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Post by j24sailor on Apr 13, 2014 15:35:09 GMT
I have a 2011 409 and when I arrived yesterday some of the interior lighting wasn't working - mainly two LED reading lights and two LED strips. It turns out the 10A fuse had been tripped. For basically four LED lights that weren't on to trip a ten amp fuse it seems to me something isn't right. Should I be worried?
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Post by Don Reaves on Apr 13, 2014 17:11:55 GMT
The first thing I would want to know is whether the breaker was tripped or just shut off. On my SO35, the electrical panel doesn't really show you if a breaker was tripped. You just get an indication of whether it was on or off. Was the circuit shut off, perhaps, when you last left the boat?
As far as worrying about the problem, I would suggest that you hold that thought until it happens again. If it does happen a second time, that's when it would be time to try and fix the problem.
Personally, I always try to leave the electrical system in the same state when I leave the boat. In my case, I leave only two circuits on -- the bilge pump and the light circuit that will let me turn on a set of cabin lights when I open the companionway. I usuallly arrive at the marine in the evening, and this makes the job easier.
Keep an eye out for another occurrance and let us know if it happens again.
Don
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Post by j24sailor on Apr 13, 2014 19:13:06 GMT
I agree and try and leave my panel in the a similar state except I always leave the lights off on the panel just in case I miss turning a light off somewhere on the boat. It was the actual fuse inside that was tripped when I opened up the panel which is what worries me. The fuse is of the type that I just had to push the little button back in again and it reset and the lights work again. Though I also think you are right and will just worry about it if it happens again. Thanks for the thoughts, I appreciate it.
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Post by j24sailor on Apr 21, 2014 13:39:54 GMT
It is happening now on a regular basis which has me worried. I have replaced the fuse in behind the panel and it is still happening. Little worried there is a short somewhere. Is it ok for me to leave the boat? Everything looks good behind the panel, I don't see any problems or dark spots and no other problems with the system. If anyone has any suggestions or even to let me know how worried I should be that would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by Don Reaves on Apr 21, 2014 21:22:34 GMT
If you shut off the electrical system entirely using the main power switches, there won't be a problem with respect to the short while you are away. Of course, if you need to keep the bilge pump active, that will be another source of worry.
Sounds like it's time to get out a DVM and start searching for shorts or leaks to ground. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, have a professional take a look.
Don
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Post by alenka on Apr 22, 2014 8:39:17 GMT
If it is happening on a regular basis it needs investigation.
I come from a background in aviation and the golden rule on aircraft is you can reset once and then it gets investigated the second time. Fuses are there for protection and even 12 volts will start a fire.
I assume when you say tripped it is an RCD type fuse? It could be that the RCD is faulty so try replacing it. Check the terminals in each lighting unit too. That's the easy stuff you can do. I would not however rule out chaffing somehwere on the wire between the electrical panel the lightining units which when combine with a bit of moisture shorts out. Maybe a boat electrician can use the existing wire to pull through a replacement without too much fuss or expense.
I used to sail a charter boat in the Med which had an unexplained electrical fire and went to the bottom. The boat was just a few years old. The crew took to the liferaft and no one was hurt. I often wonder what my wife would have said if we had been unfortunate enough to have had it happen during a period of our charter!?!
Good luck.
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Post by j24sailor on Apr 24, 2014 1:02:32 GMT
Wow that is scary Alenka and the two strike rule is good advice. As an update I had a marine electrician go through today (When it comes to electricity I don't like to fool around) and there was a crack in the wire which was causing it to draw 22 Amps. There wasn't any chaffing and the boat is only three years old. Thanks for the advice everyone and glad I turned everything off prior to leaving the boat thanks to that advice!!
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