control panel lights

[dougg]

On our 5 year old Jeanneua 42i the control panel leds at the nav station, the ones that indicate when a particular item is turned on, have all started glowing / flickering when the items are turned off.
When i turn on say the tri light, the anchor light led goes out but the others stay on. this practice happens for any combination items turned on.
I thought an earth fault, but have checked the neautral connections at the back of the panel.
Curiously the fuel gauge has stopped working and the water tank gauge reads half wnen its full !
Any ideas?

 

[ColleyV8]

Presuming all the grounds are run to a bus bar, check the earth connection at the other end of the cable, away from the switch panel. Try running a separate ground to the panel to rule out earthing issues

 

[nimbusgb]

Keep checking. It really sounds like a negative fault.

Is this with the shore power connected, engine running or just as flaky on batteries only?

Run a fairly heavy wire from the battery negative terminal over to the switch panel and connect it directly to the negative rail as a starting point. Use that wire as your reference point working forward.

 

[nigelmercier]

It really sounds like a negative fault...

Agreed, and I've got the same problem. It's a real bitch to trace

 

[cimo]

+1.
As per your discription, most things are affected, so concentrate on eliminating all the common connection points first.

If you feel you are going crazy at any point - put the kettle on. good luck.