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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Mast wiring

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RoofRoof
Navigator

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USA
186 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/28/2003 : 11:21:02

When I first bought my C25 and the mast was down, I installed new wiring in the mast. Too bad I used 3 wire instead of 4 wire. I have one wire for steaming light, one for anchor light, and the third for their grounds. I have decided that I'd like some illumination on my windex. Even better, I'd like to use a tri-color light at the masthead to give others a better view of my lights, and figure that the aft white lite part would illuminate my windex at the same time. Now, any hints of how I can rig my 3 wire system to utilize 3 lights? Thought of running one more 2 wire down the mast with a switch near the base of the mast....switching from anchor to tri-color, but that means running another wire, and sort of a jurryrig. How about using the mast itself as the ground? Any hints? My mast is up and tuned and I'm not going to drop it. All has to be done with me at the top of the mast, and my cute little 105lb chickie doing the hoisting.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2003 : 12:39:25

Using the mast itself as a ground would probably work fine, as aluminum is a very good electrical conductor. High tension power lines are aluminum, in fact (with a central steel wire core for strength). You will be attaching short lengths of wire between the light fixtures and the mast, and between the the bottom of the mast and the boat's electrical system to complete the ground circuit to the battery - I recommend you use tinned marine wire and solder the ring terminals that you will use for the mast connections, don't just crimp them.

There is one risk to this idea - if the boat were to take a lightning strike or hit a power line, with the mast connected to the boat's electrical system, the damage to the wiring, the battery, and other electronic devices would likely be worse than it otherwise would be.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2003 : 23:47:27

You do most definatly NOT want to use your mast as an electrical conductor. You might use one common ground wire 8 or 10 gage. But to do it right run another power wire. Do it once do it right.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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