Navigation vs Anchor Light Wiring

[Bruce]

Hi Guys, just finished tidying up a few wiring issues with the lights etc ... corroded terminals, bad grounds etc.

Just wondering how Checkmate wired the Navigation and Anchor lights .... on mine (98 Pulsare) it seems that the

Navigation position turns on the Bow light, Stern light (Anchor I suppose) and the Gauges.

Anchor position turns on the same Bow light, Stern light and gauges but at a slightly dimmer brightness.

I did not trace wires but did notice that the switch is wired with a diode between the two positions. I'm thinking maybe just maybe that the gauge light feed is sitting on the wrong side of the diode, the other thing would be to reverse the diode I guess or maybe the diode is simply shot and conducting current both ways. I'll have to draw it out on paper to make sure.

I would think that you would only want the bow and stern lights on in the Anchor position.

Anyone recollect what turns on what in your boat ....


Just Curious


Bruce

 

[Bruce]

Hi Guys, just spoke with Mike and he figures that you would only have the bow and stern lights lit on anchor. After drawing it out it could be set up like this ... the gauges would be on one side of the switch with the diode including them on navigation but when the switch is in the anchor position it would only light the bow and stern .. meaning that the bow and stern should be wired to the other pole of the switch.

Looks like I'll have to trace some wires ... could be a case of where the diode is backwards right now which is messing things up.

At any rate maybe we could confirm whether we feel that the bow and stern lights should be on when in the Anchor position or is it just the stern light.

Thanks

Bruce

 

[groundloop]

When at anchor you don't have the nav (bow) lights illminated, only the white light at the stern.

 

[merc245]

thats how the 92 flite is. Nav lights them all,Anchor just the stern! Off in the center

 

[Bruce]

Looks like I'll have to trace wires to see what's happening ... if the intent of Anchor is as suggested .. meaning Stern only which is what I am reading when I searched things out as well , the gauges leads may be bridged with the wrong half of the Bow and Stern.

Too many variables .. I'll trace things out in the morning to see whoi's zooming who


Thanks Just the Same

Bruce

 

[Bruce]

Thanks Guys ... could be a diode issue or perhaps even a flakey switch .... I'm probably best just to replace the switch and diode to ensure all is well.

Bruce

 

[Chris E]

Hi Bruce:

this is how it's supposed to be done:

anchor - stern light only, this will tell boaters that you are at anchor and not moving. the stern light is the only light that should be lit

nav lights - bow and stern are lit, gauge lights are optional.

this lighting is usually done with a dpdt switch. i am not sure what the diode would be for, i don't think it would required for your application.

the gauges can be wired to come on with the lights or wired to come on with the ignition, i've seen both, with no real rhyme or reason. i would wire them to the nav light switch. i would also chase down a reohstat for the dash lights so that you can dim them for night time boating - help reduce the glare.

did you move the gauges around yet?

 

[Bruce]

Hi Chris .. nope .. have not repositioned gauges yet and will probably just leave them for now. Thanks for the information, obviously I have not done any evening boating ...

About the diode .. this is how it comes into play .. the switch is on - off - on, so for this to work properly the gauges and Bow light would be wired to one of the "on" positions. The Stern light would go to the other "on" position. With the diode in the correct position it will allow current to flow in only 1 direction ... so when you flick the switch to naviagate the gauges and Bow light work and because the diode will allow current to flow in one direction it will pick up the Stern light on the other "on" position. When you flick the switch to Anchor the Stern light lights and because the diode will block the current flow it will not pick up the gauges and Bow light.

My scenario is everything is working in both positions so I am thinking that the diode is allowing current to flow in both directions.

The whole thing started when I put the stern light in to make sure it worked ... no bulb .. so put bulb in and that's when I tripped upon the little snag.


Raining right now so we'll have to wait for a day or two

Bruce

 

[groundloop]

OK, if I were designing that switch installation I'd have used a double pole switch (without a diode), like this:





But whomever designed it apparently chose to use a single pole switch, which required the use of a diode, like this:





The problem with this setup (obviously) is that sometimes diodes go bad.

 

[Bruce]

Hi GroundLoop .. nice work finding those pictures of the wiring diagrams ... I agree the double pole version is the best, as you said, eliminates the diode messing up.

Well, if nothing else we have provided a good set of diagrams for someone in the future who may be wondering about this. That's what makes the Forum such a great spot !!!

Take Care

Bruce

 

[Chris E]

that was exactly what i was thinking - thanks groundloop - that's how every sea ray was wired (dpdt), i was trying to get my head around the whole diode thing. those double pole switches are readily available if you choose to go that way Bruce.
diodes in boats appear to be nothing but trouble! i chased an alternator issue for quite a while only to find a bad diode hidden in the wiring harness. great diagrams!

 

[Bruce]

Hi Guys ... here's the outcome .... turns out the switch was a double pole double throw, however, they still had a diode wired in which was messing things up royally. Won't bore you with the details but it's working the way it should ... stern only in the Anchor position with the stern,bow and gauges in the Navigation position.

It was a matter of removing the diode and switching the gauges lead and jumper lead.


Take Care

Bruce