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C250 WB Cabin Lights Wiring Help Needed

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jbyrne3849
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/03/2002 : 11:23:55

Some of my C250 WB cabin lights are working, some are not. The light to starboard of the hatch works fine (above the distribuiton panel), as does the light astern of that on the starboard side back underneath the cockpit. I have traced the two wires to these lights in the control panel: by disconnecting those I turn off those two lights independently.

My problem is that the eyeball lights on either side of the mast support in the cabin have no power, nor does the light on the fore wall of the head, nor the light on the ceiling of the head.

According to the wiring diagram that came with the boat, those 4 fixtures should be connected. When I run a separate, temporary 12V line to one of the eyeball lights, the other works just fine, yet the head lights do not. When I run power to the head lights, the eyeball lights do not work. Clearly, those two sets of two light each are not connected to each other, nor to the distribition panel that I can tell. The 12V leg on each of these lights is blue, but the only blue lines in the distibution panel run to the working lights.

I figure there's a hidden connection somewhere that would get the other two sets of lights working.

Any advice is appreciated.

Edited by - jbyrne3849 on 06/03/2002 11:30:06

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Tupelo Honey
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2002 : 12:20:48

the problem with those lights is that they are often soaked and rendered useless--perhaps dangerous--by leaks from the mast base and the thru-deck fittings above. best to remove them, clean them up, silicone those thru-decks and see what happens.

d

"...and that wake better be arrow-straight, or i'll lash ye to the mast!"

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jbyrne3849
Deckhand

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3 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2002 : 12:49:50

Thanks, I agree with your assesment of those lights.

I have taken the eyeball lights out and have found then fairly corroded, but functional when I have run power directly to them. My problem appears to be "upstream" (electrical- current-wise) from there.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2002 : 09:42:11

I have not had a similar problem...but would tackle it by first thinking that the electrical junctions are made up in places accessible, likely at other fixtures.

I would remove the galley light fixture as a starting point and see how many sets of wires are made up there. If more than one set of wires, then its serving as a make up point and feeding other points. Often, you can tell the direction of wires and draw some conclusion.

Your description that powering either the head lights or the eye ball lights...doesn't power up the others seems to indicate that you may have more than one connection problem or that a three wire makeup someplace is loose or corroded and not allowing connection between any of the three wires.

There is some good news... the grounds are ok. And, this greatly simplifies things. If the power leads and the grounds had problems...it makes things more difficult because its hard to detect when half of the problem is solved.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2002 : 07:36:27

You should have a wiring schematic in your manual. Mine is on the boat or I'd scan it for you and post it. That would help determine if the head and eyeball lights are on the same home run. If you have to run new wire be sure it is "tinned." Also let us know how you snake it through the overhead.

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.