[Rhodes22-list] masthead light - steaming vs. all around

[cjlowe at sssnet.com]

I wouldn't recommend using the mast as a conductor for several reasons.
1. It gives a lighting strike instant access to all of your electronic and
electrical systems.
2. You have to drill and tap a hole in the mast to screw the terminal to.
The screw and terminal will start to oxidize from the contact of
dissimilar metals. The marine environment will greatly accelerate this
process.
3. If boat manufacturers could safely save 25 to 50 feet of wire on every
boat they build, they most likely would.
The idea of using the mast and the DPDT switch is like standing in water,
grabbing the bare wire and yelling OK turn it on.
Ok,I'm done being downer Debby, every thing else Mike said was spot on. I
would like to emphasize that you can control two lights with two wires,
BUT, you can only turn one on at a time. If your lights are not polarity
sensitive the DPDT SWITCH deal is off. Some led lights aren't designed
with switching polarity in mind, and aren't robust enough electronically
to survive this duty. Make sure before you buy. "It should work ", is not
the answer your looking for.
I'm on vacation right now, and the Browns are winning (right now) so more
on this later.

Jerry Lowe




For those who are considering how to increase function of the mast mounted
> lighting, I have used a DPDT polarity reversing switch and LEDs (or lamps
> with series connected diodes) to power two lighting effects over a single
> pair of wires. If one used the mast as an additional conductor, two
> lighting effects could be achieved with simple SPST switches.  Just think
> how many independently operated lights could be powered if one used the
> mast and a polarity reversing scheme.  Please note that these systems
> generally provide only one lamp powered at a time.
>
> Mike
> s/v Wind Lass ('91)
> Nissequogue River, NY
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of
> Peter Nyberg
> Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2019 10:35 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] masthead light - steaming vs. all around
>
> Jesse,
>
> On my boat the wire for getting power up the mast runs from the switch
> panel above the galley counter, down behind the ice box to the space
> beneath the galley, then forward to the head, then under the head floor to
> the compression post area, then up a chase alongside the compression post,
> then is exposed for a few inches before running up into cabin ceiling, and
> finally to the deck connection fitting near the mast tabernacle.
>
> I haven’t made a YouTube video about how to take the inside of the
> Rhodes 22 apart.  For the most part, it’s just a matter of removing
> screws.  If you’ve got a marine head, that will complicate things
> somewhat I would imagine (but don’t really know).  You can get an idea
> of what things look like after they’ve been deconstructed, in the videos
> ‘Installing a C-Head Toilet’ and in the Spring 2017 project videos.
>
> Jerry’s solution would be much less invasive.  I think it would require
> mounting a special kind of switch somewhere in that circuit.  I’d like
> to hear more details about it as well.
>
> Peter Nyberg
> Coventry, CT
> s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)
>
>