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Nav light question.
- Thread starter haliman
- Start date
If you don't already have a digital volt meter, buy one now. Start at the back of the console electrical panel, and trace out the wiring for the navigation lights (this will be a good time to mark the wires for future reference). There is going to be a fuse, and or a breaker. Don't forget to look at the ground or negative wire for corrosion. Clean each connection as you come to it, and put some corrosion block on each connector as you inspect it and take it apart.
Usually there is corrosion around the contact for the bulbs. Clean the contacts that on a plastic plate with springs behind the plate. Also clean the bulb contacts. There should be no resistance (or complete continuity) when you check the bulb with the volt meter. My guess is that you are going to find the bulb contacts are corroded. Spray these, and the springs with corrosion block. In different eras, there were different fixtures for the navigation lights, and of course different bulbs, and types of contacts. IF this does not resolve the problem, and you don't have 12 volts at the lights, look at all of the crimped connections--you might have some corrosion in one of the butt connectors (or even may have a broken wire). As the boat is about 25 years old, there may be some wires which may need to be replaced. This may be a good excuse to go over the entire electrical circuit, check connectors, fuses, make a diagram and label the wires. Maybe replace them. Also be sure and check the all around or separate stern and bow white lights, if that is what your boat has.
Usually there is corrosion around the contact for the bulbs. Clean the contacts that on a plastic plate with springs behind the plate. Also clean the bulb contacts. There should be no resistance (or complete continuity) when you check the bulb with the volt meter. My guess is that you are going to find the bulb contacts are corroded. Spray these, and the springs with corrosion block. In different eras, there were different fixtures for the navigation lights, and of course different bulbs, and types of contacts. IF this does not resolve the problem, and you don't have 12 volts at the lights, look at all of the crimped connections--you might have some corrosion in one of the butt connectors (or even may have a broken wire). As the boat is about 25 years old, there may be some wires which may need to be replaced. This may be a good excuse to go over the entire electrical circuit, check connectors, fuses, make a diagram and label the wires. Maybe replace them. Also be sure and check the all around or separate stern and bow white lights, if that is what your boat has.
SleepyC is a 2006. When I first got the boat and started trying the systems, I had a starboard nav light that did not work. Swapped bulbs side to side, no light on Stbd. but the bulb was good on the port side. Socket looked good but no power there. Tracing back on the wire there was power going in from the switch back and fuse block but none at the light end. Had to replace the wire and then the light worked. No continuity from one end to the other. Not hard, just a bit of a pain.
Good luck,
Harvey
SleepyC:moon
Good luck,
Harvey
SleepyC:moon