I have the mast down on my Bristol 35 and plan on replacing the two spreader lights. The originial ones have a exposed wire running under the spreader until it gets to the mast, there there is a two prong connector, then the wire goes into he mast. This is done for both lights. Not sure if this is two, two wire runs. Any suggestions on how to re wire the two lights using the least amount of wire ? thanks
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Splice them together so you only have
two wires (+ and -) running down the mast (unless you like to turn one only one on at a time or if it's switched that way
!). Size the new mast wire properly for both lamps. You could take the plugs out and just insert rubber grommets so the wires from the spreader lights go into the mast without the plugs.
two wires (+ and -) running down the mast (unless you like to turn one only one on at a time or if it's switched that way
!). Size the new mast wire properly for both lamps. You could take the plugs out and just insert rubber grommets so the wires from the spreader lights go into the mast without the plugs.Re-Wire Mast
Ok, forgive me, do I use one two wire for both lighs ? If so do I run ashort lenght from one light to the other then run a + and - down the mast ? It looks like a 40 to 50' round trip an wanted to use the #16 wire if posible. Thoughts ??
Ok, forgive me, do I use one two wire for both lighs ? If so do I run ashort lenght from one light to the other then run a + and - down the mast ? It looks like a 40 to 50' round trip an wanted to use the #16 wire if posible. Thoughts ??
wire
One thing to add - I ran my wire inside the spreaders - looks neat. Drill an exit hole on the top-side of the spreader and exit the wires on the fore side of the spreaders - then into the mast as to 1) not interfere with you mainsail and battens and 2) hide from the typical view you have while in the cockpit. Rob
One thing to add - I ran my wire inside the spreaders - looks neat. Drill an exit hole on the top-side of the spreader and exit the wires on the fore side of the spreaders - then into the mast as to 1) not interfere with you mainsail and battens and 2) hide from the typical view you have while in the cockpit. Rob
Common ground
Perhaps the guys who are better informed on marine electrics than I am will jump all over me for this suggestion, but I like the idea of running a single #10 wire as a common insulated grounding conductor for all the mast lights, and then a 14/3 or 14/4 cable for the positive leads to each load. Don't know how you manage a 40-50 ft "round trip" on a 35 ft boat. My O27 has a 33 ft mast and the round-trip, masthead to switch panel, is close to 100 ft in total. Isn't a 16 ga conductor kindof dinky for longer runs in a 12v system ?
Perhaps the guys who are better informed on marine electrics than I am will jump all over me for this suggestion, but I like the idea of running a single #10 wire as a common insulated grounding conductor for all the mast lights, and then a 14/3 or 14/4 cable for the positive leads to each load. Don't know how you manage a 40-50 ft "round trip" on a 35 ft boat. My O27 has a 33 ft mast and the round-trip, masthead to switch panel, is close to 100 ft in total. Isn't a 16 ga conductor kindof dinky for longer runs in a 12v system ?
i second the #16 is a bad idea
especially for spreader lights those are usually 45 watts each??? i wouldnt go less than a # 12
especially for spreader lights those are usually 45 watts each??? i wouldnt go less than a # 12
Wiring
Guy, you asked: "do I use one two wire for both lights ? If so do I run short length from one light to the other then run a + and - down the mast ?" The "splice" meant to wire them together in parallel at the spreader level and then down inside the mast: 1) port side light pos and neg from light to mast, same for starboard side light; 2) at mast, pop the two plugs, replace with grommets run wires into mast and splice; 3) run two wires down mast to switch. Obviously, the trick is to do the splice outside the mast and use the wire down to pull the two wires from each light (total four) into the mast. Many others have pointed out that you can use a common ground for other lights, but you didn't say what others you might have, most likely anchor light and steaming light.
Guy, you asked: "do I use one two wire for both lights ? If so do I run short length from one light to the other then run a + and - down the mast ?" The "splice" meant to wire them together in parallel at the spreader level and then down inside the mast: 1) port side light pos and neg from light to mast, same for starboard side light; 2) at mast, pop the two plugs, replace with grommets run wires into mast and splice; 3) run two wires down mast to switch. Obviously, the trick is to do the splice outside the mast and use the wire down to pull the two wires from each light (total four) into the mast. Many others have pointed out that you can use a common ground for other lights, but you didn't say what others you might have, most likely anchor light and steaming light.
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