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Old 09-03-2015, 15:56   #1
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Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

Installing a bow (HellaMarine) running light (one bulb inside red/green side by side lens as typical). Wiring from the light is straight forward... positive and negative wire attachment. However, I want to tap into the positive and negative wire to one of my v birth pot lights instead of running wires all the way back to pilot house panel. The switch I bought for this is SeaDog rocker switch (red part lights up when on). It has 3 prongs described on the package as....Ground for Light; Individual Circuit; +12 Volt Batt. If I tap into the switch from the pot light wires where do these wires go on the switch and then where do the positive and negative wires from the bow light attach to this switch. I have tried several combos and the light comes on and stays on despite switching on/off or does not come on at all. thank you
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Old 09-03-2015, 22:38   #2
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Re: Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

I'll have a go and say....neg from your cabin light to go straight to neg of Nav light. Pos from cabin light to one side of switch, the other side of switch takes that pos wire to pos of Nav light, therefore interrupting current when off. Remaining pole on switch is not used.

Any good?


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Old 09-03-2015, 23:02   #3
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Re: Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

Three connectors on the switch right ?
One will be +ve in (comes from your bunk light +ve wire)
One will be +ve out (goes to your red/green thingo)
One will be common (goes to ive on your bunk light circuit and also -ve on your red/green thingo)
That should make it work....you just need to know which contact is which on your switch...you can check that with a multimeter on ohms reading
The switch contacts will go from 0 ohms to 10Mohms say as you switch on and off.
If one of your leads is on the ground contact, operating the switch will show no change .
Now you've identified the two +ves you can connect it up as above.
If the switch light is on all the time, swap the two +ves around.
Good luck
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Old 09-03-2015, 23:07   #4
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Re: Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

I have the same switch - It's only the markings that are a misnomer/confusing.

Consider the "individual circuit" pole and the "12V supply" pole as a single pole single throw switch (I.e. open and close). This is what interrupts the supply to the nav light.

Now add an LED inside - you need to ground that hence the "Ground for Light" pole.

Anyhoo you have a positive supply and negative ground available - I don't care where it comes from (at this point)

Connect the positive supply to "+12V Batt" (powers the switch LED and potential for nav light)
Conect nav light positive to the "individual" circuit (nav light wire)

Connect negative to "Ground for Light" (ground to ships ground)

The negative from the nav light will need also need to go direct to ships ground but has nothing to do with the switch.

(edit - PS. I hope it is implied and crystal clear that you do not want to connect ground to either "+12v positive" or "Individual" circuit poles.)

N/S

Now why aren't you running this circuit back to the switch panel where you tie it into the stern light and have the position lights on one fuse and one switch?
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Old 10-03-2015, 19:00   #5
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Re: Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

Thanks to your advice.... got it! Time to enjoy this magical weather in the BC coast.
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Old 10-03-2015, 19:32   #6
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Re: Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ex-Calif View Post

Now why aren't you running this circuit back to the switch panel where you tie it into the stern light and have the position lights on one fuse and one switch?
Very good question and mine as well.

"Dear, run to the V-berth and turn on the forward part of the running lights."

Another strange wiring scenario to be found on a used boat in the future.
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Old 10-03-2015, 22:40   #7
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Re: Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

Especially if the fwd cabin light is on a dimmer - LOL...

Nav lights are dim - Need a 100W bulb...
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Old 11-03-2015, 05:12   #8
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Re: Connection help for Hellamarine bi-color bow light

1) Having to turn on the cabin lights to power the running lights is not a good plan.

2) Using a switch with a pilot light seems a bit odd as well.
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