Association Forum - Cabin/Head/V-berth Light Fixture Problem

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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Cabin/Head/V-berth Light Fixture Problem

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Sam Cyphers
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/06/2012 : 14:15:55

Hey everyone,

Quick electrical question, in addition to my many other questions. I have a '77 and my saloon lights work, but my head and v-berth do not. I purchased 12v West Marine LED round light fixtures to place in the head and v-berth (original fixtures were missing when I purchased the boat) but once installed they do not work. I tested the new fixtures against the battery and they work.
Given the same wiring and fuse is used to power the cabin, head, and v-berth, I cant figure out the problem. Its especially odd that the saloon light and the bathroom light dont work when they are 8 inches apart and use the same wiring.
I cant figure out where the wires disappear after the fixtures and given there is no true diagram in the owners manuel, just a theoretical schematic. The wiring is the same though, everything remains true to the diagram as far as wire gauge and coloring.
Where do the wires run and am I missing something along the way? Can this be remedied?
Truly appreciate any help!

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JKBIXBY
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2012 : 15:34:30

I also have a 77. The wiring appears to be between the deck and the salon roof. I reran some of the wiring and used a square conduit that snaps open and shut when mounted on a "flat" surface. I ran it under the shelving on the port side and you can hardly see it unless your are lying down on the cushions.
As memory serves I found the "conduit" at one of the big box stores.
John on MsAchsa, 77 SR/FK

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Sam Cyphers
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2012 : 16:26:47

Yes, I think you are right, it runs between the deck and saloon roof, which makes it even more weird that the wiring would not work between the saloon light and the head light, given there isnt anything that could have damaged it unless the boat was drilled or split in half. Neither is the case.

Any ideas why this isnt working? Im trying to avoid rewiring simply because of the labor and given I already have the wires hanging for a fixture it would work cosmetically as well.

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2012 : 17:49:44

Coming from an extensive wiring background, I can tell you that wires not terminated to a fixed position can and will break inside of closed conduits. You may luck out if the wiring is broken where it is exposed, and so you can then cut off most of what's exposed and splice in new wire at the exposed ends, but I suggest doing what the previous poster recommended. Running new wires along the exposed (but hidden from the casual observer) hull/deck joint will be easier, less time consuming, and more reliable.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Sam Cyphers
 Yes, I think you are right, it runs between the deck and saloon roof, which makes it even more weird that the wiring would not work between the saloon light and the head light, given there isnt anything that could have damaged it unless the boat was drilled or split in half. Neither is the case.

Any ideas why this isnt working? Im trying to avoid rewiring simply because of the labor and given I already have the wires hanging for a fixture it would work cosmetically as well.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2012 : 08:20:17

My 1984 has all of the wiring for cabin lights run along the deck/hull/liner joint. It is easy to access and would be fairly easy to replace. It isn't very high quality wiring (the conductors aren't tinned and oxidize easily), so replacing it wouldn't be a bad idea.

On my boat the cabin light wiring is blue/black and starts at the electrical panel behind the sink, goes forward along the port side, and loops back along starboard. The lights on that circuit in order are: port cabin, V-berth, head sink, starboard cabin, quarterberth.

If the port cabin is working and the V-berth is not then your wiring has failed somewhere in between those two points.

If the port and starboard cabin lights are working and the V-berth is not then the little tails that connect each light to the main circuit have failed. Those are easy to replace and Catalina just crimped them all together in a single butt splice.

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2012 : 08:32:31

Do you have a multi-meter or test light? That will answer quite a bit ya know....

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5383 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2012 : 09:55:56

I agree on checking the wiring with a multimeter. First see whether you have power between the black and blue cables. If not, then check continuity back to battery negative or ground on the black using the ohmmeter (should be about 1 Ohm or less) and with the light switch on, between blue and the positive battery terminal first using the voltmeter to check that there's no stray voltage, then with the ohmmeter for continuity. If no continuity between blue and battery positive, check the line back to the panel switch. Connections for other cabin lights could break the circuit at the splice. Crimp terminals can fail and wires fall out or corrode.
Also note that the black lead also serves as your ground (negative lead) for your bow running lights. If there's no continuity there, you will not have a red/green bow light at night. That's a bigger problem.

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blanik
Navigator

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Canada
210 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2012 : 10:29:31

maybe the splice going forward was inverted, have you tried inverting the wires of your fixture? the - and + cabin lights wires where inverted on my boat (didn't matter for incandescent light bulbs but i had to reverse all wiring on my LEDs)

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