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Author Topic:   Navgation Lamp Wiring On One Switch

ch57 posted 06-08-2015 06:39 AM ET (US)
I have a 2000 Dauntless 16 with a 3 position switch for the running lights--NAV which should turn on the bow lights and the anchor light, OFF (in the middle position), and ANC which is anchor light only. The anchor light works fine in the ANC position but does not come on when in the NAV position--although the bow light does. Is this a bad switch actuator or somthing else[?] I checked all of the switch connections and they appear fine.
jimh posted 06-09-2015 11:18 PM ET (US)
The "switch actuator" is the mechanical moving part that is used to apply force to the electrical contacts of the switch. It is hard to know if the cause of the problem you describe is due to a problem with the switch actuator or due to a problem in the switch contacts. Generally one cannot replace or repair either the switch actuator or the switch contacts separately. One must replace the entire switch as an unrepairable assembly. The problem described could also be due to faulty wiring of the switch to the loads. This is likely if the original switch from Boston Whaler were already replaced. The replacement switch might have been wired wrong.
ASIDE: You are a bit confused about the names of things. The "light" is what the other boat sees. It comes from a lamp. Boats do not have "bowlights" as part of their required navigation lighting. You probably mean you have a combined sidelights lamp mounted at the bow. This is a common situation in small vessels which do not have separate Port and Starboard Sidelight lamps.
When underway, a boat does not show an "anchor light." A power-driven vessel underway shows sidelights, a masthead light, and a sternlight. If permitted under the rules, the masthead and sternlight can be combined into one lamp, a white all-round light. A white all-round lamp can also be used to provide an anchor light if illuminated only by itself, that is, without the sidelights.

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Author	Topic: Navgation Lamp Wiring On One Switch
ch57	posted 06-08-2015 06:39 AM ET (US) I have a 2000 Dauntless 16 with a 3 position switch for the running lights--NAV which should turn on the bow lights and the anchor light, OFF (in the middle position), and ANC which is anchor light only. The anchor light works fine in the ANC position but does not come on when in the NAV position--although the bow light does. Is this a bad switch actuator or somthing else[?] I checked all of the switch connections and they appear fine.
jimh	posted 06-09-2015 11:18 PM ET (US) The "switch actuator" is the mechanical moving part that is used to apply force to the electrical contacts of the switch. It is hard to know if the cause of the problem you describe is due to a problem with the switch actuator or due to a problem in the switch contacts. Generally one cannot replace or repair either the switch actuator or the switch contacts separately. One must replace the entire switch as an unrepairable assembly. The problem described could also be due to faulty wiring of the switch to the loads. This is likely if the original switch from Boston Whaler were already replaced. The replacement switch might have been wired wrong. ASIDE: You are a bit confused about the names of things. The "light" is what the other boat sees. It comes from a lamp. Boats do not have "bowlights" as part of their required navigation lighting. You probably mean you have a combined sidelights lamp mounted at the bow. This is a common situation in small vessels which do not have separate Port and Starboard Sidelight lamps. When underway, a boat does not show an "anchor light." A power-driven vessel underway shows sidelights, a masthead light, and a sternlight. If permitted under the rules, the masthead and sternlight can be combined into one lamp, a white all-round light. A white all-round lamp can also be used to provide an anchor light if illuminated only by itself, that is, without the sidelights.