All around light: 2 wires vs. 3 wires

sb in gp

sb in gp

Active Member
Oct 10, 2006
858
Grosse Pointe, MI
Boat Info
2016 Tiara 50 Coupe
Engines
Volvo D11 IPS
I'm adding a radar to my arch and in the process I'm changing out the all around light. The stock light had 3 wires and the new light has 2. I'll put a tester on it when I get back down there, but anyone know off the top how you should connect this?

Thanks,

Scott
 
On the 320 - one light is on when you are have on the running lights facing the bow and when you are anchored the other light turns on when you hit the anchor switch. So it has two bulbs. It sounds like the light you bought is different and may have only 1 bulb.
 
You are correct. Two bulbs in the original, and only 1 in the new light.

I guess I'll need to try to return the new light and find one with two bulbs.

Thanks,

Scott
 
Before you return the light..... I'm in the process of doing a radar install as well. I discovered that while the 2 bulb mast lights are made with separate leads, the two power leads from the light are wired to a single power feed on the actual boat harness.

The light requirement (< 40') is for a 360 degree white mast light for nav, or anchor. I believe the multi bulb mast light can be used with longer boats where there is a rear facing white light requirement for nav, and 360 degree light for anchor.

Henry
 
The "two bulb", or split nav/anchor lights are used when the light is forward of the helm- like a windshield mount- and obviously you don't want an all-around light shining back into your eyes when navigating. So, only the forward portion is lit providing the forward 180 degrees of visibility. This MUST be combined with a stern light which provides the aft-facing 180 degrees of white light. So together, you get a 360 degree white light, which is the requirement for both nav, and anchor applications.

On an arch I see no reason for this. The single bulb, all-around light is all you need (and you don't need a stern light) whether you are navigating, or at anchor.
 
Not sure that this helps, but my mast head light has 2 bulbs as well. I need the 360 degree visibility. When the running light switch is on, your green and red bow lights are also on. When you turn running off and turn on anchor light switch, your bow lights go off but mast head stays on.
 
I just installed a radar system too, and bought the all around light with one bulb. I wired the two red leads to the single power lead of the light. The light works on both switch positions - anchor and nav.
 
I just swapped out my 3 wire for a 2 wire as well. Just wire the two power wires from the harness to one side of the new 2 wire light, and the ground from the harness to the other. Works fine, both on nav. or snchor.
 
Thanks guys. I'll stick with the 1 bulb Aquasignal 20 light that I bought and, as suggested, wire the two red wires together with one side of the light.

Any tips on splicing the 3 wires in a way that will be adequate for boating environment? Two wires are 14 gauge and the light wire is 16 or 18.
 
sb in gp said:
Thanks guys. I'll stick with the 1 bulb Aquasignal 20 light that I bought and, as suggested, wire the two red wires together with one side of the light.

Any tips on splicing the 3 wires in a way that will be adequate for boating environment? Two wires are 14 gauge and the light wire is 16 or 18.
Click to expand...

You could find an appropriate size "step-down" butt connector that would work:

http://www.marinco.com/product/step-down-butt-connectors-vinyl-insulated

Or simply connect the hot lead from the nav switch (that runs to the light) and connect it to the anchor light hot lead at the panel, rather than at the light itself; here you'd only be using one of the hot leads that runs to the light.
 
Final thought on this topic... turns out that one of the wires was hot in either switch position (Nav or Anchor), so I just hooked that one to the light and sealed the other.
 
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