Ok, so you can probably tell from the title that I'm not an expert with electrical...I just wanted to get that out of the way up front now please go easy on me and please HELP me...

Problem with bow/nav light...worked intermittently and now nothing. Tested light with test light, no power at bow light...hmm, okay, next tested switch with test light...here's where it gets interesting.

So it's a double pole, double throw switch right? I did search but I'm confused. The switch has a green light on top for the Nav function and a red light on the bottom for the Anchor function. When switched up to NAV the green WON'T light...I pulled the switch and tested all terminals. All had power, and when I touched the top left (when looking at it, green wire) the green light lit AND the test light lit...but still no light at the bow light.

Here's a pic of the switch



So a couple quesitons

1) Why aren't I getting power to the bow light?

2) Is the switch wired wrong?

3) Why does the switch light when I touch the green wire with the test light, but doesn't otherwise

Here's how the terminals are wired, looking down at the switch from drivers seat

Top Right terminal = Blue wire which is also run to bottom right switch

Middle right terminal = Red wire which is also run to middle left switch

Bottom right terminal = Blue from top right and a cream colored wire

Bottom left terminal = 2 white wires

Middle left terminal = Red wire from middle right terminal

Top left terminal = green wire

Please help guys, I want to get this working so I can enjoy Labor Day weekend without worrying about having to make it back home before dark.

Thanks in advance to anyone/everyone that helps

Come on guys, nothin?

I know, probably not the best time to ask for help, Friday night of labor day weekend...oh well hopefully somebody out there will lend a hand...headed down to the boat shortly and would love to fix this today.

take nav lite wire off the switch and touch it to the power terminal and see if it lights if it does than it would have to be a bad switch

It sounds like it might be the switch.
Pull the wires off the switch and prove all the wiring and lamps are working to the anchor and nav lts.
Do not assume that the ground wires are ok. You have to find the ground that goes to each fixiture/light and prove it out also.

You are completeing the circuit through your test light to the light on the switch. The test light and the switch light are both half as bright as they should be when you do this.

To be less confusing go radio shack and buy a double pole double through switch and use it as a test switch. After you have the problem solved order a new lighted switch

Hey guys, thanks for replying.

Already bought a new switch from Doller Offshore. Replaced the old one just for the f*ck of it...although it seems to be working just fine, so now I have a spare. The new switch was connected exactly as the old one and of course still doesn't light the bow light. The transom light works, but the bow doesn't. Oh and the green portion of the switch doesn't work either, but the red does when in anchor position, can't test the anchor light because I don't have a mast light yet.

Where I'm confused is which wires go to what???

I know red is power in, but what are the others? And all terminals had power except that green wire...

So I tested the switch with a multi-meter and now that the center terminals are power in, with the switch up in the nav position the bottom (opposite) terminals are power out and the top are ground, reverse when down in the Anchor position. Now what I don't know, cant yet figure out, is which wires go to what?

What is the green wire on the top terminal? What does it go to?

Should the blue wire on the top right terminal be jumped to the bottom terminal? Guy at the boat store said no...said I should have power coming in (two middle terminals, red wire) and then power out on the opposite terminals to the position of the switch and grounds on the other two terminals...

Can anyone tell me which wires are which?

Guys am I correct in my assumptions here...

Now you know why I never fixed it!!

Just kiddin man...I swear it worked when I owned it!!

Haha! You suck man! Just kiddin'

Yeah I know it worked when you owned it, I have a pic from the sea trial with it on

Well now you know I fixed it...err, temporarily

I just wired it for the NAV light and bypassed the anchor part of the switch...oh and the switch doesn't illuminate, but I'll deal with that later...time go boating now!

Jason - be sure the connections IN the bow light are working. Mine worked sporadically for a while until I pulled the light itself apart and realized the connections were corroded and the wire wasn't making contact....

Seafordguy I replaced the light and the switch with brand new ones. But anyways, when I tested the bow light before replacing it I didn't get any power on the test light. I think it might have been a case of not having a good ground thou, but not sure and didn't f*ck with it too much cause I was replacing it anyways.

I am pretty sure the problem is with how the switch is wired. I need to figure out which wires go to what. I temporarily wired it bypassing the anchor portion of the switch and the bow and transom lights work this way, but the switch doesn't illuminate.

Now that the weekend is over hopefully someone will chime in as to what wires go to what or how I can determine this.

There is one green wire that I don't know what it goes to and that is the wire that when touched with the test light would illuminate the switch, but when wired that way the bow light wouldn't work but the transom would

Oh well at least now I have all week to try and fix it the right way, it did do it job last night thou the way it is...