Lighting Questions

[livingstone]

I moved the cabin light in my mac 25 more over the table, and after doing so, it went off. I figured I had the terminals crossed. When I went to reverse the leads, I think I blew a fuse, maybe by crossing them. Playing around and trying to understand the switch panel wiring (I'm way more familiar with AC), I think I blew the running lights. I can't figure out how to reset breakers, if, in fact, it can be done. They push in and out, but do nothing.

Any one have any ideas or similar experiences?

Thanks for any ideas.

Jack

[David Mellon]

If you have this panel, the stock one, the fuses are old fashioned glass ones. The red button actually pulls out and the fuse is inside.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

If it's a stock panel, it's not breakers. Before the red ones pictured above they used the black twist bayonet fuse holders. Push in and turn 1/4 turn and the cap should come off revealing the fuse.

You can see the older style black fuse holders to the right of the red switches in this picture. I replaced the head gouging toggle switches the factory used with these red pushbutton and light up rocker switches.



Lights, at least the incandecent type do not care about polarity. They will work wired either way. Shorting the circuit by touching the contacts will pop a fuse in no time.

[livingstone]

So is an incandescent light either AC or DC, or does it work on both? I had small wattage bulbs in my boat and ripped them out because I had used them with only shore power and they were AC. I guess it's not too late to put them back...

My breakers/fuses look like little red rectangles, to the left of the lit up red rocker switches. I'll try yanking them when it stops pouring...

Thanks for your advice. You people are so damned helpful. I really appreciate it.

Jack

[Frank C]

'Little red rectangles??' Pretty sure that mine are square, each one adjacent to a rectangular rocker switch. The little red squares are fuse covers.

You need to insert a mini-screwdriver blade in the slot to pop those covers off ... dumbest thing I've ever seen. Can't understand why they abandoned the round quarter-turn covers that Duane mentioned.\

Here's one on eBay:

[kmclemore]

That original MacGregor panel is manufactured and sold by "Sea-Dog". Here's some information about it that I posted previously in this forum....

...I've pressed the red square button labeled fuse thinking that it will pop out a bit enabling me to remove it but nothing happens; do you have to remove the entire panel to access the fuses? I'm sure it's something quite simple but this simple-mind can't seem to figure it out. Thanks in advance.

Hi, Kevin (nice name, BTW) -

Your fix for checking the fuse (at least) is pretty easy. On the left side of that 'red square button' you'll see a little slot. Push in a small screwdriver blade and the 'red square button' will pop out and your fuse will be right behind it. Mind you don't lose the spring which is right behind the fuse and sometimes will fall out.

That "Sea Dog" brand panel is fully described here.



Cheers,
Kevin

Further information on that panel is here:
http://www.sea-dog.com/PDF/422010.pdf

And here:
http://www.sea-dog.com/422010.html

Further discussion here:
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... 5889#65889

[aya16]

If the panel doesnt have any power at all ...
dont forget to check the little inline fuse just off the battery

its a source of major problems - cheap radio shack plastic non water proof fuse holders.

[livingstone]

Man, I can't believe how cool you guys all are, helping people like me out. I guess it always blows my mind when I can type in some problem that's beguiling me, and a total stranger, or strangers, in this case, come in and save the day. YOU ROCK.

Strangers no more.
Your friend,

Jack

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

So is an incandescent light either AC or DC, or does it work on both? I had small wattage bulbs in my boat and ripped them out because I had used them with only shore power and they were AC. I guess it's not too late to put them back...

So I'm confused by this statement. There is a big difference between bulbs for 120 volts AC and 12 volts DC. Hook up the 120v AC bulbs to the low 12v DC and you won't get any glow at all. Hook up the 12v DC bulb to 120v AC and the bulb will blow in an instant. Fixture bases are different for each just to help you avoid this mistake.

I don't think the fixtures you had, at least if they are factory, are AC at all. Everything that comes with a Mac is 12v DC. They can be run off a shore power 120v AC connection through your shore power charger. The charger reduces the voltage to 12v DC which it sends to the batteries and all the electrical circuits in the boat. The lights don't care if the power is coming from the batteries or the charger. Incandescent lights also don't care about polarity, but flourescent and LED's do.

You can get dual voltage fixtures. These will have two bulbs, one 12v DC and one 120v AC. There will be two separate wire runs, one to the 12v system and one to the 120v side of the shore power system. I can't say I've ever known of anyone going to the trouble to install these in a Mac. It is just easier to keep everything 12v and let the charger do the voltage conversion.

[kmclemore]

Man, I can't believe how cool you guys all are, helping people like me out. I guess it always blows my mind when I can type in some problem that's beguiling me, and a total stranger, or strangers, in this case, come in and save the day. YOU ROCK.

Strangers no more.
Your friend,

Jack

Send money.

[aya16]

KMC that link is not my address, I think you made a mistake. Please correct.

[livingstone]

So, the latest:

I pulled the fuses, went out to West Marine, and put in fresh ones. No luck. Tiny size difference. Then Boater's World. Same dilly. It turns out the ones that came with it are an inch or so, but the standard is 1 1/4. I contacted the Sea Dog people, who said it should make no difference, but it does. Sea Dog of course, does not sell the fuses, and doesn't know where to find them.

I know it's the fuse, because I had one good one remaining, which would work in any spot, with any fuse holder, but the 1 1/4 ones wouldn't work anywhere. Strange huh?

Okay, guardian angels, do your stuff...

[argonaut]

If they are the same diameter as the 1.25¨ fuses they could be type 8AG fuses, normally only found in electronic things because they are fast acting.
Anyway the 1" x 0.25¨ glass case is type 8AG, google that or try radio shack, auto parts, etc...

Look really close at the working one, often the package type (not fuse rating) it stamped on it.

[James V]

Try a good Auto Parts store or an Electrical Supply house for the fuses. Take one with you.

[kmclemore]

Sea Dog of course, does not sell the fuses, and doesn't know where to find them.

Strange. They have them on their website.

As a matter of fact, they have a whole catalog of them.

Oh, and the fuse size for your holder is indeed 1/4"x1-1/4". Here's the fuse holder's specifications which shows the specifications.

I suspect your spring or something is getting in the way. Might want to check again to be sure you're assembling it in properly.