cabin lights

[Jonathon Truwit]

The other day our cabin lights were on and suddenly went out.  Today I checked to see if the voltage was reaching the switch and there was 12v which switch off, and 0 when on as expected.   Lights still did not work, then I put a screwdriver across the negative of cabin light terminal to terminal below (maybe steaming light) and with both switches on the cabin lights worked, and stayed on when I removed the srewdriver.  Came back an hour later and flipped the switch and cabin lights working.  I assume the switch might be the problem but I seemed to have found an odd solution, at least for now.  Welcome your thoughts.  

thanks 

Jonathon 

#129

[bill pittore]

By switch do you mean the circuit breaker in the panel above the nav desk? When you measured the voltage where did you place the meter leads? The solution you found seems to imply a loose connection in that area. In my boat each column of breakers has a copper bus bar connecting one side of each breaker. Check the screw that connect the bus bar to that particular breaker. The other side of the breaker connects to the light wiring. Check those connection as well. Make sure there's no corrosion where the wire is crimped into the connector.

Bill

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[Jonathon Truwit]

thanks Bill 

Have attached pics of panel 

where I measured voltage 

Seemed like connections were tight -- but I can relook as I did not pull on bus bar 

Jonathon

 

[bill pittore]

Ok, so the circuit breaker appears to be working based on the 12V -> 0V measurement. If these are the salon lights, on my boat there’s a switch on the cabinet where the sink is that turns them on or off. I’d check this switch with your meter to see if there is 12V at the switch. Place the negative lead of the meter on the negative post of the battery and the positive lead on either side of the switch. Should have 12 V on both sides if switch is on and circuit breaker is on.

Bill

> On Oct 21, 2024, at 7:57 PM, Jonathon Truwit <jonatho...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> <IMG_3206.jpeg>

[Jonathon Truwit]

thanks Bill.  

I did take out switch on side of sink but the wires were too short for me to get access to the barely unshielded black wires.   So I put it back together.  I also wondered did we accidentally hit the switch but that would mean we had to accidentally hit again to get it to work again, so that seemed unlikely.  In any case it is still working so I will need to wait till the next event.  Appreciate your input.  

jonathon