Will upgrading to a LED transom light upset the mast light.

[suss1173]

I replaced my transom mounted stern light fixture with an LED unit purchased from West Marine. However my mast light is staying lit in the fore and aft position (illuminating 360). Regardless of the position of the light switch, the mast light stays fully lit (as if I am anchored). Could this be due to the LED drawing so little current that the mast light assumes the transom light is out and defaults to fully lighting up? That seams advance for a boat of this vintage, but it’s the only think I can think of.

Thanks in advance for the guidance on how to get my mast light to light opperating properly again…

 

[suss1173]

Am I wrong to think the mast light should only be lit in the front while under way and viewable from approx 180' and lit in the front and back viewable from 360' while on the hook?

 

[suss1173]

With your size boat, you are still legal with an all around light, so I wouldn't sweat it. I don't have my regs with me right now, and just woke up, so I am too groggy to google, but I think at 40 feet is where the mast light must absolutely be present and function as you described in your second post.

Some of the guys who run with dinghies at night have set their lights up just as yours is behaving now because the dinghy covers the transom light.

Thanks for the reply. I have googled this and you are correct, I can use the all round light. However the round light (my mast light) lit in the 360 position creates a wicked glaring making it hard for me to navigate.

Im hoping that I don't need to purchase another stern light that's not LED. I prefer the brightness of the LED and lower draw too.

 

[sdarc]

For your mast light there might be a shade available that fits around the mast under the light itself. I had one on my old Whaler. You might have to fabricate something.
As to your issue with the mast light now only working in all around mode should not have anything to do with adding the LED at the stern. Mast light should have 2 separate circuits. Check the wiring at the switch.

 

[JimG]

I can't imagine why the transom light would have anything to do with the mast light... they should be wired in parallel and operate independently. Did the mast light work properly before the transom light installation?

 

[suss1173]

I can't imagine why the transom light would have anything to do with the mast light... they should be wired in parallel and operate independently. Did the mast light work properly before the transom light installation?

It worked properly last summer. I launched her this season (in July) and noticed the transom light was out and that the mast would only light in the 360 position.

I figured it was lighting in the 360 position as some kind of default due to the transom being out. But when I replaced the transom it did not fix the mast light issue.

I'll look to see if I can fab up a cover for the back side of the light as a temp solution, at least for this weekend....

I really appreciate all of you chiming in and offering your input.

FWIW- this is the mast light that I have.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/31/f
IMG]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/31/e30cf8d8d02f079d40609ae59692867c.jpg



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[Lazy Daze]

Yes, there's no correlation between the transom light being out (or that it's now an LED) and the mast light. The switch is likely the culprit (or something shorting the two power posts of the switch together). It's a DPDT switch. You can remove switch and diagnose by jumping wires, but if you're not too familiar with electrical stuff, this switch is going to look like an octopus of wires on the back side.

 

[suss1173]

I did a quick google search of DPDT switch. I know mylimitations... I will need to call someone in on this. I’ll ask myfather in-law first, he's a retired electrician. Maybe he can help me diagnose if it is theswitch that needs to be replaced.

Thanks for the info Lazy Dayz.

 

[Captain Allen]

Two words...duct tape.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Good luck - post back if you have any questions. Generally speaking, the center posts are 12V+ and the top/bottom posts are the loads. BUT, keep in mind the top posts are actually activated when you push the button/toggle DOWN and vice versa. The blue wire will be for your gauge lights. You should find some data codes printed on the wires - they'll correspond to the wiring diagram for your boat.

 

[Bob & Sue]

I had to replace the same switch last year, it would not function in the anchor position you could feel when moving the switch something was wrong. I ordered it from Sea Ray think it was $20. It only took about 5 minutes to replace it and 20 minutes to make a diagram of the wires, might be worth just putting a new switch in instead of spending all that time troubleshooting the problem.

 

[suss1173]

I ordered the new switch and will post back after I get it installed. Hopefully this will fix the issue.

 

[rcknecht]

I bought a new led two way mast head light... When anchored your stern light is not on, but your anchor light is... If I were you I would replace your mast head light with an led light....

 

[suss1173]

I bought a new led two way mast head light... When anchored your stern light is not on, but your anchor light is... If I were you I would replace your mast head light with an led light....

I ordered the switch as that seams most likely to be the cause of the issue. However, I would like to have LED on the mast as well as the stern. I like the idea of being more visible and drawing less power too. So that will be next thing to purchase.

 

[suss1173]

I replaced the switch and that did not fix the issue. Fortunately, my Father-in- law is a (retired) electrician, and after further testing he found that there are 2 diodes behind that switch and one of them was cracked. We couldn't determine how it cracked, maybe age, but in any event, replaced the diode and everything works perfectly. The diode was sourced at Radio Shack for $2.50.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Glad you got it figured out. That's interesting that you have those diodes - I was just working on a similar system this weekend and there no diodes. I suppose there's usually more than one to do things! Hey, on the plus side, you can start building a "spare parts" kit! :smt001

 

[suss1173]

Yup. Nothing wrong with having some stairs around.