ACR Spotlight

BobFino

BobFino

Active Member
SILVER Sponsor
Aug 26, 2010
189
Virginia Beach
Boat Info
Sea Ray 550 Sedan Bridge 2005.
Engines
MAN 900
Twin Disc MG-5114
Hello and Happy Holidays,
I am having intermittent problems with my ACR spotlight. After talking with ACR tech they said I should start with the MCU (master control unit). Which they sent me step by step trouble shoot guide instructions. The MCU is not located under the helm were the switch is located. Just hoping maybe somebody can give me some thoughts on where I can find it.
Thank you
 
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On Tiara Opens they are located in the anchor chain locker very close to the light on the bow pulpit and are simply screwed into the top of the locker. Look for it nearby the light. This is what they look like. There is more than one type of controller so make sure you buy the correct one for your light. Ours lasted about 12 years and was done in when my drain plugged up and the controller got wet while running in a big sea with a chain locker full of water. It was easy to fix if you do not count getting into and out of the locker. You need to have a helper nearby to extract your body. Take some Advil before starting the job if yours is similarly located.

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What are the symptoms? Won’t move? lights not working?
 
BobFino said:
Hello and Happy Holidays,
I am having intermittent problems with my ACR spotlight. After talking with ACR tech they said I should start with the MCU (master control unit). Which they sent me step by step trouble shoot guide instructions. The MCU is not located under the helm were the switch is located. Just hoping maybe somebody can give me some thoughts on where I can find it.
Thank you
Click to expand...
 
I can send u a detailed trouble shooting
Guide from ARC also. I just emailed it to my buddy. It shows how it comes apart.
If u need it send me ur email
 
You can bypass the controller and run voltage directly to the wires to troubleshoot the light itself and the motors. That will help you isolate each component. The wire color is not intuitive so follow the manual or troubleshooting guide.

I've done full teardown and rebuilds on a couple of these so shout if you have questions.
 
Also, on my 400 DA the MCU is in the anchor locker as well, mounted under the deck. Pull the screws, cut the wire ties, and get the wiring out where you can see it.
 
The trouble shooting guide I have shows
How to take the light apart where the motors and gears r.
 
Thank you for all the info. The light does come on, but will not go up and down and will only rotate part way, not the full 360 degrees. The people from ACR did forward me the trouble shooting guide and the instructions on tearing it down should that be necessary. I will head to the boat this morning and see if the MCU is located in the anchor locker and go from there. Thanks again and Happy New year.
 
BobFino said:
Thank you for all the info. The light does come on, but will not go up and down and will only rotate part way, not the full 360 degrees. The people from ACR did forward me the trouble shooting guide and the instructions on tearing it down should that be necessary. I will head to the boat this morning and see if the MCU is located in the anchor locker and go from there. Thanks again and Happy New year.
Click to expand...
 
It sounds like the inside contacts and gears need cleaned up.
 
Just want through this on a Jabsco light and it turn out to be corrosion on the inside of the switch.
I sprayed electrical contact cleaner into the switch and it fixed my problem.
It's worth a try.
 
That is what I was thinking as well, I feel like if the MCU was bad I would not be getting any rotation or any function. I am leaning towards cleaning the contacts and gears first.
 
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BobFino said:
That is what I was thinking as well, I feel like if the MCU was bad I would not be getting any rotation or any function. I am leaning towards cleaning the contacts and gears first.
Click to expand...
Mine was doing what your light is doing. And, it started coming on by itself and would shine blinking lights in our windows at night. Tried various obvious things like the switche and nothing worked until the MCU was replaced.
 
Just a quick update, removed spot light from the boat and disassembled it. The two planet gears where missing half the teeth and the elavation motor looked really bad and did not work. The rotation motor works fine. I will order the two gears shortly and I ordered a new motor from Amazon at $15 instead of $300+/- from ACR (thank you Davidd tfeld).
Still keeping my fingers crossed that the MCU is in good working order.
 
BobFino said:
Just a quick update, removed spot light from the boat and disassembled it. The two planet gears where missing half the teeth and the elavation motor looked really bad and did not work. The rotation motor works fine. I will order the two gears shortly and I ordered a new motor from Amazon at $15 instead of $300+/- from ACR (thank you Davidd tfeld).
Still keeping my fingers crossed that the MCU is in good working order.
Click to expand...

I think your going to be back up and running no time flat. Please advise the RPM you go with. IMHO, 5 rpm is too slow.
 
One of my projects is to get the body powder coated, it would be cheap and make the unit damn near new.

Dave
 
The elevation motor is notorious for failing over time. So much so, that the newer MCU does an automatic exercise once a month of moving the lens up and down. Dave, I've been torn between re-painting it, and powder coating. Let me know how that works out if you choose to do so.
My MCU was behind the lower dash panel where instruments are, mounted right below the main harness
 
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