panels lights at bridge no on /off switch

[oddysea1]

Just purchased a 1999 Phoenix 29 SFX. The other night I noticed the panel lights were on and there does not appear to be a switch to turn them off. The only method is to turn off batteries. This seems odd by design -any knowledge of this boat and its design is appreciated.

 

[mr 88]

It's a well designed and built boat. I highly doubt that company did not put a separate on off switch in for that function. Probably going to be a pain to trace the wire but you should be able to , start from behind your gauges and work backwards from there. Most boats do not have owners manuals but that brand may have made them , if so look at the wiring schematic.

 

[dingbat]

What panel?

 

[oddysea1]

The instrument panel on the bridge all gauges are lit up when the battery switch is turned on. All the switches are clearly marked with no panel switch indicated. No other switch controls the panel lights.

 

[Grub54891]

Well, Just serviced a boat with multiple issues. Trim not working, Helm lights on but dim, courtesy lights remained on no matter what, vhf not working. After much searching found ground bus at the helm had daisey chained poorly connections were compramisd. What was happening is the devices were looking for a ground, and it was getting a back feed from some other source. Repaired all the grounds and everything went back to normal. You will see strange things happen with a bad ground. As in trailer lights, when something isn't working you blame the bulb/fixture, when it's simply the grounds that are causing the strange behavior.

 

[dingbat]

The instrument panel on the bridge all gauges are lit up when the battery switch is turned on. All the switches are clearly marked with no panel switch indicated. No other switch controls the panel lights.

Different mfg. but mine comes on with the nav lighting circuit

 

[Scott Danforth]

most dash lights come on with the nav lights

 

[mr 88]

most dash lights come on with the nav lights

May be true in the under 21 crowd of pleasure boats . Most fishing rigs and this is a fishing rig , have separate switches for night running /glare / reflections and forward visibility through the windshield may be the reason. Time for the OP to buy a multi meter or Power Probe to track the issue down. As noted ,bad ground or corroded terminal , if every switch is labeled and no panel /instruments switch, somethings up.
Check Scott's reply and or answer it as well. Never know what people are going to do to there boats/wiring . If you find nothing , to me you have two choices , live with it which will drive you crazy or... Locate the one hot wire that should power all the instruments lighting and put a appropriate switch in your dash if you don't have a blank/not used one available . Fused would be best if you can't locate the source of power .

 

[dingbat]

Most fishing rigs and this is a fishing rig , have separate switches for night running /glare / reflections and forward visibility through the windshield may be the reason.

Most I’ve run have either red or blue gauge (panel) lighting that comes on with nav lights. Overhead lighting is selectable between white and colored

Mine….gauge lighting is red. Overhead helm lighting is a separate, three way push button….White, Red and Off

 

[oddysea1]

I will look into nav light switch issue as possible problem- it would make sense that if there is no dedicated panel switch maybe be a tie in to nav light switch. At least this trail now has a starting point-Thank you

 

[Captain Caveman]

My 2008 Alumacraft is as others described, the instrument lights come on with the nav lights. Immediately upon purchasing, I put in a kill switch because the instrument lights kill my light vision.