Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

next to the ignition to the right i have two rotary switches. neither are marked(p/o didn't use a cover and sun faded everything). one is fuel the other is the blower. the only other switches are the 4 on the dash.

light have to be OEM. a boat with no lights from factory????

im taking the boat out for the weekend and ill try to get some pics.

thanks alot SEMIjim and wetwilly

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

"Fuel?" What does a "fuel" switch do? (ISTR seeing reference to "fuel" switches, and wondered about that. Our sailboat has an "automatic" fuel switch atop the fuel tank that turns the fuel supply on/off when the ignition key is turned. Are these manual switches that do the same?)

Well, that was my thought. But if the OEM installed lights, one would think they'd install switches for them. Certainly they wouldn't have labeled nav and anchor light switches "acc," I would think.

You're quite welcome. Good luck with your wiring.

Jim

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

Can I add a question to this thread?

I have no Nav lights or Instrument lights. The Dock lights and courtesy lights are OK. Are they on different fuses or is there some other reason why only the Nav and instrument lights dont work?

Could there be a problem with the switch or dimmer (how can I tell)?

There is a fuse panel on the right side under the steering wheel but I cant work out how to remove the fuses to check, I know it sounds stupid but I have tried unscrewing them and they wont budge.

Also, there is a fuse bus behind the dash (near the right-hand bank of switches) that holds about 5 fuses, but only one of them has a wire going to it. Are the others spare or have some wires been removed?

Cheers

Grommett

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

Looks like you just did :) I doubt discussion about lights and fuses and so-on will bother the OP. Perhaps something will be mentioned that will help him out, too.

On our 1994 182 Barchetta the navigation and anchor lights are on their own fuse. (It was daytime, so I couldn't tell, but I assume the instrument lights come on with the nav lights. Thus they'd be on the same fuse.)

Here's our fuse layout:
Meter. Tracing. Testing. Btw: Does the anchor light work?

Are they cartridge fuses? Glass tube with a metal cap/connection on each end? They clip into the fuse-holders. You just pry them out. You can carefully sneak a small, flat-bladed screwdriver under one end and gently pry it up if a fuse is reluctant to move. Be careful! One side of those fuses is the +12VDC bus, and accidentally shorting that to ground could have serious consequences. (Tho our boat has a 35A master fuse in an in-line fuse-holder right next to the battery.) Also, the fuse bodies are glass. They're usually pretty tough, but still... they're glass ;)

I have two 6-postion fuse blocks, one above the other, on that side. The top row is filled and the bottom has only a single fuse in it--which seems to serve no purpose.

Btw: You might find this enlightening (pun intended :)): Fuse Confusion

Hope this helps.

Jim

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

This doesn't help the original OP, but your question made me think of a question on your Z model. Not sure what differences there are between the 94 and 96 models but here it is........

Since I just started mine after a 2 year layoff and haven't had any electrical issues ever (knock on wood) I don't remember ever seeing fuses on mine exept for the in-line fuse to the JVC stereo .

Didn't the Z models back in the mid 90's come with the breakers on the dash instead of a fuse block or did they have both? I know mine has a bunch of breaker pop out buttons on the left side of the dash just to the right of that row of switches. When I look at my 94 brochure it shows the breaker switches as standard equipment on all the Z models.

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

94z190talari

You may have answered one of my questions... the pop-out switches you mention could be the fuses I was trying to remove :D

That would explian why they wouldnt budge, I assume they pop out instead of blowing?

In which case I have no blown fuses so it must be the switch or dimmer. Will get to work with a test meter.

Also Semijim - not sure what you mean by anchor light?

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

That 360-degree, white light-on-a-stick at the stern of small boats. On bigger boats it's atop the bridge. On sailboats: Atop the mast. It's supposed to be on while you're anchored--thus: Anchor light :)

Jim

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

So thats what my "light on a stick" is for! :yes_grin:

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

Yup, that's what it's for :). It actually serves two purposes on a small boat: The rear running light and the anchor light. You operate both the red and green bow lights, and the "anchor" light, whilst under way. You operate the anchor light alone when anchored :).

Here's a more thorough explanation of the requirements: http://www.uscgboating.org/SAFETY/fedreqs/equ_nav.htm

Failure to display the proper lights at the proper time will get you ticketed by the water cops. If you're involved in an accident on the water and you weren't displaying the proper lights: You will almost certainly be charged, your insurance company may refuse to honour any claims, and it may make it exceedingly difficult for you to prevail in court should a civil suit arise.

Oops! I just realized you're in Merrie Olde England! :p Well, I'll leave it to you to look up the rules there. I'm guessing they're little different than they are here. (Tho, since y'all drive on the wrong side of the road... :D.)

Jim

Re: fuses keep blowing on lights.
 

I would have to assume that the laws would be somewhat the same as it is as deadly over there to drop anchor at night and not have that "lite stick" turned on and someone zooms past you (or through you) and you will surely have to change your knickers. :eek_animated: That is if you live through it... :shakehead: