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Indicator lights

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/11/2013 : 18:03:42

How do indicator lights function? Background: This winter I won an eBay bid on a new electrical panel with LED indicator lights which I got around to installing this past weekend. Navigation lights turn on as directed and most indicators turn off immediately when the circuit breaker is opened as you would expect. One indicator on a circuit carrying power to a fuse block, however, fades away over about a 4 sec period. ??? Additionally, turning on the steaming light lights the indicators for the steaming, anchor and deck lights although only the steaming light actually turns on and vice versa for the other two. There obviously is some sort of cross talk (probably in the through deck connector) in the latter but still not clear to me what the indicators are responding to. I verified the connections to the circuit panel but have not had the time yet to check further.

Gerry Livingston, Malletts Bay, VT
"Great Escape" 1989 C-25 SR/WK #5972

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2013 : 20:38:13

Not sure if this is what you are talking about in the 2nd half of your posting, but I have a BEP Switch Panel that I instaled (in addition to my existing switch panel).

The new switch panel has 8 separate circuit breaker-switches. Following the install instructions, it provides options for having the indicator LEDs light up all the switches.

For example, the way I have it set up, if I put on my NAV lights or the anchor light or some of the addl loads, only the LED for that specific switch lights up green to indicate the switch is on.

But if I switch on the inside cabin lights, that switch when switched "On", is wired so that it lights up all the switches indicating which ones are off by a "red" LED and the switches that are on by a "green" LED.

The instructions provided options for having one switch trigger the indicator LEDs for all switches to show their present status.

I set it up so the LEDs are triggered for all switches to indicate individual status only when I am in the cabin and have switched on the cabin lights switch. Otherwise, all LED indicators are off except for the one load I switch on other than the cabin light switch.

I did it this way because my reasoning was that if I switch on say the NAV lights, it is because I am sailing at night and being out in the cockpit, there is no benefit for me to have the entire switch panel illuminated other than the one LED for the NAV lights.

But, if I use the cabin light switch (put it on), it is generally because I am staying in the cabin and having all the LEDs show status seems...."nice".

The other option was to not have any LEDs light up except for the specific switches turned on. Then no switch ever indicates a "red" LED indicating it is off...you just assume it is off.

No real big deal either way. (The LEDs use negligible power when on, though, I would only wnat them on when boating and totally off when away from the boat.)

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/11/2013 20:43:11

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2013 : 18:15:26

Thanks Larry. I guess I am looking for confirmation of the obvious - e.g., with the steaming light switched on, there has to be current coming back through the positive leads to the circuit breakers for the anchor and deck lights to turn on the indicator lights for those circuits even though those circuit breakers are "off". Why, where and how much current is bleeding from one circuit to another is now the challenge I need to address.

Also wanted to thank you for your lead. It seems by chance I purchased the same panel as you have. I was just killing a few minutes late one winter night and stumbled on a scratch-n-dent clearance sale that only had a few hours left and still no bids. As the seller noted, the packaging was a wreck but the panel itself was in perfect condition.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2013 : 09:19:36

I am surprised you actually have the same BEP switch panel ! They are not as common as some of the others sold since it originates from New Zealand.

When you say the other indicator lights come on (anchor and deck lights), I guess that means the green LED is showing for those loads even though their circuit breakers are open/off when you turn on your steaming light. If that is true, then I would think that something is touching or whatever...it is happening behind your switch panel since these loads are on completely different circuits - anchor to the top of mast and nav lights to the bow. But if the indicators are lighting up showing the red LED, then your loads are definitely not on and likely someone has used the steaming switch terminals behind the panel to turn on the switch panel status lights...but then why are the other indicators for all the switches also indicating w/red LEDs ?

I guess if only the indicators, etc were only goofed up for loads on the mast, well then one would think you may have an issue with the deck connector or elsewhere in the wiring. However, since the nav light indicator is going on, that positivewire is completely separate and so it makes no sense that the green LED would light up for it when you turn on your steaming light. The nav lights themselves are not coming on ? when the steaming light is switched on but the green LED for the nav lights is coming on ? That is weird. Are you sure the panel is in perfect condition from that clearance sale ? Are all the negatives leads accounted for and running to a negative bus board ?

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2013 : 04:59:43

CORRECTION - To all my above postings: The BEP Switch Panel, when a switch is turned on, the LED is RED ! When the switch that is set up to light up all the indicator LEDs is turned on, that switch the LED is RED indicating it is on and all switches that are off, their indicators light up GREEN ! Each switch that is then turned on, the LED turns from GREEN (indicating it is shut to RED indicating it is on. Actually, what is happening is the switch that when turned on turns all the switch indicator LEDs GREEN is that the green LED is behind the label and so it is really just lighting up the labels. When each switch is turned on, the RED LED is lighting up the little hole to the right of the label which signifies that the switch is on.

I took off from work today. I dropped my daughter and husband at NATL Reagan Airport and was going to go sailing afterwards but yesterday's stormn though it left the area, the tail end of it is still causing some minor rain this morning. So, I am in the cabin biding my time and probably will leave soon unless thjings start to clear up and I can do some cleanup/mtn. Winds are 15 mph but with higher gusts. I may go out sailing but it does not look promising with sky completely overcast and drops still falling.
So - I checked out the panel/LEDs.

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2013 : 10:46:16

"CORRECTION" - I got a chuckle out of your first response, but I knew what you meant. The Admiral is dislexic when she is tired so I've learned to pay attention to context and less to actual words. Has gotten me in trouble a few times but is often the more reliable approach.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2013 : 11:17:10

I suffer from Slisdexia too.

Paul

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