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Anchor Light Problem

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:52 am
by ALBIN
I would appreciate any suggestions troubleshooting an anchor light problem.
I have no power to rear anchor light (at the bulb) but don't know how to test the switch.

Up position is red green front anchor and stern
Middle position is off
Down only powers front anchor light

Thanks
Tim

Re: Anchor Light Problem

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:44 am
by special k
anchor light is typically the 360 degree white usually on a small mast. the stern white is a running light.

Re: Anchor Light Problem

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:20 am
by ALBIN
Sorry about the confusion.

The 360 degree anchor light (roof top light) has 2 bulbs with 2 seperate power wire and one ground.

The front bulb has power the rear bulb does not.

The red green and stern light all work fine.

Re: Anchor Light Problem

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:50 pm
by RicM
You should not have power to the rear light on the mast when the switch is in the running position. You should have power to the front and rear bulb on the mast when the switch is in the anchor position. If you don't have 12V to the rear bulb in ANY position the rear bulb wire is disconnected at the switch or is broken somewhere along the run. Easy trouble shoot is to bypass existing wire from any 12V source to fixture. If it lights it's the wire in place. Easy fix is to pull a new wire through using the old one.

Re: Anchor Light Problem

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:22 am
by ALBIN
Jumped the switch with an alligator jumper (jumped top and bottom 2 prongs on the switch -there are 6 prongs on the back of the switch) and found out the switch was bad. Only area of confusion durning testing was in the up position the switch activated the bottom 2 wires on the switch and the down activated the top 2 wires.
So I ordered a switch from west marine replaced it now everything works great

Thanks
Tim

Re: Anchor Light Problem

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:48 pm
by DougSea
CHARITYPENDING wrote:Jumped the switch with an alligator jumper (jumped top and bottom 2 prongs on the switch -there are 6 prongs on the back of the switch) and found out the switch was bad. Only area of confusion durning testing was in the up position the switch activated the bottom 2 wires on the switch and the down activated the top 2 wires.
So I ordered a switch from west marine replaced it now everything works great

Thanks
Tim
The "workings" of the switch are attached to the other end of the toggle lever. So when the end you can see is "up" the other end is "down".