Nav/Anc Switch

[MattB92]

What is the typical set-up for the nav/anc rocker switch?
Down - nothing on.
Middle - Nav lights?.
Up - Anc Lights?

Just wondering if there is a standard or if every boat is different...Last summer was my first season with the boat so I honestly can't remember.

When I turn my switch to the up position my breaker trips within a second or two. Oddly enough I replaced every rocker switch on my panel this past winter EXCEPT this one lol. So hoping/assuming it's a mistake on my end when I rewired this switch in. I will check all connections and make sure I wired it right, but wondering if anybody else has some insight

Thanks!

 

[hughespat57]

normally a DPDT center off, up Nav, down Anchor
When you also include internal indicator lamps you can have a LOT of terminals on the back and it gets very confusing.

 

[MattB92]

normally a DPDT center off, up Nav, down Anchor
When you also include internal indicator lamps you can have a LOT of terminals on the back and it gets very confusing.

Mine was definitely OFF-ON-ON I just can't remember the exact configuration of ON-ON. I took before pictures and made sure I wired it up exactly the same lol, but I will double check. Hopefully a terminal's just loose shorting out.

Thanks for the document

 

[hughespat57]

that one above was for an all around single white light

With a split anchor/masthead light and a separate stern light this is wiring.
Not shown is the white stern light is connected same as the red/green

 

[MattB92]

That was the before pictures.
Looks like only room for 4 terminals on both sides. Right side only has 3

Edit: Didn't see your above post, thanks

 

[MattB92]

that one above was for an all around single white light

With a split anchor/masthead light and a separate stern light this is wiring.
Not shown is the white stern light is connected same as the red/green

Alright I still don’t have this working... have finally been able to pull things apart to understand but still can’t find the short. Switch down = nothing. Switch middle = anchor light (both side of mast light come on) . Switch up = nav lights + (Front mast light comes on)

Breaker trips when I turn the nav lights on (up). I have confirmed that the red, green and stern light all come on quickly before tripping out. Triple checked my wiring, matches the pictures I took before hand. I pulled each light off and checked connections, all look ok.

I also took off the one connector that has 3 wires on it (the red wire you see in the picture with the big shrink wrap around it). When taking this off, mast front light comes on all ok. No nav lights as I’m assuming these wires go to those lights. As soon as I touch this connector back to the prong of the rocker switch (with it in the up position), breaker trips out. So safe to say this is the issue... but WHERE??

Is it possible the breaker could be bad? Or would it trip when turning on the anchor lights as well?

Ughh I hate when this stuff happens.
sorry for the long post just trying to give as much details as possible

 

[MattB92]

these are the thermal breakers

 

[bobeast]

For mine it is;
bottom - all off
middle - anchor
top - nav

 

[MattB92]

For mine it is;
bottom - all off
middle - anchor
top - nav

Yes same.. “nav lights” breaker tripping when in the top position

 

[Lazy Daze]

Breakers get "tired" as they age and start to trip easier. Swap the breaker with another one of the same amperage and see what happens. This may not be the issue, but it's an easy thing to do.

However, when you switch to "up", you should be getting red/green and "some way" of having 360* of white lights. You mentioned only the front, white masthead light came on. Do you also have a transom light that comes on? The two of those would add up to 360*.

 

[techmitch]

View attachment 106550
these are the thermal breakers

1. Could be a weak breaker. Switch it with another one.
2. Disconnect the anchor light completely and see if it stills blows

 

[techmitch]

Breakers get "tired" as they age and start to trip easier. Swap the breaker with another one of the same amperage and see what happens. This may not be the issue, but it's an easy thing to do.

However, when you switch to "up", you should be getting red/green and "some way" of having 360* of white lights. You mentioned only the front, white masthead light came on. Do you also have a transom light that comes on? The two of those would add up to 360*.

Faster typing and I Think I see the stern light in his pic behind the dogs but. Can't watch the vid. again right now.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Faster typing and I Think I see the stern light in his pic behind the dogs but. Can't watch the vid. again right now.

Usually I'm the slow one...

 

[MattB92]

Breakers get "tired" as they age and start to trip easier. Swap the breaker with another one of the same amperage and see what happens. This may not be the issue, but it's an easy thing to do.

However, when you switch to "up", you should be getting red/green and "some way" of having 360* of white lights. You mentioned only the front, white masthead light came on. Do you also have a transom light that comes on? The two of those would add up to 360*.

Just thought of doing this after posting, gosh great minds think alike. Swapped the breaker with another 10amp, same condition, trips out. Yes when I switch up I have red/green, stern light AND front mast light. Middle both front and back mast lights on.

Next step I guess is to individually disconnect green, red and stern light?

 

[techmitch]

Just thought of doing this after posting, gosh great minds think alike. Swapped the breaker with another 10amp, same condition, trips out. Yes when I switch up I have red/green, stern light AND front mast light. Middle both front and back mast lights on.

Next step I guess is to individually disconnect green, red and stern light?

Yes sir.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Next step I guess is to individually disconnect green, red and stern light?

Have you taken a real good look at all connections, including at the fixtures? Loose or dirty connections could also cause this.

There's a "chance" you might be able to find the problem area by feeling for heat... although probably slim.

 

[MattB92]

Have you taken a real good look at all connections, including at the fixtures? Loose or dirty connections could also cause this.

stern light connection looks good, took it off completely still trips. Moving on to red and green...having a hard time figuring out how these even disconnect

 

[techmitch]

Have you taken a real good look at all connections, including at the fixtures? Loose or dirty connections could also cause this.

There's a "chance" you might be able to find the problem area by feeling for heat... although probably slim.

Absolutely, on the connections thing. Poor connections create extra resistance which in turn creates excessive amperage draw (could be the reason for the breaker blowing).

Guess what, it actually can become a viscous cycle where as the high resistance and amp. draw, create heat at the poor connections and things expand and the problem usually worsens.

 

[MattB92]

Absolutely, on the connections thing. Poor connections create extra resistance which in turn creates excessive amperage draw (could be the reason for the breaker blowing).

Guess what, it actually can become a viscous cycle where as the high resistance and amp. draw, create heat at the poor connections and things expand and the problem usually worsens.

Down to the red and green light, how the heck do I disconnect these? Lol

 

[MattB92]

Not sure why picture isn’t showing argh, I have a feeling it isn’t any of these.. the fact I was replacing switches makes me think there’s an error on my side.

I took before and after pictures and they match exactly up.. now there are two wires that were dangling loose? Maybe one came off as I was pulling the panel back. I’m going to try to write down which wires go where on this rocker switch before I leave and see if something is missing..

Those two wires that were dangling were just exposed so I did tape them up back when I was putting the panel back on in March