Lighting Relay

[JLR]

I am having some lighting issues on my 74 MY. None of the lights going up the steps to the bridge is working. Also, the lights in the ceiling on the aft deck do not work. After receiving much help from Bruce Morrison and Roger Wetherington, I could use some more here. They were able to steer me to a bunch or relays (about 16) with fuses behind my pilothouse seat. All of the fuses work but now I need to identify if I have a bad relay. Unfortunately, the relays are not labeled. Is there any easy way to check and/or test a relay to locate the problem relays? These are 24VDC circuits and there is no breaker issue, bulb issue or fuse issue as far as I can tell.

 

[northshoreone]

There are also fuse's located in the stairwell going down to the master stateroom in the wall when you remove the storage shelf built into the stairwell. I know that the lighting going down to the master relies on fuse's located there...not sure about the stairwell going up to the flybridge.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Why not just pull some relays and swap them around until you figure out which ones are bad?

 

[JLR]

Sky - if I were better at math, I would have been a doctor rather than a lawyer. But, in all seriousness, 16 relays creates some serious permutations for swapping. All joking aside, I will try to do that but a big part of the problem with the circuits not labeled is trying to find the actual switches for whatever is working because I have no idea what circuits run through these relays. In searching the past posts, I cannot seem to find any relating to any others who have had problems with these relays yet Mike Price suggested which relay to buy based on 56 of them being sold last year. Also, Roger seemed to think it a bit unusual that the relay went but not the fuse. Sounds like a whole lot of trial and error coming up. I do appreciate the suggestions. Keep them coming.

 

[Boatsb]

Maybe a set of schematics in the hands of a good electician.

I can't believe there are no markings whatsoever. There has to be a way to run the relays to see which is which and which may not work

Relays can be tested. So can the circuits they power.

 

[dottieshusband]

I was pleasantly surprised at how detailed the wiring schematic really... You could wire the boat from it... Which is what they did... Find the big blueprints and follow the lines from the lights back..

 

[captddis]

I repaired a bunch of these on a 70. The relays are labelled A, B,C,D. They have 6 amp fuses and and small relays that are crammed into small aluminum junction boxes. The blue prints only said TB1 through 12. They did not break down the relays.Generally if you hear it click it is usually ok. I used a clip lead to jump the relays and see what lights, then you know which is which.

 

[JLR]

Dave - can you give me a bit more information on how I would jump these. I will be back at the boat in a few days and would love to identify and replace the offending relay(s). I do recall that they seemed to be crammed in the small box. I was thinking about finding a light that is working and continue to remove fuses until that light no longer works. I then know that that relay is good. Thereafter, I will yank out each relay and replace it with the good one to see if the step lights go on. However, being angle just to jump each relay would save me a ton of time and (blood) given the tight space involved. I do have a 24V source close by that I could run a wire from.

 

[JLR]

Problem solved. Broken wire at relay terminal.

 

[JLR]

Had another issue with a light in the master hallway. Turns out that it is a low voltage AC light controlled by a transformer in the master closet. Unfortunately, I spent a while checking all the relays close by before putting the meter on the light to find out it was AC not DC. One of these days, I would love to learn how to really use my multimeter beyond the simple stuff like continuity and voltage.

 

[Finally]

Hi everybody,

I have a Hatteras 60ED. I have the same problems. No light and no power in the Aft-Cabin. I cannot
find the Terminal with fuses. Also Midship, the A.C. lights don't work.

Where are the fuses???



Erman from Germany

 

[captddis]

All the AC lights are in the breaker panels. Check for a GFCI that has tripped.

 

[PeterK]

At times there seems to be no logic how circuits are put together! My engine room 120 volt lights are tied into the GFCI in the midship head! What a pain to have to go up the rear stairs and down the front ones to get to the outlet!

 

[bobk]

At times there seems to be no logic how circuits are put together! My engine room 120 volt lights are tied into the GFCI in the midship head! What a pain to have to go up the rear stairs and down the front ones to get to the outlet!

Peter, can you wire the ER lights around the GFCI in the head and put another into the circuit before the first light? I don't think you would have to pull a new wire, just change the way the ER wire comes off the GFCI outlet i.e. from an unprotected lug such as the input lug.

But why did it trip in the first place?

Bobk

 

[JLR]

Hi everybody,

I have a Hatteras 60ED. I have the same problems. No light and no power in the Aft-Cabin. I cannot
find the Terminal with fuses. Also Midship, the A.C. lights don't work.

Where are the fuses???



Erman from Germany

Check for both DC relays and AC transformers in the master closet wall panel.

 

[PeterK]

Peter, can you wire the ER lights around the GFCI in the head and put another into the circuit before the first light? I don't think you would have to pull a new wire, just change the way the ER wire comes off the GFCI outlet i.e. from an unprotected lug such as the input lug.

But why did it trip in the first place?

Bobk

Way above my pay grade...