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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Lighting question/fuse panel

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binky
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USA
115 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/25/2013 : 14:30:33

I installed a stereo this weekednd and while doing so I fixed several problems at the fuse box. At some point, a PO decided to use 120v lamp cord or speaker wire to run components on the boat. Wrapped wire around the ground slugs, this did not cut it for me. Correct connecters, wires, wrap and hangers are now installed. UURRGGHHHHH!!!
Anyway, I had to double check the wiring schematic for my 1983 to verify a factory run wire. In doing this I found that the solid white wire, per factory, was the "bow" light (+ polarity). What does this control?
My fuse panel, as labeled and what it controls..
Running..3 nav lights (bow and stern) and LED in compass.
Cabin..Interior lights and VHF radio
Outlet..DC outlet and stereo
Depth Sounder (It has been relabeled)..depth sounder only
Spreader..guessing spreader, I think bulb is burned out.

So wiring diagram says running lights are "red" wire and handles 3 lights. "Orange" wire is anchor light, "yellow" is spreader, "blue" is cabin and white is "BOW".

Any ideas here? I do not have a mast light (360 all white), I do have a steaming light(spreader). My mast-electric connector has 2 wires to spreader. All components seem to be working....where does this white factory laid wire go?

"Mast Confusion"
1983 SK, #3525
Ken
Hampton Roads, Va

Edited by - binky on 04/25/2013 14:32:41

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2013 : 20:12:56

I'm trying to remember mine... but I'm thinking "bow" is your "steaming light"--the white light on the front of the mast. It's separate so you can turn it on when under power, and off when not. I could be wrong, but you need to be able to control it separately from the R-G-W running lights, so that's my guess.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/25/2013 20:17:09

redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 05:08:38

mine is an 84 and it was "factory" wired and labeled like so..

So I'm guessing the white was power to the steaming light on mine.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 05:17:25

Oh yes.. now I remember.. a really crappy split ( juction ) on the red wire sent power to the bow lights ( red and green ) and aft running light. Those junctions were exposed and rusty, cutting other insulation on wires next to them and creating ( not shorts ) but power to other circuits.

Made it very confusing..

Why they labeled the switch for the white wire "bow" I'll never know..

Edited by - on

redeye
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Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 05:19:11

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 05:56:09

Thats quite an accomplishment to sort out that kind of spaghetti. Passage's wiring was in decent shape but I redid the main power cables and some circuits.
Using Ray's (Redeye) list, the bow light is the steaming light 1/2 way up the front of the mast so should be wired into the white wire leading to the deck connector. The other 2 leads on the deck connector are masttop anchor light and ground.
The deck light (3rd from top) could be wired to downlights attached to the spreaders or courtesy lamps on deck. I used that to power my stereo and 12V outlets instead.
I didn't switch my VHF except to the main power switch, since I always want it to have power.

Edited by - on

Kim Luckner
1st Mate

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USA
99 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 06:00:21

Ray, I'm not sure "Romex and doorbell" wire offer a good example to post a picture of.

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redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 11:39:14

the "romex" is for the 120v shore power, but I don't use shore power. The "bell wire" is power to an old component, now removed.

I did replace the components and rewired the original panel. Not a difficult job. Found the fuse holders and switches at a Electrical supply house in atlanta.

This is result before I finished up the mast wiring... Now I have my own spaghetti...

Edited by - redeye on 04/26/2013 11:39:44

binky
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USA
115 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 18:28:09

Think I got it figured out..,.and thanks. The white wire "bow" light needs to be connected to "spreader" switch...it is the steaming light. This wire was not connected to anything in the panel.
Got all the junk wire gone and cleaned up the fuse panel. Replaced the ground buss with a larger better designed bar, similar to the one Redeye has (right side). One day I will take the time and replace the whole works. REDEYE, your finished product looks great.

Not that I need it, but was the anchor light an option on the 25s? My boat either 1.never had one, 2.it got stolen or 3. it tried to take down a bridge and lost. I have two wires running down mast ... for steaming/masthead.

And to verify: Under sail: bow and stern lights, Under power: bow,stern and steaming/masthead 225 lights?

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2013 : 19:30:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by binky
 And to verify: Under sail: bow and stern lights, Under power: bow,stern and steaming/masthead 225 lights?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Just a terminology check: The "steaming light" on the front of the mast is 225 degrees, to go with the 135 degree stern light to show white all-around when under power (whether sails are up or not). Engine off = what you said. The "masthead" light, or anchor light (which I guess you don't have) is 360, and is not used when under way.

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Voyager
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5376 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2013 : 06:26:39

Ken.
If you look at the mast top you'll likely find the remains of an anchor light. I believe it was standard equipment on all models and years of our boats.
The C25 manual (I have) shows a panel switch position and the wiring through the deck connector into and up the mast. The mast top light is prone to being clipped by low bridges and some people may have removed them, although I can't see why.
An anchor light is "optional" only if you never decide to anchor out somewhere overnight. If you do anchor out, the regs state that you either need a conventional anchor light or a sufficiently bright (2nm) all around light turned on from dusk (or whenever you drop anchor after dark) until dawn.
You need to let people see your way up high bright light while at anchor at night.

Edited by - Voyager on 04/28/2013 06:31:06

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 04/28/2013 : 10:10:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 An anchor light is "optional" only if you never decide to anchor out somewhere overnight. If you do anchor out, the regs state that you either need a conventional anchor light or a sufficiently bright (2nm) all around light turned on from dusk (or whenever you drop anchor after dark) until dawn.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Not true in a "designated anchorage", as shown on a chart. (Not that it isn't a good idea...)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/28/2013 10:11:00

redeye
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Response Posted - 04/29/2013 : 05:02:30

I never did re-label the panel.. always wanted to change it to the last image.. on my todo list... ( and probably change deck to spreader )

The last thing you want at the end of a long day is a confusing switch panel..

Edited by - redeye on 04/29/2013 05:04:14

JohnP
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Response Posted - 04/30/2013 : 12:56:31

My good ol' boat had a life in Michigan, then in Florida, and then on the Chesapeake Bay before I bought it. There was no anchor light fixture on the boat then.

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ftworthsailor
Captain

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USA
279 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2013 : 13:05:27

Wow! So THATS what they look like. I just have a hole where the breaker panel USED to be.....

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binky
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USA
115 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2013 : 14:39:49

I have the wiring to the mast for an anchor light but there is no anchor light, nor is there any wiring in the mast for such.

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