New Stern Light

[Plymouth Sailor]

I need a little electrical advice from those whom have more knowledge than I. My boat is older with an original electric panel. I bought it without a stern light and without an electrical connection. I have installed one with wiring and tested it directly to the battery with success. How can I now attach it to the panel? The nav bow lights are on the top switch. Please see photo, any help appreciated, thank you!

 

[kappykaplan]

I'd attach the stern light to the nav bow lights switch. You want the stern light to operate at the same time as the bow lights.

 

[JoeWhite]

If you know which 2 wires, red and black, go to your bow running lights then add the stern black and red wires to these wires.

 

[jssailem]

@JoeWhite & @kappykaplan nailed the connection. The Stern light is on when the Navlights are turned on.
Wiring them to the same switch makes sense.
You already know that having inconsistent colored wires makes for confusion. Your image has red and black wires, both connected to what appears to be a common piece of metal. If true, this would be bad.

Use red for the positive side of the battery and black for the negative connection. That way, there is less chance of you arcing and sparking when you play with the boat's electricity.

 

[Plymouth Sailor]

I'd attach the stern light to the nav bow lights switch. You want the stern light to operate at the same time as the bow lights.

Yes, thank you, that I know, but don’t know how to do that.

@JoeWhite & @kappykaplan nailed the connection. The Stern light is on when the Navlights are turned on.
Wiring them to the same switch makes sense.
You already know that having inconsistent colored wires makes for confusion. Your image has red and black wires, both connected to what appears to be a common piece of metal. If true, this would be bad.

Use red for the positive side of the battery and black for the negative connection. That way, there is less chance of you arcing and sparking when you play with the boat's electricity.

Thanks, where do I do that? What I have is a positive and negative wire but what wires on the panel do I connect to?

 

[Plymouth Sailor]

If you know which 2 wires, red and black, go to your bow running lights then add the stern black and red wires to these wires.

Not sure.

 

[BrianQ]

In your first post you stated "The nav bow lights are on the top switch ". If that is the case the positive wire from your stern light would be tied into the positive wire coming from that switch, and the negative stern light wire would go to the negative buss bar, which is probably the one in the lower center of your picture. The buss bar to the right in your picture is most likely the positive buss bar. To verify this take a multimeter, you have one right, and set it to 20V DC and place one probe on each of the buss bars. If a negative sign "-" appears before the number switch the probes around and the positive buss bar will be the one the red probe is contacting. This is of course the probes are in the correct receptacles of the meter.

If you're in doubt, find someone who knows how to use a multimeter and understands simple DC circuits.

BTW, it is common for switch manufactures to use the same color wire for both side of the circuit.

 

[jssailem]

BTW, it is common switch manufactures to use the same color wire for both side of the circuit.

This is true to a point.

Positive from battery to the load. Negative from load back to battery.

A switch is located between the battery and the load. Common color through the switch.

 

[BrianQ]

To be more precise I should have said "switch" not "circuit". As in "It is common for switch manufactures to use the same color wire for both side of the switch.

 

[Plymouth Sailor]

In your first post you stated "The nav bow lights are on the top switch ". If that is the case the positive wire from your stern light would be tied into the positive wire coming from that switch, and the negative stern light wire would go to the negative buss bar, which is probably the one in the lower center of your picture. The buss bar to the right in your picture is most likely the positive buss bar. To verify this take a multimeter, you have one right, and set it to 20V DC and place one probe on each of the buss bars. If a negative sign "-" appears before the number switch the probes around and the positive buss bar will be the one the red probe is contacting. This is of course the probes are in the correct receptacles of the meter.

If you're in doubt, find someone who knows how to use a multimeter and understands simple DC circuits.

BTW, it is common for switch manufactures to use the same color wire for both side of the circuit.

Thank you!

 

[Joe]

Not sure.

You don't need to run it to the bow lights, just connect the stern light wires to the breaker panel switch that operates your red and green navigation lights (the two at the bow)..... what ever that switch is called. So, just so you know, check all the switches to see what they do. You need to know this... basic boat ownership 101. That means turning them on and off, making a note of what happens. The red and green bow light and the stern white light should always be on the same circuit. These are your navigation lights... nav lights.

