My 84' Catalina only has two wires going up the mast. From other available wire diagrams, most boats have four wires. Now... the reason why I inquire is that NONE of my lights work. It also appears I don't have an anchor light on top of my mast, but only a light at the front of the mast on the bow side, which explains only two wires. Anyone else have this config? My depthguage and VHF work fine, however, no lights. They're all on separate fuses so it seems strange. Thanks.
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Dave Slepoy
lights
On the mast...normally.... the 12 volts dc (hot) wire to the steaming light is a seperate wire and the masthead 12 volt (hot ) is a seperate wire, the grounds are tied together for a possible 3 wire connector on the deck. If there were spreader lights or a fordeck light it also would have a seperate 12 volt ( hot ) and the groung wires are tied into the other ground wires, with spreader or fordeck lights you would have 4 wires ( 3- 12volt hots and 1 ground ) at the connector. All lights switch the HOTS at the switch panel, and ground are tied to the ground bus bar. If you check to find which is hot or if you have 12 volts at a light use this trick--use a cigarette lighter plug and hook a wire (long enough to reach the bow light area) to the ground connector in the plug, plug into cig lighter in your boat or hook it to ground on a battery, This gives you a portable ground that will reach anywhere on the boat, you can check any light on the boat from the bow to the masthead. It is easier to connect the ground jumper ground to the mast and you can go up the mast and you know you have a good battery ground to check mast lights.
On the mast...normally.... the 12 volts dc (hot) wire to the steaming light is a seperate wire and the masthead 12 volt (hot ) is a seperate wire, the grounds are tied together for a possible 3 wire connector on the deck. If there were spreader lights or a fordeck light it also would have a seperate 12 volt ( hot ) and the groung wires are tied into the other ground wires, with spreader or fordeck lights you would have 4 wires ( 3- 12volt hots and 1 ground ) at the connector. All lights switch the HOTS at the switch panel, and ground are tied to the ground bus bar. If you check to find which is hot or if you have 12 volts at a light use this trick--use a cigarette lighter plug and hook a wire (long enough to reach the bow light area) to the ground connector in the plug, plug into cig lighter in your boat or hook it to ground on a battery, This gives you a portable ground that will reach anywhere on the boat, you can check any light on the boat from the bow to the masthead. It is easier to connect the ground jumper ground to the mast and you can go up the mast and you know you have a good battery ground to check mast lights.
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Alan
I agree with Dave's response
I have a similar config., I upgraded all my lites but changed the deck connection with a cigarette type plug so I can use it not only for the mast lite, but also portable lites, etc. New wire, fuses, lites upgraded and works fine. The only thing I didn't install was an anchor lite and deck/mast lite although I wish I had done the latter of the two. All grounds to one, one hot to each switch/lite, all work fine.
I have a similar config., I upgraded all my lites but changed the deck connection with a cigarette type plug so I can use it not only for the mast lite, but also portable lites, etc. New wire, fuses, lites upgraded and works fine. The only thing I didn't install was an anchor lite and deck/mast lite although I wish I had done the latter of the two. All grounds to one, one hot to each switch/lite, all work fine.
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Rick
mast lights
I too had two wires at the mast, but I stepped my mast and added a anchor, steamer, and deck light. Very glad I did. Check your 2 wires with a multimeter and if they work, add more "hots" for more lights, and one ground. Nice idea about the DC outlet.
I too had two wires at the mast, but I stepped my mast and added a anchor, steamer, and deck light. Very glad I did. Check your 2 wires with a multimeter and if they work, add more "hots" for more lights, and one ground. Nice idea about the DC outlet.
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Bayard Gross
Standard config for a pre '85 C-22
I think around 1985, Catalina changed the two wire configuration that you have to a four wire configuration. The four wire has a hot for the steaming light (which you have), a hot for the mast deck light (mounted just below the steaming light), and a hot for an anchor light. The fourth is a common ground for the other three. Note, that I do not think you can easily change that Perko style two wire plug on your deck to a four wire one as the size of the mounting hole will differ. But, I also think the techincal department of Catalina Direct can give you good information about that. Better than I, but maybe not perfect. Nevertheless, I think you can skip putting in additional lights. If you want to work on the mast, you'll get more out of your efforts putting in internal halyards. For an anchor light, one of those Davis Mega lights on a pig pole may be fine. Others do that with varied sucess depending upon the longevity of the Mega light bulb. And for the deck, just hang one of those simple battery operated camp style lights. The trick is to get all your hand held equipment, radios, GPS, Lights, etc., working on the same style battery, such as AA. In that way need only stock up on one style battery for all your needs.
I think around 1985, Catalina changed the two wire configuration that you have to a four wire configuration. The four wire has a hot for the steaming light (which you have), a hot for the mast deck light (mounted just below the steaming light), and a hot for an anchor light. The fourth is a common ground for the other three. Note, that I do not think you can easily change that Perko style two wire plug on your deck to a four wire one as the size of the mounting hole will differ. But, I also think the techincal department of Catalina Direct can give you good information about that. Better than I, but maybe not perfect. Nevertheless, I think you can skip putting in additional lights. If you want to work on the mast, you'll get more out of your efforts putting in internal halyards. For an anchor light, one of those Davis Mega lights on a pig pole may be fine. Others do that with varied sucess depending upon the longevity of the Mega light bulb. And for the deck, just hang one of those simple battery operated camp style lights. The trick is to get all your hand held equipment, radios, GPS, Lights, etc., working on the same style battery, such as AA. In that way need only stock up on one style battery for all your needs.
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Frank Sheets
Add plug
If you get your deck plug working you can add an anchor light and switch plugs with the steaming light when your on the hook.
If you get your deck plug working you can add an anchor light and switch plugs with the steaming light when your on the hook.
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Dick of Sylvan
Wiring Diagram
Benjamin: A few years ago there was a wiring diagram for the 2-wire type providing for an anchor and another steamer/deck light on the mast, in the C22 Ass'n "Mainsheet" magazine, I think provided by skipper of Tequilla Sunset. It involved a couple of extra switches mounted low on the mast. I followed their directions and it works fine. I don't know if the diagram ever made it into their new Technical Manual CD, but you could probably ask someone through www.catalina22.org/
Benjamin: A few years ago there was a wiring diagram for the 2-wire type providing for an anchor and another steamer/deck light on the mast, in the C22 Ass'n "Mainsheet" magazine, I think provided by skipper of Tequilla Sunset. It involved a couple of extra switches mounted low on the mast. I followed their directions and it works fine. I don't know if the diagram ever made it into their new Technical Manual CD, but you could probably ask someone through www.catalina22.org/
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