NHGuy
Captain
- Joined
- May 21, 2009
- Messages
- 3,631
Sorry, no picture, but here is my question. I have been under the dash of my boat this afternoon trying to chase down what I believe to be a ground fault.
When I turn on the navigation lights I only get bow light, and when I turn on my anchor light it does come on.
Plus, and this is the doozy, when either light is powered my electric gauges pin to their max, as if I have grounded the sender. I checked my switch, took it off the boat and found what I think is a modified lighted SPDT-single pole dual throw switch. The reason I say modified is because there is a single terminal for the stern light, and there are two terminals for the fore & aft lamps.
I am pretty dumb with electric, I know just a little volts, amps, watts. Can never remember Ohm's Law...I just don't use this stuff enough.
Here is the "What are these things" question. There is a connection between the sternlight terminal and one of the navigating light terminals with a little cylinder in the center. There is another of these components between the 2 nav light terminals too. What do these items do? Can I check them with a little digital volt ohm meter? Should I?
On edit.
I just checked and found ground and hot in the same pin on my stern fixture when the light is on. Also I noticed that the switch light did not illuminate. There is always ground at one of the light terminals too. I am thinking replace switch.
Any arguments?
I'll be doing some online research, but those who know please help if you can.
When I turn on the navigation lights I only get bow light, and when I turn on my anchor light it does come on.
Plus, and this is the doozy, when either light is powered my electric gauges pin to their max, as if I have grounded the sender. I checked my switch, took it off the boat and found what I think is a modified lighted SPDT-single pole dual throw switch. The reason I say modified is because there is a single terminal for the stern light, and there are two terminals for the fore & aft lamps.
I am pretty dumb with electric, I know just a little volts, amps, watts. Can never remember Ohm's Law...I just don't use this stuff enough.
Here is the "What are these things" question. There is a connection between the sternlight terminal and one of the navigating light terminals with a little cylinder in the center. There is another of these components between the 2 nav light terminals too. What do these items do? Can I check them with a little digital volt ohm meter? Should I?
On edit.
I just checked and found ground and hot in the same pin on my stern fixture when the light is on. Also I noticed that the switch light did not illuminate. There is always ground at one of the light terminals too. I am thinking replace switch.
Any arguments?
I'll be doing some online research, but those who know please help if you can.
