Navigation lights

neil.mccrirrick · 21 July 2018, 11:15

Trying to do a very simple job grrrr. White nav light has failed. Fitting is worn out, so I have a new one. Out of the box connected direct to a battery works, connected direct to boat battery works. Connected to the wiring where it needs to be nothing

Multi meter out. At the battery end I have 12.6 volts. At the wiring end this had dropped to under 12. The red and green lights are on and fine.

So is the volt drop to be expected. Run is maybe 3-4 metres from battery to a frame or are my wires done for?

Changing the wiring is a pita it’s through the a frame under the floor and so on. If it needs to happen it needs to happen but......

Battery is on charged and it’s all connected to see if an increase at the battery end will show me a light. All I’ve not done that I can think of is start the engine

Why are 5 min jobs never 5 mins

Pikey Dave · 21 July 2018, 11:24

Neil, connect the white light to the wiring & switch it on, then put your multimeter across it & see what the voltage is. Also, if its LED, it may be polarity sensitive.

Iron Dials · 21 July 2018, 12:50

You could check the voltage drop to the red and green for comparison.
Are there any joints in the cable?
Are the connections all clean and we'll made?

Be careful, I started doing that exact job a few years ago and ended up rewiring everything.

jambo · 21 July 2018, 13:48

If you still have a problem. As temp measure as long as you don’t use your AW as anchor light why not run a temp line from either port or starboard as you have current there.

neil.mccrirrick · 21 July 2018, 18:21

Thanks chaps. Tested wire back and back to find a good voltage reading. Gave up in the end ever time I split the wire it was brittle and looked on the way out. So bit the bullet took all the old off I’ll put new wire in to all three lights [emoji1][emoji106]

jambo · 21 July 2018, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

Thanks chaps. Tested wire back and back to find a good voltage reading. Gave up in the end ever time I split the wire it was brittle and looked on the way out. So bit the bullet took all the old off I’ll put new wire in to all three lights [emoji1][emoji106]

I know it’s a PITA but you know it’s sorted so you can enjoy yourself [emoji106]

Pikey Dave · 21 July 2018, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

Thanks chaps. Tested wire back and back to find a good voltage reading. Gave up in the end ever time I split the wire it was brittle and looked on the way out. So bit the bullet took all the old off I’ll put new wire in to all three lights [emoji1][emoji106]

I'm assuming you'll be using tinned cables[emoji6]

neil.mccrirrick · 21 July 2018, 19:12

Naturally [emoji56]

spartacus · 21 July 2018, 21:34

Tinned cable all the way. Spent two summers chasing trim tilt issues due to Tohatsu wiring oxidising. Glad you got it sorted.

Iron Dials · 21 July 2018, 22:04

I told you be careful!

Don’t forget heat shrink connectors too (or Liquid Electrical tape). And gloves so that you don’t skin your knuckles.

And maybe LED lights, a nice new vhf, oh and as you’re running new cable a shiny new chartplotter. And maybe a stereo, USB points and maybe a Bow Thruster.......

I over specced the gauge of the cable on the basis that it’s a fairly harsh environment for electrics.

neil.mccrirrick · 21 July 2018, 22:07

Rofl and so it begins [emoji1][emoji106]