Association Forum - Mast Lights

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Mast Lights

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Lonnie
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
8 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/14/2012 : 12:07:05

Before I start trying to see why I have no lights on my mast, is there a fuse somewhere? I have all other lights and electrical on the boat working. I have a new replacement deck light plug from Catalina Direct to install.

The boat is a 2002 C250 WK.

Thanks

2002 C250 #604
Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2012 : 13:05:51

The fuses are the two black buttons on your 12v control panel. I think they pop out when they trip, so you push them in to reset them. Assuming your boat is wired like mine, multiple switches are ganged together into two breakers, so if the masthead lights are all you've lost, then it's probably not the circuit breaker.

If you have no lights at all on your masthead, the problem is almost certainly a break in the common (negative) wire. First you should narrow down the problem to determine whether it's in the mast or in the cabin. (I'd bet it's in the mast, probably at the plug.) Use an ohmmeter to test continuity between the common and the three other wires. You can figure out which is common from trying different pin combinations. If you don't have continuity on any of the pins, then the problem is there and you should disassemble the plug to inspect.

If you have continuity on all three sets of wires (common + anchor/steaming/deck), then focus on the cabin. With the plug disconnected, energize all three switches. Use your voltmeter (in DC voltage mode) to determine which hole in the deck connector is common and which ones are +12v. If you can't find a pair of pins that give you +12v, then the problem is the common wire in the cabin.

Chances are you have a bad contact in the plug. That's where the wires get the most strain, and they tend to corrode and/or work harden and break there.

Catalina Direct sell an identical replacement plug.

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/14/2012 21:09:46

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2012 : 09:42:52

I agree with Rick. The plug placement and quality are just not very good. They're perfect for breaking wires.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2012 : 10:51:37

The common on my plug is broken right now. It's at the top of my list of post-splash fixes.

I just found this - it might help you. Spacing might be messed up on yopur browser:

Looking down on deck connector:

G - com • V • W - Steam
B - Deck • • R - Anchor

Looking down at plug:

W - Steam • V • G - Com
R - Anchor • • B - Deck

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/15/2012 11:37:09

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.