A-frame Nav Lights - Wiring Q ??!

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by tomd

Ok, many thanks for the below guys. Makes sense I think:

So positive from power / switch through the first two lights +ve terminal and to the last light. Then negative back from the last light through the other two lights -ve terminal and back to the battery?

Easy suggestions for earthing the A Frame?

No ,
the positive bit is right but just earth the frame to the battery and each light individually to the frame.
Make sense?

[9D280]

Originally Posted by tomd

Easy suggestions for earthing the A Frame?

Barge pole!!!!!! As a prime example, look at the taillights of any >10YO
Ford Escort, Rover anything, the list goes on. That lack of a good connection between the light cluster & the body results in all sorts of strange things like the flashing of the tail lamps, except for when the brakes are applied when the indicator lights up..... Beofre the tech police jump in, no, you won't get that on the nav lights, but it illustrates a point well!

-> Use a dedicated wire! :thumbs)


Parallel wiring: One red from battery to fuse, then to switch, then to First Nav. Light. Meanwhile, Black wire form battery straight to Nav. light. Then take another red & another balck, connect the two reds to one side of the fitting, the two bblacks to the other, & lead your new red & black to the next light. Repeat for as many lights on that circuit as you need!


I have used trailer cable to my frame, terminated in an IP rated box, onto which my anchor light sits http://rib.net/forum/attachment.php?...7&d=1256821601. (Note this pic taken in it's "MK1 Guise", I was also showing R/G at that point and not doing >7Knots with only a white....)

I decided to have a separate white so that if the main engine dies, I can run at reduced battery consumption (LED lamp for the anchor / sub 7Knt lamp) and the "full boona" wired as above for when I got the main engine to keep the battery charged. I used a 2- way centre off switch so only one set of lights will show at any time.

[Jizm]

so tomd, all done? successful?
or more assistance required, if you need a drawing just ask...