2005 Aquasport 275 explorer anchor light issue

[keysguy]

Hi all, i have an anchor light issue that has me stumped. My anchor light stopped working, i replaced the fixture but it still will not light up. The nav lights on the same switch work fine. Multi meter shows power to the wires, but when i plug the fixture in they don’t light up. The nav lights stay on throughout when the switch is on nav/anchor.  The wire for the anchor light is in the top aluminum tubing and runs into the hull, I’m unable to get to it without disassembling the captains chair/fishbox area...

Any suggestions? Ideas?

[mshugg]

Is the replacement light LED?  Is so, try reversing the wires.  Polarity must be right for LEDs.  Otherwise, you may have too much resistance in the old wires.  They show continuity, but there is too much power loss for the bulb to light.  In this case, you’ll need to pull new wires.

All this assumes that you’ve checked the easy stuff first, like good bulb in light, etc.

[keysguy]

Is the replacement light LED?  Is so, try reversing the wires.  Polarity must be right for LEDs.  Otherwise, you may have too much resistance in the old wires.  They show continuity, but there is too much power loss for the bulb to light.  In this case, you’ll need to pull new wires.

All this assumes that you’ve checked the easy stuff first, like good bulb in light, etc.

Yeah, I have checked the bulb etc, its a brand new anchor light from perko. I ordered a new push fuse, but i don't think that will be the issue.  Running the wires will be almost impossible id imagine.  The current ones have no budge on them at all and I'm not sure how to even run a wire through aluminum tubing that the hard top sits on (90 degree bends)

[RickK]

Make sure you re-read the post by mshugg - is it an LED bulb? If it is an incandescent bulb you should see a filament, like old school bulbs.
You could try to reverse the wiring pos -neg and see if it works - if so, it's a LED.

[keysguy]

They are regular incandescent bulbs with the filament intact. Regardless i tried the wiring both ways with no luck.

[mshugg]

Next step would be to jumper direct from switch to light.  One of two things will happen.  If no light, then the problem is with the fixture, most likely bulb.  If light then you’ll need to run new wires.  You’ll have an answer, even if it’s nit the answer you want.

[RickK]

I would measure across the bulb with and ohm meter just to make sure it is not bad. Wouldn't be the first time something new was broken.

[Capt. Bob]

OK, so I understand.

When you have the switch in the "Nav Lights" position both bow (red/green) and stern (white) are lit but when you throw the switch to "Anchor" the stern white does not stay lit (bow is not lit either) correct?

[keysguy]

OK, so I understand.

When you have the switch in the "Nav Lights" position both bow (red/green) and stern (white) are lit but when you throw the switch to "Anchor" the stern white does not stay lit (bow is not lit either) correct?

Hi Capt.,

The stern light does not light up on either switch toggle.  The nav lights do when set to nav.