Electrical System Problem

[barry]

Last night I discovered a problem with my electrical system - The symptom:

The breaker on the control panel that is associated with the cabin lights, running lights, etc., pops when the cabin light switch is on (all other switches off) and one of the cabin lights is on.  If I turn the cabin light switch off and I switch on the runnings lights the breaker doesn't pop.  

Also, and this seems strange - the top of the stanchion(port-side at the front of the cock pit) was hot to the touch (i.e., significantly hotter than the air temp) - When I grabbed the stanchion I felt an very small electric charge.  

I discovered this problem late last night so i'm planning to troubleshoot this weekend and I was wondering if anyone had ideas on what to check ...

Is is possible that the cabin light wire has a bare area that is touching a stanchion bolt?

thanks

[Stu Jackson]

Barry

You could be on track.  The cabin lights'  wiring runs underneath the edge of the hull to deck joint, so there could well be a frayed wire that is touching one of the bolts holding the stanchion.

As far as your initial description, when I read it, I thought "connections, connections, connections," like location in real estate.

In addition to checking the wiring run for chafe near the stanchion, check all the connections at each light and at the breakers.  Over the course of the last thirteen years connections can dry out and corrode.  Check each one, and a little Boeshield or other electrcial lubricant wouldn't hurt when you put it all back together.

If you replace any wiring, try using 12 ga., in lieu of the "barely big enough" 14 ga. originally installed.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Stu

[Ken Juul]

I would think if the stanchion is getting enough stray electricity to get hot you would notice a huge drain on the battery.  I am also not sure if you can feel a 12v charge. Maybe the stanchion bolts are chafing on the 110v line.  

does the CB pop when any of the lights are on or just when a certain one is turned on?  The diagram in the owners manual shows it to be a parellel circuit.  Which would mean as long as the main light switch is turned on in the panel the wires are hot.  Your CB doesn't pop until you turn on a light which would indicate to me the problem is in the wiring between the main line and the light fixture.  (Assuming they actually wired the boat according to the diagram)  It is wired from the panel aft to the head light then forward clockwise around the boat to the rear cabin.  I think I would start in the aft cabin turning the lights on individually.  See if you can isolate the problem to a specific lamp. If I were to guess I would say the flex lamp at the nav table or maybe some water came through one of the ports and corroded one of the lights over the settees.  Happy hunting

[barry]

Problem resolved:  The cabin light wire was pinched between the washer and the hull on one of the bolts for the bow pulpit - port side.  How did find the problem:

1) disconnected the lifelines, which isolated each stanchion/pulpit.
2) Found the "warm" stanchion/pulpit using a volt meter.  
3) Removed the port and then starboard lining that hides the wiring and found the problem.  

Appears to a factory extra ...

[Stu Jackson]

Nice detective work, Barry, way to go!

BTW, had you considered powering ALL of your stanchions for use during the Xmas Lighted Boat Parade?

Stu