JLapp
Junior Member
Posting a reply to @Tin Kicker here, so I would stop cluttering up another post.
On the shakedown cruise, it seemed like only the 'Accessory 1' and 'Blower' switch worked. Everything else did not work. The running lights most disturbingly and the cabin lights secondary.
I started to trace out the wiring and found a terminal block and tightened up some connections there, everything worked at that point except for the cabin lights. The cabin is full of battery-powered puck lights so it's been without cabin lights for a while, I knew that as part of the purchase and figured it wouldn't be a huge deal to fix, even if it meant re-wiring. I assumed that would be something to consider anyway, and at the price, I was just looking for good bones.
Anyway, traced out the connection and found a connection wrapped under some heavy electrical tape, inside was a butt connector that had one wire in and two out that had burned up! I don't know if the tape caused it, saved the boat, or was just to cover it up. Anyway, I've got my solder kit and some heat shrink and I'm going to fix it, which leads me to my first question:
What is the best method to spice off a light fixture in the cabin light circuit? Is the two-into-one correct or do I find the bus and run a line all the way to the fixture from there?
I'm going to take a picture of a terminal/bus block I've found in the lazaret tonight and post the picture here, and hopefully, get some advice about if it's factory or an add on.
Second Question, the wires that run through the bilge, go to the mast I assume. Is there a better way to route them? I'm going to take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" tact here, and I plan on keeping the bilge dry and clean, but it wasn't always so and the wires have a slick coat on them from I assume the old inboard days with water/oil/gas/rum in the bilge.
On the shakedown cruise, it seemed like only the 'Accessory 1' and 'Blower' switch worked. Everything else did not work. The running lights most disturbingly and the cabin lights secondary.
I started to trace out the wiring and found a terminal block and tightened up some connections there, everything worked at that point except for the cabin lights. The cabin is full of battery-powered puck lights so it's been without cabin lights for a while, I knew that as part of the purchase and figured it wouldn't be a huge deal to fix, even if it meant re-wiring. I assumed that would be something to consider anyway, and at the price, I was just looking for good bones.
Anyway, traced out the connection and found a connection wrapped under some heavy electrical tape, inside was a butt connector that had one wire in and two out that had burned up! I don't know if the tape caused it, saved the boat, or was just to cover it up. Anyway, I've got my solder kit and some heat shrink and I'm going to fix it, which leads me to my first question:
What is the best method to spice off a light fixture in the cabin light circuit? Is the two-into-one correct or do I find the bus and run a line all the way to the fixture from there?
I'm going to take a picture of a terminal/bus block I've found in the lazaret tonight and post the picture here, and hopefully, get some advice about if it's factory or an add on.
Second Question, the wires that run through the bilge, go to the mast I assume. Is there a better way to route them? I'm going to take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" tact here, and I plan on keeping the bilge dry and clean, but it wasn't always so and the wires have a slick coat on them from I assume the old inboard days with water/oil/gas/rum in the bilge.
