Testing & Replacing Lights on Mast before stepping

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Sailor-man

Sailor-man

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Jun 4, 2004
25
DUFOUR 34 Performance Toronto
Looking for some practical advice on the best way to test lights on the mast before stepping to make sure bulbs and wiring are ok. Thinking of using a continuity tester, once I figure out which wires are for what lights. Also would be interested in advice on how often bulbs should be routinely replaced. Lights are rarely used, but concern is deterioration or damage during the off season that won't be noticed until the mast is up and lights powered on. Some books suggest replacing all bulbs annually ... but this might be overkill. Any suggestions??
 
M

Mook16712

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Oct 25, 2005
10
Moorman Annapolis 26 New Bern
12v battery box...

...worked for me when I pulled my mast down last month. They weren't working at all (running nor anchor) before I pulled it down, and I realized the cause was that the anchor light connector was completely corroded in the mast, and the running light wires were never connected by the PO (but worked when powered-up using the box!)
 
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Sailor Tim

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Feb 1, 2006
32
Beneteau 361 Chicago
Simple test

I simply used a battery to test my mast lights. Don't know if its wrong, but I ran a test lead from the base of the unstepped mast directly to each battery terminal. If your only checking lights, than I don't believe that polarity is important. This will only tell you if your light bulbs are in working order from the mast step up the mast to the bulbs. Any other problems would require futher trouble shooting. Maybe some others have had different experiences.
 
Landsend

Landsend

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Aug 9, 2005
772
Hunter 28.5 Palm Coast, FL
By the time you...

Build a adapter and use a 12volt battery, it may be easier to just replace the bulbs each season.
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

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Jun 2, 2004
3,507
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Ohm Meter

Quick and easy test. If your meter has a continuity function it is even easier.
 
Y

yephoneman

mast light test

Using continuity tester will not conclusively indicated that the light bulb is functional. The resistance of the fillament is very low and the ohm meter will indicate a very low resistance. The low resistance could be due to an acual short somewhere between the test points. To test the bulbs use an external 12V battery with a 3 AMP fuse on it incase there is a real short in this circuit. You can also use a 12 V light bulb in serries in this circuit. If your 12V light bulb lights up bright, then there is a short in this circuit. If it is half bright, then your light bulb is OK. If it does not light up, then you have a burned out bulb on your mast. Considering the low number of hours of on time on these bulbs regular changes are not needed. At best take the light fixture apart and clean the contacts. To keep the contacts clean use a tube of dielectric paste used in auto spark plugs to keep moisture out. You can find this item in any auto supply store. I use this paste in my trailer light bulb contact to keep water out when launching the boat in the water.
 
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Paul

Might as well

Change out bulbs, gaskets and put some corrosion inhibitor on the contacts. Clean the lense too! It's like we used to do on radio towers; as long as you are up there why take a chance>
 
R

Rick

Battery tester

Get out a 9 volt battery with the snap top connector from your old transistor radio and two extended wires. The 9 volt is light weight, fits easily in your pocket, and has sufficient juice to test the lights. Why lug 12 volt with long wires?
 
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