike
mast head light
- Thread starter mmsailor
- Start date
trouble shoot.
Take a meter or a simple light tester to see if you have any current at the deck plug. There are three connectors. The big one is for negative ground and the other two are hot as you have a three wire going up the mast. If you have current, then go ahead and take off the wires on the plug that goes to the deck plug to insure clean wires and making contact. Many times corrosion will occur at the deck connectors.. If you do not have power, then go ahead and do a continuity check for the light bulbs or if you do not know how to do that, take a battery and test it that way. Get back and let us know. n
Take a meter or a simple light tester to see if you have any current at the deck plug. There are three connectors. The big one is for negative ground and the other two are hot as you have a three wire going up the mast. If you have current, then go ahead and take off the wires on the plug that goes to the deck plug to insure clean wires and making contact. Many times corrosion will occur at the deck connectors.. If you do not have power, then go ahead and do a continuity check for the light bulbs or if you do not know how to do that, take a battery and test it that way. Get back and let us know. n
Make up two wires with alligator clips. Run each of the wires from your battery to the base of the mast. Connect the wires,one being positive and one being negative to the connections at the base of the mast.If the lights work then the wiring from the mast base to the lights is o.k. Next disconnect the wires and turn on the light switch. Use a 12 volt meter in the dc current setting and check for current at the connection at the base of the mast. If you have no current there then check for current at the light off and on switch. Slowly work your way from one end to the other. If you have no current at the off, on switch check for blown fuses. If you have current at the base of the mast, the light fixture may have a problem.Wish I was there, there would be light.
Thank you for the advice, if it ever stops raining I will get to it , MikeMake up two wires with alligator clips. Run each of the wires from your battery to the base of the mast. Connect the wires,one being positive and one being negative to the connections at the base of the mast.If the lights work then the wiring from the mast base to the lights is o.k. Next disconnect the wires and turn on the light switch. Use a 12 volt meter in the dc current setting and check for current at the connection at the base of the mast. If you have no current there then check for current at the light off and on switch. Slowly work your way from one end to the other. If you have no current at the off, on switch check for blown fuses. If you have current at the base of the mast, the light fixture may have a problem.Wish I was there, there would be light.
Did you by chance use an LED bulb? They're polarity specific and will only work if put in the right way. Turn the bulb around and it should light. A circuit tester won't work with them either, you have to give them 12 volts to test. I take the battery out of my motorcycle to test my lights.
I don't remember now what kind of bulb I replaced them with . Thanks for the tip I will check that . I have a spare motorcycle battery somewhere . I remember I was going to replace the bulbs in the cabin with led and someone said I needed to change out the fixtures . I was not sure this made sense so I just never pursued it .Did you by chance use an LED bulb? They're polarity specific and will only work if put in the right way. Turn the bulb around and it should light. A circuit tester won't work with them either, you have to give them 12 volts to test. I take the battery out of my motorcycle to test my lights.
This depends upon the bulb. I just refitted my 26.5 inside and out with LEDs, and only one was polarity dependent.Did you by chance use an LED bulb? They're polarity specific and will only work if put in the right way. Turn the bulb around and it should light. A circuit tester won't work with them either, you have to give them 12 volts to test. I take the battery out of my motorcycle to test my lights.