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Need Advice! Anchor / Running Light Breaker Keeps Tripping

 
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Pat Anderson



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 8551
City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 7:12 am    Post subject: Need Advice! Anchor / Running Light Breaker Keeps Tripping Reply with quote

Maybe there is nothing I can do here, but I am asking anyway. We are anchored at Lloyd Creek off the Sassafras River waiting out the Small Craft Advisories that have been in effect on the Chesapeake Bay. Last night the mother of all electrical storms passed over us - impressive and entertaining. After the storm passed, I tried to put the anchor light on - the breaker kept tripping. It trips on the running light side of the switch as well. Any suggestions about what I might look for to fix this, even a temporary fix until we can get to Cape May if we need a marine electrician? Thanks.
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DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler (sold 2020)
Pat & Patty Anderson, C-Brat #62!
http://daydreamsloop.blogspot.com

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Ferg



Joined: 18 Jun 2015
Posts: 187
City/Region: Oak Island
State or Province: NC
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Here & Now
Photos: Here & Now
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would try to isolate (disconnect) the wires one at a time to each of the three lamps, and then see which one is causing the circuit to pop. Then diagnose from there.
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Wandering Sagebrush



Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 2768
City/Region: Northeast Oregon
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Constant Craving
Photos: Constant Craving
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pat, look at the back of the switch. If the 25 is like the 22, there is a chance that something could get pushed into the cover area and cause a short to ground.

I will give you a call.

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"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln


Last edited by Wandering Sagebrush on Fri May 26, 2017 8:58 am; edited 1 time in total
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BrentB



Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 4419
City/Region: Greenwood
State or Province: IN
Photos: BrentB
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 8:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

m2cw

go on top
turn switch off
inspect light
remove light housing to access bulb
check bulb, socket wiring
remove bulb
inspect socket
switch on
check voltage at socket

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Brent Barrett
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Pat Anderson



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 8551
City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 9:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK, we SEEM to be back in business here! After chatting with Steve Parsons I localized the problem to either the anchor light or the socket. When I pulled the anchor light out of the socket, the breaker stayed on in both switch positions. They both had rust and corrosion. I don't have the stuff to clean them properly, but I did the best I could (scraped with a crab pick and wiped out with a paper towel!), and now the breaker does not trip and the anchor light stays on. Not sure how to really clean this thoroughly, but I suspect it will involve some fine sandpaper. I have always had sandpaper in my tool bag, but somehow I didn't bring any for the Loop. That will get corrected at the next opportunity. I also wonder if spraying some WD40 down the socket and wiping it out or dielectric grease might help? Anyway, thanks all!
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Wandering Sagebrush



Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 2768
City/Region: Northeast Oregon
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Constant Craving
Photos: Constant Craving
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 9:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pat, I'm not a fan of WD 40, but it will be an ok temporary fix. Per my text, go to a NAPA store and get some fine emory cloth (better than sandpaper), some connection grease, and a can of compressed air to blow out anything that needs it.

I'm glad you found the problem!! Very Happy
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localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 10:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Clean all contacts until shiny, blow clean, cover in dielectric grease. You can find it at any decent auto parts store. Comes either in paste consistency (think Vaseline) or a spray. Glad you figured it out. Cool
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Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013
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thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 1:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad you got it fixed!. We had a person with a "new" 22, who had the same problem at the Hontoon gathering. I agree with Steve--another option is carrying wet and dry sandpaper, if you don't have emery cloth.

I also like corrosion block, which is a thick greasy spray. It is great for any item you want to avoid corrosion on. (including the motor).

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Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
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Marco Flamingo



Joined: 09 Jul 2015
Posts: 1154
City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 16 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Limpet
Photos: Limpet
PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2017 12:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that my anchor post fitting is the standard C-Dory issue which uses a threaded rod for the anchor post. That fitting isn't really waterproof and salt spray is going to cause a problem sooner or later. I don't leave my anchor light up when not in use. I think that these came with a plastic cap to fit over the stub when the anchor light wasn't in use. Mine was apparently lost before I got the boat, so I just looked through my junk drawer (actually a giant junk locker) for a replacement. What I found was a package of table leg tips, sometimes called a "crutch tip." Mine were "white" but actually were cream colored and matched the C-Dory gel coat. A 1 inch rubber tip makes a nice waterproof fit and I have three spares. Available at any hardware store.

Mark
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