led lights issue

[mrangry]

I am trying to add red led marker lights in each cabin for use when at sea in darkness. I have piggy backed a live from the cabin lights and used a double gang switch sharing the negative. The lights work independently but when the red night light is on the main cabin light stays lit very dimly. Is this because of the shared negative and is there any way of sorting this without running another negative from the busbar?

 

[cpedw]

I have piggy backed a live from the cabin lights and used a double gang switch sharing the negative.

This is unclear. Can you show a diagram of the wiring?

Why a double gang switch? The red light needs a new, independent single pole switch.

From the description of a light coming on dimly, it seems likely that the main light is in series with something else, perhaps the new red light. Another negative line is not going to fix it.

 

[mrangry]

Sorry for the poor description. I have replaced the original American single gang cabin light switch with a 2 gang switch to add a red led light for use at night when at sea. The cabin ceiling lamp to be operated by one of the gangs and the other to operate the red night light.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Sorry for the poor description. I have replaced the original American single gang cabin light switch with a 2 gang switch to add a red led light for use at night when at sea. The cabin ceiling lamp to be operated by one of the gangs and the other to operate the red night light.

Sorry, but that's one of the biggest wiring bodges i've seen posted on here for a long while.

Different types, sizes and colours of wire, one jammed in with a bootlace ferrule, one black. The twin cable doesn't look like fine stranded wire.

 

[mrangry]

Sorry, but that's one of the biggest wiring bodges i've seen posted on here for a long while.

Different types, sizes and colours of wire, one jammed in with a bootlace ferrule, one black. The twin cable doesn't look like fine stranded wire.

Its a work in progress and not completed. The wiring is all flex and some existing so the colours are what they are, but thanks for your help

 

[PaulRainbow]

Its a work in progress and not completed. The wiring is all flex and some existing so the colours are what they are, but thanks for your help

The back wire in the twin core doesn't look like it has many strands, might be the picture but it looks like old red/black mains cable, what is is ?

Rather than having the brown wire in with the red one with a ferrule on it i would leave the ferrule out. Plus, replace the brown wire with red, brown should only be for AC.

 

[S04]

The thick black wire at the bottom left of the switch, I assume that is not actually connected to the switch in any way? I can't easily tell. Maybe I am just looking a a twin core black/red and it's actually just the sheath.

As mentioned above, a simple wiring diagram would help a great deal.

 

[mrangry]

The back wire in the twin core doesn't look like it has many strands, might be the picture but it looks like old red/black mains cable, what is is ?

Rather than having the brown wire in with the red one with a ferrule on it i would leave the ferrule out. Plus, replace the brown wire with red, brown should only be for AC.

I think its just the image, its 0.5mm twincore Pardon our interruption.... Ideally it would be tinned for sure.

Will remove the ferrule and the brown wire but was just using what was to hand to test it. As is always the case I left the bag with my cables and tools at home.

 

[mrangry]

The thick black wire at the bottom left of the switch, I assume that is not actually connected to the switch in any way? I can't easily tell. Maybe I am just looking a a twin core black/red and it's actually just the sheath.

As mentioned above, a simple wiring diagram would help a great deal.

Ah sorry that is just a section of untrimmed insulation for the red and black twin core.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I think its just the image, its 0.5mm twincore Pardon our interruption.... Ideally it would be tinned for sure.

Will remove the ferrule and the brown wire but was just using what was to hand to test it. As is always the case I left the bag with my cables and tools at home.

It does look a bit short on strands, but anyway, 0.5mm is too thin. Use 1mm as a minimum for current carrying cables, for robustness.

 

[mrangry]

I have used the 0.5 mm cable because I understood it was rated up to 11amps and the distance from the switch is 30cm. The red led is also pre wired with very thin cable

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have used the 0.5 mm cable because I understood it was rated up to 11amps and the distance from the switch is 30cm. The red led is also pre wired with very thin cable

.5mm is just 20 thou, not very robust on something like a boat. Current new build standards also say so.

 

[Boater Sam]

0.5mm cable is too thin to be on a boat, not physically robust enough.
The tails on the LEDs may be very short but need protection.
The wiring is awful. I think you have wired them in series!

 

[mrangry]

0.5mm cable is too thin to be on a boat, not physically robust enough.
The tails on the LEDs may be very short but need protection.
The wiring is awful. I think you have wired them in series!

Lol, did you just copy and paste Paul`s reply? They are not wired in series, they are each on a separate switch.

 

[Boater Sam]

I don't read "Paul's" replies.