I take a spare battery and check all the lights when the mast is still on the sawhorses. Also, my connection is inside the boat – under the dinette seat. I have replaced the connection block as it was getting rather corroded. It sounds like your mast is deck stepped.
Gary 30-1 From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List Sent: Friday, December 9, 2016 1:58 PM To: [email protected] Cc: Marek Dziedzic <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Stus-List Rewiring mast and anchor light.. Dave, If you have a good (i.e. reliable) way of connecting the mast wires to the boat, when you step the mast, I would like to hear it. The worst part is that my connector is inside the mast (under the mast foot when stepped), so you have precisely 5 s in the spring to connect and verify if all lights are working. For the last two years I am struggling with that. Two years ago my anchor light was MIA, last year the steaming light. Two years ago a Sea Dog connector disintegrated while in the mast (from heat in the summer?); last year, there was no visible damage, but there was no connection either. I suspect that because the old wires coming down from the mast are stiff and the insulation is somewhat brittle, there might be something happening when I stuff the connector and the wires in the mast cavity. The problem is that there is no easy way to check this. Well, other than do a troubleshooting session with the mast hanging on the masting crane (which is not, realistically, an option – there is always a long line-up to the masting crane). Marek From: Dave S via CnC-List Sent: Friday, December 9, 2016 11:02 To: C&c Stus List Cc: Dave S Subject: Re: Stus-List Rewiring mast and anchor light.. I think it is wisest to connect the windex light (LED) to the running light circuit, so another masthead wire is required. The ground conductor from the masthead anchor light could be used. Am going to look at my windex, but I agree with Doug, either discreet LED or strips could be used. Only issue is reliable connection at masthead for those of us who dismast ourselves annually. Dave
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