Connecting cables from mast lights

[RobWard]

The three lights on my Bavaria 30 mast - anchor, steaming and deck - have started to play up (e.g. 2 come on at reduced intensity when only one has been switched on) and I have been advised to replace the 2 three core cables in the mast that power them. Two questions: what are the connectors to the mast lights likely to be? (I'll probably go up the mast myself on Sunday to check, but it would be nice if anyone knew what I as likely to encounter. 2) The 2 x 3-core cables from the mast have to be joined to the corresponding cables from the instrument panel in the forepeak. What do people recommend to join the cables together? I've previously used an electrical connector block, just wondered if there were better solutions out there.

 

[Tranona]

There is removable panel in the deckhead below the mast. Take it off and you will find a bundle of wires connected with chobloc screw connectors which are probably corroded. You can use the same, but with stainless screws or one of the proprietary connectors like Wagos which are neater. Both my Bavarias had dodgy connectors there over time and if i still had one I would replace them with Wagos on a panel like the ones you can see in the middle of the photo . I have a similar panel for the mast wires in the boat this photo comes from.

 

[saxonpirate]

First off I'd check what voltage you've got at that connector block, and then take it from there. The two lights coming on with one switching seems to suggest crossover leakage, corroded connections somewhere. I'd check every connection first before changing cables. Check what voltage you've got at all three lights too, it could be something relatively simple that doesn't require major work.

As for the connector block, I assume you mean the generic 'chocolate box' connector type. If they are not in an exposed area they are fine, I've used them for years together with a little silicon grease and had no problems...

 

[William_H]

As suggested due to difficulties of working up the mast I would also suggest replace and rework the bottom end of the cables. You may likely fix the fault without really identifying the fault. 2 lights on at once but dim implies possibly a bad negative return wire. Assuming incandescent bulbs a positive current fed to one bulb which is intended to go back on negative line gets also to the negative connection of another bulb whose positive is also connected to other bulbs so providing a current path through both bulbs but not down negative line. Not that this is necessarily happening but typical of what can happen with a bad wire common to other bulbs. Not quite so common with LED which won't work with reverse polarity. ol'will

 

[PeterWright]

Hi Rob,

Mast lights mostly go in pairs, tricolour / white (anchor) at the masthead and steaming / deck part way up. One of the two three core cables serves each pair with one core of the cable being positive for each of the two lights in the pair and the third core being a common negative for both lights in rhe pair.

If both lights come on dimly when one is turned on, it's generally because the common negative has gone open circuit or high resistance so the two lamps are effectively in series. When that happens, try turning both lamps in the pair on - if they both then go off that confirms the common negative as prime suspect.

Peter.