REALLY weird electrical problem

[5150abf]

So I go fishing last night, I noticed the lights, both the rod lights and navs go dim for a second, I start poking around.

After awhile I notice it happens at exactly the same time like it is on a timer, about a minute thirty over and over, then I notice there is a click like a solenoid when the lights dim so I track that down.

It is in the bilge, a small click and the lights dim except the only thing other than wires back there is my bilge pumps.

I kicked on the bilge and it was dry so I popped the cover and looked and it is bone dry.

So what is making the click at precise intervals and how could float switches possibly do that?

I will look into it later and try to figure it out but it has me baffled for now.

On the bright side I had 3 people stop and ask if I needed help so that is reassuring.

Haven't done any wiring for a long time and this just showed up last night.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: REALLY weird electrical problem

I've seen on some of my coustomers boats the bilge pump has a automatic test circuit.Try disconnecting the pump the next time you notice the synptoms,you may not have a problem

 

[5150abf]

Re: REALLY weird electrical problem

Nope had the pumps on there for 2 years,Mayfair 500gph and Rule 1100gph both have float switches and the 500 is wired to a dash switch, they don't have a test feature.

What I don't understand is I haven't done any wiring for quite awhile and it was fine last week, I did put a 50 amp breaker on my deckhand but that is an isolated circuit.

It is something to do with the nav lights, only happens when they are on so that narrows it down.

More weirdness the transom light is unaffected, the green light goes completely out and the red just dims but they are all hooked to the same wire and switch?????

I will get some time this afternoon to look at it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: REALLY weird electrical problem

Found the click, it was a breaker on the engine trying to kick off but it had wiggled so the reset was up against the cowl and it couldn't kick off, I replaced all the fuses with breakers on the engine.

Now I am really really baffled as the engine is on a closed loop and isn't tied to boat wiring at all, HHHMMMMM.....

 

[foodfisher]

Re: REALLY weird electrical problem

Same ground?

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: REALLY weird electrical problem

Corrosion/moisture in the light socket or maybe a bad bulb???

 

[5150abf]

Re: REALLY weird electrical problem

Got it, never would have found that on the water.

I thought it was a ground too as that is the only engine wire that crosses into the boat loom, turned out to be the positive wire to the front lights, it was trapped under an aluminum battery support and just barely shorting to the hull, I remember now I banged through a couple big wakes on the way to my hole and it probably was just enough to cut the wire.

Glad I found it, those wierdo electrical things can be a real pain, I will spend my time till the next trip making sure my wires are secure, always something to learn.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: REALLY weird electrical problem

Great!!!