Nav Lights Out

Homer22 · Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:11 pm Post subject: Nav Lights Out

Fuse at rocker switch is good. Using a voltmeter, found juice all the way to the pigtail going to nav light fixture. No juice at the bulb contacts. Same on both nav lights. Only two possibilities: Bad ground connection (to both lights??) or bad light fixtures (corrosion) but both at same time?? The wiring on this 88 cruiser is prisitine. In fact I hate to be mucking around with it at all. It hasn't been touched since factory. Any other ideas?

hardee · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:44 am Post subject:

I found the same thing on my 05. Well, power to the last wire to the light fixture, but the light would not work. Wound up running a second power wire. Works like a champ now.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

DoryLvr · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:46 am Post subject:

I consistently seem to have this issue on my all-around light. A little electrical grease or WD-40 on the connectors seems to clear it up. My issue is that my switch seems to be wired backwards because I can't just turn on the anchor light. My switch lights either all the running lights and all around light, or just the red and green bow light only.

On kind of a different topic but same thread, I have been scared to anchor overnight with my installed anchor light on for fear of running the battery down and not being able to start in the morning, so I use an auxiliary/removable anchor light that I attach and that runs on D cells and lasts overnight. Any thoughts as to whether this is an unfounded fear or not?

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:48 am Post subject:

BrentB · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject:

good idea on LEDs

Clean bulb socket contacts with sandpaper and retest.
You might have bad connectors at the pigtails and can replace them

Homer22 · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject:

Did just that today. Cleaned up all the corrosion/crud on lights, replaced bulbs and all is good now. Thanks.

journey on · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:27 pm Post subject:

Tivo,

I got a LED anchor light from West Marine, which is a direct replacement for the Perco bulb (if that's what you have.) It's a legal 2 mi bulb (set of LEDs,) which will cover your rear if you have an accident. It's pricey ($50,) but it saves your battery and gives you the safety of a real anchor light. I now don't worry about the anchor light being on or off, since it only draws a tenth of the incandescent bulb. The WM part # is 9353384 or 9353442, pg 458. Certainly gave me peace of mind.

WM also sells a LED bulb that's cheaper but not a 2 mi light.

Boris

DoryLvr · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:34 pm Post subject:

I'll take a gander for the LED. I drive right by WM everyday coming and going to work. Still makes me nervous though, D cells are cheap compared to running out of juice. I do carry an extra house battery that is hooked to a solar charger, I could always swap out.

The brightness of a LED really meets requirements? Interesting.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject:

seabeagle · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:34 am Post subject:

I've done the led switch on my boat and trailer. The new anchor light draws 175 milliamps. And, it's way brighter. The site I got them from was www.superbrightleds.com By the way, I've had light problems as well and in my case it was the spade connector on the back of the switch.