[Rhodes22-list] Electrical Advice

[Robert Skinner]

For diagnosis:

Get to the back of the board and unhook all loads
    from the breaker that is misbehaving.

Get out your multimeter and check each load's draw
    in Amps..

There may be a bulb that is oversize.

There may be a partial short to ground somewhere.

You may have to chase around a little if more than
one load is connected to a common wire to the breaker.

/Robert

This message is Politics-free.
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Leland wrote:
> Finally spent my first night on the boat last Thursday.  Departed Kent Island
> a little after 7:00 p.m. and dropped anchor near Annapolis seven hours
> later.  Conditions couldn't have been better.  The full moon lit up the
> Chesapeake and the winds kept us cool and moving along at about an average
> of three knots.  Didn't need the motor except for getting in and out of the
> marina and anchorage, but 7 hours x 3 knots = 21 miles for about a 15 mile
> trip.  I can understand why sailboat cruisers motor 60% of the time.
>
> Did run into one small problem.  The breaker for the running lights kept
> switching off.  I assume I have too many lights connected to one breaker,
> but I'd love to hear some other theories and solutions.  Here's how my panel
> is configured:
>
> 1.  Mast Head Light (only for the light on the mast)
>
> 2.  Running Lights - this is the only one that kept breaking off (stern
> light, red port light, green starboard light, compass light)
>
> 3.  Cabin Lights (two sets of double lights found on most Rhodes and a
> reading light over the settee) - seems like this would draw more power than
> the running lights
>
> 4.  12 VDC Outlets (12 volt receptacles)
>
> 5.  Instruments (only for the depth/fish finder)
>
> 6.  Spare (no switch)
>
> 7.  AC Main Shore (110 receptacle)
>
> Any advice is appreciated--thanks!
>
> Lee
> 1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
> Kent Island, MD
>