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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

250 Mast Lighting Doesn't Work

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superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/04/2009 : 12:41:24

Neither of the three lights on the mast are working. I'm thinking that it has to be the deck plug. Everything else that's electrical on the boat is working.

I've scraped the terminals on both male/female connections and removed some build up. I probably could do more. Looked for fuses to eliminate that (and found no fuses . . . I guess that's the way she's built unless I've missed where they're located - manual is of no help . . . ).

So I'm thinking it must be the deck connection. Any suggestions on what to use besides elbow grease on the connections or should I cut to the chase and just replace it? And how do you clean the small female deck connection? There's really not enough room to get down into it.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Bob Watson/Redding CA
Sail # 421 - Sparkle Plenty
Berthed in Whiskeytown Lake

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2009 : 17:38:15

Bob,
There are no fuses, but the breaker panel is on the starboard side just after of the galley. Assuming you have power elsewhere, you should have a breaker for the deck light, mast head, etc. You won't get power up there until the breaker is turned on (orange window is showing). Assuming that you've done this, then check for voltage at the deck fitting with a multimeter. You can pick up a decent one at Sears for $10 if you don't have one. If you still feel there's corrosion down there, invest in a fiberglass cleaner pen (WM sells them for cleaning contacts). It'll allow you to get down into the connectors to clean them. If you've got power there, then it's something inside the mast, if you don't have power to the deck fitting, then it's between the breaker box and the fitting. If you don't have power elsewhere, then it's between the battery & the breaker box.

Hopefully this'll give you a place to start.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2009 : 18:35:27

Process of elimination: (forgive me if I'm teaching how to suck eggs here)

With power turned on (and other lights working)

Use a AVO (voltmeter) to test the output at the deck joint. If you get power there then it's a problem in the mast or the lights.

Drop the mast (carefully

) and remove the anchor light test the lamp (ohms), should be close to zero ohms.

If lamp is ok, then it's in the mast. (very unlikely!) or in the cable from the mast to the deck joint (very likely!)

Of course, if no power at the deck joint (very unlikely) it's probably due to corrosion in the wiring connection to the underside of the deck joint. Not too difficult to get to by removing the stbd side cabing lamp housing..

I'm betting that if the power is getting to the deckplate, then it's corrosion of the cables in the connector from the mast.

But electrics do follow the magic rule sometimes.

Paul

Edited by - on

JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2009 : 05:46:31

My boat (I assume the others too) uses one wire for common to all three lights. The point is if anything happens to this one wire, it will keep all three lights from working. I had problems with my lights and it turned out to be a loose connection on the back side of the deck connector. Harbor Freight sells inexpensive VOM meters.

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willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2009 : 15:28:17

Bob,
I have had this problem and unscrewed the plug, sprayed it to death with WD-40, screwed it back in and ...no problem!
Certainly a cheap and easy thing to try before you get too involved.
Willy

Edited by - on

bshin
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2009 : 15:31:28

Hey Bob,

I have a '96 C250 WB and had a similar problem with my anchor light. The problem turned out to be the wire connection to the "mast side" of the connection boot. The "positive" wire had broken off from the boot (it has a very small screw connection in the boot), and it simply took unscrewing the tiny connection screw, stipping back a little more of the wire, and re-inserting it into the screw down. Sounds simple, but the biggest problem was finding a small enough screw driver...LOL. But I'm not sure what you mean by having "three" lights on the mast. I have an anchor light, and a "deck" light..., but that's it....what is your third light for?

Brian S.

Athena, C250 WB, #227

Edited by - on

jguyot
1st Mate

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USA
97 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2009 : 16:56:24

The third light is the "Steaming" (Also called "Bow on the panel) light.
I have also had the same problem and mine was with the "Mast" side connection as well. My wires had broken off and I as well had to restrip them. If all 3 are not working, it is probably the "Ground" pin in the connector. The pins are numbered, so if you take it apart to work on, make sure you hook them back up in the same order or they won't work at all

Good luck...

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2009 : 04:48:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bshin
 Hey Bob,

I have a '96 C250 WB and had a similar problem with my anchor light. The problem turned out to be the wire connection to the "mast side" of the connection boot. The "positive" wire had broken off from the boot (it has a very small screw connection in the boot), and it simply took unscrewing the tiny connection screw, stipping back a little more of the wire, and re-inserting it into the screw down. Sounds simple, but the biggest problem was finding a small enough screw driver...LOL.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This is usually the correct answer for this problem. Those deck connectors are just prone to wires corroding or wires breaking free of the set screw. I just buy a new one, but only replace the mast side leaving the deck half intact. I even have another connector in my toolbox. They're about 20 bucks.

Edited by - on

slaedlein
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2009 : 20:35:17

Lets pretend, just for conversation, that one forgets to label the pins and wires.

How do you get the wires reconnected in the correct order? Are there any diagrams out there?

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2009 : 05:37:39

Should be in the owners manual. You can probably find a copy of the manual by looking in the Manuals & Brochure section of this forum. You can find a link to that section at the top left of this page.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2009 : 16:08:30

Scott, the wire colors looking down at the socket, the upper left is white, upper right is green, lower left is red, lower right is blue. Hope this helps.

o white o green

o red o blue

Edited by - AADIVER on 09/20/2009 16:09:54

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