What is this..above my engine gauges?

[saltysailor]

I've recently purchased a Cal 2-27 and am going over everything to learn and fix things. Since I've only sailed small boats I really have a lot to learn about all these...things. The item below is located just above my engine gauges in the cockpit and usually has a screw cap over it. Here's the first of many questions to come. What is this?
Thanks Jared



mysteryguage by picndicular, on Flickr

 

[Manureva]

some kind of conector, an auto pilot maybee

 

[RAD]

looks like it could be a 12 volt receptacle or maybe an auto pilot receptacle

 

[Gary_H]

I have a Cal 2-25 and I don't have anything like that on it so I really don't know what it is. Have you looked on the backside to see if wires or hoses come from it? tracing them may give you a clue as to what it may be. The screws don't look proper as there is no countersink. Open the lazarette hatch and look behind it.

 

[saltysailor]

wow that was fast. I have a autopilot receptacle a couple feet further aft but that doesn't mean that this couldn't have been a older one for a different brand. I'm attaching two other photos although I dont' know if it will help any more.

mysterymotorplug by picndicular, on Flickr



motorgauges2 by picndicular, on Flickr

 

[Gary_H]

RAD may be on to it. Although it doesn't really look like my autopilot connector it could be a different brand. Also mine is on the opposite side of the cockpit

 

[bria46]

Depending on the Diameter of the connector and if the inside tabs it could be a bulb insert. I would place a multi-meter leads on the two terminals and see if 12 VDC is present. Then start the power and see if you have voltage.

 

[RAD]

Now that you posted a better picture I'd say its a bulb socket.....maybe for an alarm

 

[RAD]

but after looking a little closer if the slots on the inside don't turn then its not a bulb socket

 

[Gary_H]

Looks big for an alarm but could be also most alarms wouldn't have a screw on cover would it?

 

[Gary_H]

Check for the presense of voltage if no voltage look on backside and see if there are wires. could be if it was for old equipment it may not even be connected to anything any more.

 

[saltysailor]

Yeah, I thought about a twist and lock bulb socket but it doesn't seem to have that "lock" part in the slot. I'll have to check it tonight to make sure. Oh well, it doesn't sound important. I'll check to see if it's got power. If it does, I'll likely remove the wires and leave it be or someday remove and patch the hole.

 

[redhead78]

Maybe for a key or button for shutdown...Red

 

[SailArkansas]

I vote for the alarm since my Precision has the same type of thing next to the gauges. If it is an alarm I would say the top part is missing. My alarm sound when the key is turned to the start position and the alarm quits sounding when the start button is depressed.

 

[Tim R.]

Where do the wires lead?

 

[rdowall]

It looks like a bayonet connector to access 12 volts. It could be for anything that needs 12 volts. How about a spotlight?

 

[AnsleyS]

Salty,

That is an outlet for a small light. We had three of them which were courtesy lights in the three cabins. The inserts were small cylinders with a small light bulb and a cowl which covered more than half of the top if the bulb. Our bulbs were red. Ours were wired to be always on. They had a fuse wired into the circuit right behind them. We just put in the lamp fixture and turned it a bit and they were on for the night. I only had one lamp unit so I replaced them all.

Cheers

Ansley Sawyer

 

[navigator97]

My guess is that, as Ansley said, it is indeed a double contact bayonet bulb socket with a 'courtesy' light half dome over it and that it was used to illuminate the control panel during night boating, If so, I would expect some switch somewhere to turn it on and off.

 

[rgranger]

I have that exact connector on my MacGregor V222 just next to the tabernacle. On my boat it was used for connecting the steaming and anchor lights once the mast was raised. I no longer use it but it is still on my boat. I have found them on Jamestown before. You can still buy them.

r

 

[Alex Dare]

12 volt plug

I know that plug very well. Company I used to work for sold thousands of them.
It's an older style somewhat generic 12 volt outlet. They used to be sold as a set that included a plug that could then be attached to a 12v appliance cord. Mostly used for hand held search/spot lights. The two contacts you see are spring loaded. The matching plug has notches that engage in the slots on either side. I'm pretty sure they were far-east made but worked well and you may still be able to find the plug. It was also sold separately.