New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

[BKSinAZ]

Hello. <br /><br />I just bought a brand new reinell 20.4 ft 204FNS boat. I took it out on the lake last night. It was it's first night time run. I noticed that the all the dials such as the speedometer, temp, battery lighted up however, the on/off switches did not light up. The switches consist of the bilge, blower, accessories, navagation lights and one or two that I cant remember. I called the boat place and they dont know where I can find after market switches that light up.<br /><br />Do you know where or have any ideas?

 

[crab bait]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

can't tell whether you have lited switches that don't work.. or you WANT to buy lited switches.. <br /><br />you can buy them at any marine supply.. <br /><br />( must have a ground nearby to make the switch lites work )

 

[imported_bjs]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

ive never seen a switch that dont lit up and youre sure they dont have a nav.switch they make gauges that glow in the dark.should have for boats maybe not the gauges are autometer.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

iboats 'megamall' have them.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Brand new boat, as a boat still under a warrenty? The boat dealer is supposed to fix it free of charge. If he will not, call the factory. DO NOT touch it.

 

[BKSinAZ]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Originally posted by racer 15:<br /> ive never seen a switch that dont lit up and youre sure they dont have a nav.switch they make gauges that glow in the dark.should have for boats maybe not the gauges are autometer.

the nav switch just turns on the red/green bow ligth and the white light in the back of the boat. (for night time boating)

 

[BKSinAZ]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Originally posted by cyclops2:<br /> Brand new boat, as a boat still under a warrenty? The boat dealer is supposed to fix it free of charge. If he will not, call the factory. DO NOT touch it.

It is not defective. They are non lighting tilt switches.

 

[BKSinAZ]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Originally posted by crab bait:<br /> can't tell whether you have lited switches that don't work.. or you WANT to buy lited switches.. <br /><br />you can buy them at any marine supply.. <br /><br />( must have a ground nearby to make the switch lites work )

tilt

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Talk about a cheap company. Did they at least give you a flashlight till you can operate them in the dark? -------Everthing is lighted on my 2002 Chapp.------------- Beats the daylights of punching dark buttons on a black night.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Rather than replace all the switches, add a small dash light or two above the switches. Just enough light so you can see the labels. Check Radio Shack, military surplus or electronics supply stores for "panel lamps". If the switches are scattered all over the dash this won't work. If they are in a nice neat line, one or two hooded panel lights mounted above the switches should work nicely.

 

[boatgrunt]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

why don't you just look on the back of the gauges and see if they have light? If they do, trace the wire to the appropriate switch and troubleshoot. Typically, on the back of the gauge, there are three wires on three posts. These posts are marked "S", "G" and "I". The fourth wire, if there is one, should be going to the gauge light.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

They won't be cheap, but call a Chaparral dealer and ask what all the labeled and lighted switches would cost and what size and shape hole is needed. Might not have to butcher them holes?

 

[wgander]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

I added a hooded panel lamp over the single row of switches in my bow rider so I could see them at night. It's wired so that it gets power whenever the key is on. Finding a ground is easy; there's several places behind the dashboard to tap into an existing wire.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Nevermind...

 

[heycods]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.

Originally posted by cyclops2:<br /> They won't be cheap, but call a Chaparral dealer and ask what all the labeled and lighted switches would cost and what size and shape hole is needed. Might not have to butcher them holes?

what he said

 

[jch7450]

Re: New boat, but stock dash panel switches dont light up at night.