How do you do it, you ask? my friend, time to get your hands dirty. You will have to pull out the panel to access the back. You'll see individual connectors for each fuse/breaker. one one side, this will be the positive side. and on the other a long metal strip with nuts on it. This is the negative bus bar.... notice that all the black wires are connected to it... the negs don't need to be separated from one another, where as the reds are the positive leads that only attach to their designated device breakers. You'll probably just need a screwdriver or maybe a nut driver (don't ask me) to make the attachments. You'll want to use proper electrical wire fasteners, so just match up with what's obvious on the panel. You can purchase the connectors at you local chandlery... or hardware store. Get the crimp on type if you think a soldering iron is going to be a challenge for you. (but that's basic skill every boat owner should have.... actually anyone should have that skill, it makes life more fun). So that's it. tools....... screw driver, pliers, connectors, shrink wrap tape, or electrical tape and a soldering iron (if you're ambitious) good to go. GOOD LUCK....... Have fun!

 

[Plymouth Sailor]

You don't need to run it to the bow lights, just connect the stern light wires to the breaker panel switch that operates your red and green navigation lights (the two at the bow)..... what ever that switch is called. So, just so you know, check all the switches to see what they do. You need to know this... basic boat ownership 101. That means turning them on and off, making a note of what happens. The red and green bow light and the stern white light should always be on the same circuit. These are your navigation lights... nav lights.

How do you do it, you ask? my friend, time to get your hands dirty. You will have to pull out the panel to access the back. You'll see individual connectors for each fuse/breaker. one one side, this will be the positive side. and on the other a long metal strip with nuts on it. This is the negative bus bar.... notice that all the black wires are connected to it... the negs don't need to be separated from one another, where as the reds are the positive leads that only attach to their designated device breakers. You'll probably just need a screwdriver or maybe a nut driver (don't ask me) to make the attachments. You'll want to use proper electrical wire fasteners, so just match up with what's obvious on the panel. You can purchase the connectors at you local chandlery... or hardware store. Get the crimp on type if you think a soldering iron is going to be a challenge for you. (but that's basic skill every boat owner should have.... actually anyone should have that skill, it makes life more fun). So that's it. tools....... screw driver, pliers, connectors, shrink wrap tape, or electrical tape and a soldering iron (if you're ambitious) good to go. GOOD LUCK....... Have fun!

Thanks, however that’s what I stated. The top switch runs the nav lights and that’s why I need to learn the best way to attach the stern light to the nav light switch.

 

[jssailem]

I need to learn the best way to attach the stern light to the nav light switch

One approach is to insert a small terminal block between the switch and the lights.

Clip the wire that runs from the switch to the nav lights.
Make it long enough to run from the switch to the terminal block.
Attach that wire from the switch to the terminal block
Attach the wires that connect to the light to the terminal block

Now all the Navlights are attached to the terminal block, and the single wire from the switch powers all of the NavLights.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

Thanks, however that’s what I stated. The top switch runs the nav lights and that’s why I need to learn the best way to attach the stern light to the nav light switch.

Well, one constant with older boats remains. The electrical system is usually a mess. The wiring itself is generally well run but the switch panel wiring always appears to be an afterthought. Simply crimp on a connector for the red stern light wire and attach it to the first switch which controls the front navigation lights. Likewise crimp on a connector to the black wire and fasten that to the negative buss bar. This will complete your circuit and when you turn on the front nav lights, the stern light will go on.

You might want to give some thought to upgrading your current switch panel and tidy up that mess but, if everything works it's certainly not a must do upgrade.

George

 

[Joe]

Thanks, however that’s what I stated. The top switch runs the nav lights and that’s why I need to learn the best way to attach the stern light to the nav light switch.

Looks like you're gonna need a soldering iron for that unless you upgrade your panel.

Either of these books would be an important part of your boat's refererance library..

If I may, I'd suggest that upgrading your electrical system with a modern panel will not only solve the immediate stern light challenge, the improvement will enhance your skill level and make future electrical work easier.


Click here to download Sea Dog Aluminum Breaker Panel Installation Instructions