Navigation Lights

[arall]

Hello All, a real newbie here.

Can someone Please, tell me how to install the wiring for navigation lights from bow to stern to batt and to a pull switch, which is also missing. the lights are there but only have about 12"s of wire on each light (black and white wires), go figure?
the boat is a 1989 16' invader w/center console. that I just purchased. it has 2 pull switches. one for the bilge the other I guess for lights. I just need to know how to complete the curcuit from the battery to a new pull switch and what size amp fuse should I use. I have a 6 fuse panel under the console.

Thanks in advance!
Al

 

[jtexas]

Re: Navigation Lights

Do you already have 12V at your fuse panel? If not run a 10 gauge red wire from battery (+) with a 20-amp circuit breaker to the panel. From the panel run a 16 gauge wire to the light switch.

That switch should have three terminals, I just did this and can't remember which is the one for 12V input. If it's not marked, let us know somebody will help ya figure it out. Run 16ga wires from the other two terminals, one to the stern light, and one to the bow. Connect 'em to the white wires using crimp connectors (get a real crimping tool don't try to do it with pliers).

You probably have one 360º white stern light that is also your anchor light.

The switch will have three positions: off, one on, and both on. The stern light needs to be connected to the terminal on the switch that comes on first and stays on second. The red/green bow lights connect to the other terminal. You may have to use trial and error. 5 amp fuse will work here.

Bilge pump, similarly, run a wire from the fuse panel to the bilge switch, and from the switch to the pump, connect it to the brown wire. If your bilge pump also has a float switch and you need advice on hooking it up, let us know. 5 amp fuse is probably good for this one, too unless you still have the instructions to the pump, use whatever it says.

Now for the ground wires. Use a 10ga black wire connected to battery (-) and a ground buss bar, located in a convenient place. Use 16ga black wire to connect the black wires from both lights and the bilge pump to the buss bar.

I may have rambled a bit...let us know if it's less than totally confusing...

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

Thanks jtexas,

Yes, I do have 12v at fuse panel. I think I got it! When you say run a 16ga wire from the panel to the switch, would I be running it from the pos (+) side of the panel to the switch "right" or do I run it from the neg(-) side to the switch?

Al

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Navigation Lights

You always switch a positive wire. There should never be a fuse a fuse or circuit breaker in the negative lead.

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

ok!
I ran a 10ga wire from the batt pos (+) side, and then connected a 20amp fuse between the battery and the pos(+) fuse panel buss bar. from the (+) buss bar Do I run the 16ga wire to the battery terminal on the switch?

The orther 2 terminals on the pull switch, I connected 1 terminal with a white16ga wire, and connected it to the stern /anchor light. I then connected the bow light's white wire, to the other terminal on the pull switch. now I have the black wires from the bow and stern,

my guess is now! to connect the black 16ga wires to the neg (-) side of the battery? or do I connect the blk wires to the top of the fuse panel and insert a 5 amp fuse??

The glass tube type fuse panel only has a pos (+) buss bar! and 6 places for AGC fuses.

Thanks, guy's

Al

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

here's my spegghetti w/o sauce...lol

Al

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

here's my spegghetti w/o sauce...lol

the switch on far right is for the bilge pump , that works ok. the bilge pump comes on automatic and manually
the blk wire with no end comes from (-) side of batt. I'm lost, should I connect that open blk wire to a top post on the fuse panel?

Al

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

The center switch is for nav lights and fuel gauge. I replaced the grey wire with the white 16ga wire from the stern/anchor light. I then ran the bow white lead to the other terminal closest to the pull handle. the red 16ga wire is connected to the batt terminal on the switch, now! do I connect the red (+) wire to pos (+) buss bar where the 10ga yellow wire is connected to the fuse panel??

Again Thanks for the help!
Al

 

[jtexas]

Re: Navigation Lights

ok!
I ran a 10ga wire from the batt pos (+) side, and then connected a 20amp fuse between the battery and the pos(+) fuse panel buss bar. from the (+) buss bar Do I run the 16ga wire to the battery terminal on the switch?

The orther 2 terminals on the pull switch, I connected 1 terminal with a white16ga wire, and connected it to the stern /anchor light. I then connected the bow light's white wire, to the other terminal on the pull switch. now I have the black wires from the bow and stern,

my guess is now! to connect the black 16ga wires to the neg (-) side of the battery? or do I connect the blk wires to the top of the fuse panel and insert a 5 amp fuse??

The glass tube type fuse panel only has a pos (+) buss bar! and 6 places for AGC fuses.

Thanks, guy's

Al

So far so good!
Right, from the fuse to the battery terminal on the switch.

Note that the fuse panel is all positive, there is no negative side there. That metal strip connecting the fuse holders on the side where the 12V wire is attached provides power to the fuses, and they carry it to the wires leading to your switches.

The black wires get connected to battery (-)...individual wires each with a ring terminal directly on the battery post would work, but it'd be cluttered (don't ask me how I know) and more likely to cause problems down the road. Better to obtain a negative bus bar (similar to the one shown but without fuses).

[edit -- I was typing this answer while you were adding your next comment]

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

Here's the spegghetti with the works...

The previous owner took care of this boat didn't he...:|

 

[jtexas]

Re: Navigation Lights

simultaneous typing there...

Don't attach the battery (-) to the fuse panel!!!!

Your gauges probably have a post that needs a ground wire, but none of your switches do.

Just keep this circuit in mind: DC power flows from the battery to the fuse to the switch to the device and back to the battery.

I bet I ripped three miles of wires out my boat, that weren't connect to anything on either end...owner replaced a pump or something just ran new wire didn't bother to clean out the old.

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

ok! I think I got it now...hehe

so now I'm going to connect the blk wire from the stern light to the blk wire from the bow light, then run another wire from the 2 other blk wires, cap off the 3 wire then blk tape them. then run that 3rd blk wire to the battery (-) side. sounds like a plan. I'm going to try to upload a drawing, as you know I'm no electrician. But here it goes.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Navigation Lights

not bad...that's a pic worth at least a thousand keystrokes!

I just made a couple additions in green - the switch gets power through the fuse - in your drawing the fuse is bypassed.

Just a word to the wise: USCG standard is crimped connections, or crimped and soldered, but not just soldered. And no pigtails or wirenuts. Use a real crimping tool don't try to get by with pliers. That's more general guidelines than actual rules. I use crimps myself.

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

u-dah Man! jtexas

I thought so. Many thanks. I guess it true a picture is worth a thousand words...8) a crimping I will go...lol

Again Thanks.

Al.

 

[arall]

Re: Navigation Lights

the final conclusion!


it all works now!



Thanks, AL 8)